HAVE YOU SEEN MY ACORN?

Acorns don’t just disappear…Squirrel is off to find the thief.

Squirrel knows where he buried his acorn, and it isn’t there! He draws the only conclusion he can: Someone has stolen it. Is Deer the culprit? “Oh, no. I would never,” says Deer. “But are you sure it hasn’t sprouted into—” Squirrel interrupts Deer. He has no time to talk! He must find his acorn. Did Skunk take it? “I may stink, but my morals don’t,” replies Skunk, who also tries to explain what might have happened. Squirrel cuts off Skunk, too. Raccoon and Woodpecker have similar run-ins. Fox hasn’t seen the acorn and tries to trick Squirrel into becoming lunch, but Squirrel backs away. Owl finally tries to enlighten Squirrel by pointing to the little oak tree that’s growing where the acorn should be. Squirrel doesn’t understand, so Owl explains—but is interrupted when an acorn falls from above onto Owl’s head. Squirrel assumes it’s his beloved acorn. He hugs it…and promptly buries it. Ryland’s tongue-in-cheek “mystery” will entertain young listeners. Accompanied by a smattering of narration, the comic-panel-style illustrations depict the animals’ dialogue in colors that match their fur (or feathers). The digitally created illustrations resemble watercolor and colored pencil and feature big-eyed cartoon forest creatures.

A whimsical whodunit.