WHO TOOK MY LOLLIPOP?

Has Squirrel’s lollipop been stolen?

Squirrel admits that he has a temper, but he’s been working on managing it with yoga and breathing exercises. When his lollipop goes missing, he insists—as calmly as possible—that one of his friends must have taken it. Squirrel’s furry pals try to explain that the lollipop is simply stuck to his tail, but Squirrel, full of self-pity and accusations, won’t let them get a word in edgewise. In the end, Squirrel’s temper does get the better of him, but he redeems himself by saying sorry. His friends accept his apology and help him move on. Readers are in on the joke, watching Squirrel frantically search and point the finger at his friends while the lollipop hangs from his tail. The cutesy woodland creatures all wear little articles of clothing; Squirrel’s clad in a puffy orange vest, while Mouse wears a huge pair of pink glasses and a green jacket. Their faces are expressive; Panczyszyn deftly portrays Squirrel’s progression from anxiety to panic to an eruption of frustration and anger. The illustrations are largely set against white backdrops, with little detail, though the book has plenty to spark conversations among young readers about emotions, friendships, and self-improvement.

A relatable way to help little ones confront big feelings.