The Scaredy Squirrel series by Melanie Watt are super funny picture books! Try some of our fun activities once you've finished reading them!
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Regardless if you're a squirrel fan or not, the Scaredy Squirrel books by Melanie Watt are sure to keep you and your young reader chuckling page after page!
Scones, gnomes, squirrel sculptures and more fun ideas await further down on this post to go along with Scaredy and his adventures!
When I was a kid, I rarely saw squirrels. I actually did grow up in the country next to a creek with a waterfall and with a wooded area behind our house.
Plenty of chipmunks along with all other sorts of creatures were around, but I never saw that many squirrels!
Well, when I started college only about a half hour away in a small city, the thing that surprised me the most was how many squirrels there were!
They were everywhere on the campus!
Above: A squirrel just enjoying his bagel in Washington, D.C.!
Scampering here and there, looking for morsels, doing their circus acts on wires and trees, they never ceased to amuse me!
Scaredy Squirrel is very comfortable in his surroundings and with his daily routine. Routine is is comfort zone. Let me rephrase that- change terrifies him!!
So, Scaredy Squirrel has created a daily routine that keeps him safe from things like killer bees, sharks and aliens ...all of which are hilariously illustrated!
Below is just one of the many things that Scaredy Squirrel is worried he'll bump into! Melanie Watts' illustrations are completely funny AND adorable!!
Scaredy Squirrel is kind of like an animal version of the TV character, Monk!
He's germophobic, paranoid, and really, really detail oriented!
But, living everyday in his comfort zone has left him feeling like he's missing out!
So, Scaredy contemplates taking a risk and in the process learns something extraordinary about himself!!
This super fun and funny picture book is a delightful choice for the younger set with both great inspiration for fun follow-up activities and more Scaredy Squirrel stories!
Once you've finished this one, you and your young reader will want to read the other Scaredy Squirrel books!
Scaredy Squirrel Makes a Friend is sooo cute! Loved it! The perfect subject for kids who are a little nervous about meeting new friends!
Grab a bag of marshmallows and settle in for Scaredy Squirrel Goes Camping!
Love S'mores? check out this post when you're done reading about Scaredy for a great Drawing Tutorial for some S'mores Friends and this S'mores Gift Guide has terrific gift inspiration for the S'more lover in your life!!
Funny as always, Scaredy Squirrel Prepares for Halloween is the perfect guide which includes some good advice for your Trick-or-Treater!
By the way, if you're looking for Halloween movies, here are 10 of our favorite Halloween films that are great for family viewing!
Facing nighttime fears is something many children face and Scaredy Squirrel at Night is a perfect book to help young folks deal with this bedtime challenge.
When his DIY 'beach' doesn't quite provide the true beach experience, our favorite squirrel manages to overcome yet another one of his endless fears!
Scaredy Squirrel at the Beach is another winner by Melanie Watt which has fun storytelling and fabulous illustrations!
If you're thinking of heading to the beach, be sure to grab our free and colorful Beach Day Packing List printables to help get organized!
Scaredy Squirrel Prepares for Christmas is chock full of advice for anything and everything dealing with the Christmas season!
From decorations to sweets to gifts, our favorite nervous squirrel has a guide to keep you fears at bay during the Christmas holiday!
Our favorite squirrel decides to plan his own birthday surprise in Scaredy Squirrel Has a Birthday Party! Read it to see what happens!
Now, one of the reasons we loved the Scaredy Squirrel books so much is because there were so many fun activities that go along with the stories!
Fun Ideas to go Along With the Scaredy Squirrel Books!
1. Do Some Squirrel Watching!
Much like bird-watching, squirrel watching can be done in a park, out hiking or, if you're lucky, right outside your window!
Binoculars give you a closer look and taking pictures is a fun way to document the experience!
2. Make an Emergency Kit!
Scaredy Squirrel was prepared for any contingency! Aliens, sharks and germs were some of the outside elements he was prepared to deal with!
Be like Scaredy and put together a kit of some essentials so you have what you need in case of an emergency!
Make a list with your young squirrel fan to see what items should be included in their "Emergency Kit."
Depending on where the kit will be used will help you decide what items you want to include. Here's a
if you want to take it a step further!
Emergency Kit Items
These are just suggestions; feel free to modify as needed!
Zip Bag or Small Container to hold emergency items
Band Aids
Tissues
Ginger chews (queasy stomach/car rides)
Cough drops
Lip Balm
Golf pencil/paper/small notepad
Anti bacterial/alcohol wipes
small snack (crackers, cereal, or other small nibbles in case hunger strikes!)
This Emergency kit is a handy addition to a school backpack, the car, dance or gym bag or handbag!
3. Double Chocolate Scones Recipe (Squirrel Scones!)
The reason this recipe is here is because in my personal cookbook, I refer to them as 'Squirrel Scones.'
They received this name because I will often just hunt around the kitchen - like a squirrel- to see what I can add into these scrumptious scones!
These Double Chocolate Scones are so, so good! It's a wonderful recipe that is easy to adapt to your taste and ingredient availability!
These scones are also scooped rather than cut, so that makes them easier and quicker to make!
Click here for the full recipe! These scones freeze very well and are a great portable snack!
4. Make a Pine Cone Squirrel Sculpture
We made these squirrel sculptures back around the time when we first bumped into Scaredy and they've been hanging out in our house ever since!
This craft is best worked on as parent & child duo.
Supplies:
Pine cones
Acorns
Pom poms (white, tan, brown or black)- one for the head
Chenille sticks (tan, brown or black) -ears & arms
Pudgy chenille sticks in tan, brown, white or black - for the tail
Tacky Glue or Hot Glue will work. Hot glue is faster, but tacky glue has good staying power.
Steps:
Here's how we did it:
Glue googly eyes on pom pom head and let dry.
Cut small pieces of chenille sticks for ears, arms and feet.
Bend the pieces for the ears and feet into 'v' shapes and slightly curve the arm pieces.
Glue arms to pine cone.
Glue tail to back of pine cone (shape tail before gluing)
Glue ears to head - if the googly eyes have not yet dried, go eat one of those delicious scones from the recipe above and return in a few minutes.
Glue head to pine cone.
Glue acorn to pine cone--as if the squirrel is holding it. Hot glue gets the job done quickly, but you might want to reinforce with tacky glue for the long haul!
Proudly Display and Enjoy your Squirrel Sculpture!
5. Mini Acorn Cookies
Yum! Now these are pretty simple (I love simple!) and I would have put a picture of our creations here, but I ate all of the chocolate kisses! Sigh!
Also, if you need a peanut-free version, you can use any mini round cookie that has the suitable ingredients like Mini Vanilla wafers or even crackers if you like a sweet & salty combo!
6. Acorn Cap Gnomes
Gnomes appear in Scaredy Squirrel Goes to the Beach. A super funny story that began my appreciation and interest in gnomes!
I love gnomes!! We had to make these! Here are a couple of pics of our creations!
As you can see, one has the traditional gnome look and one is a little more fashionable! My daughter always likes to add faces and stylize hers! See the pillbox hat?
Have fun and change it up! Visit this site for the basic supplies and steps.
7. Draw Scaredy Squirrel!
Scaredy Squirrel's author, Melanie Watt, has provided a fun and easy tutorial for fans to learn how to draw our favorite squirrel!
Above image: Melanie Watt
Looking for some Fall Fun? Check out our Fall Scavenger Hunt Free Printable!
Be sure to Pin this post to return to it later for more fall fun and these fab picture books!
We hope you enjoyed this post and have as much fun reading about Scaredy Squirrel's adventures as we did!
Looking for more fall fun? Check out our 10 Great Ways to Have Fun This Fall!
Be sure to tag us with your Scaredy Squirrel crafts and adventures @mykidzbookshelf!
Enjoy!
Read some more about the book, Scaredy Squirrel here who inspired this recipe and for more fun book and craft ideas!
Don't forget to check out the full recipe for our delectable Double Chocolate Scones!
Scaredy Squirrel isn't the only one who enjoys the trees and nature!
Grandma Gatewood Hikes the Appalachian Trail tells the amazing true story of Emma Gatewood, who hiked the entire Appalachian Trail wearing only a pair of sneakers! Read the full post to find out more!
updated 09/21/2023 originally published 09/26/2019