Nuts to You by Lynne Rae Perkins

Nuts to You written and illustrated by Lynne Rae Perkins
Published by Greenwillow Books (August 26, 2014)
272 pages
Age range: 8~12 (3rd~6th grade)

Synopsis (the short version from the back cover):
In which four squirrels find out what they're made of: Friendship. Courage. Big ideas. Also, nuts. (And I mean that in a good way.)

Synopsis (the longer version from the publisher):
How far would you go for a friend? In Nuts to You, the funny and moving new novel by Newbery Medalist Lynne Rae Perkins, two squirrels go very far indeed to save a friend who has been snatched up by a hawk. Nuts to You is short, funny, and surprising—an Incredible Journey with squirrels. It features black-and-white art by the author on every page and will appeal to fans of animal fantasies by Kate DiCamillo, Kathi Appelt, and Avi.

The squirrels Jed, TsTs, and Chai are the very best of friends. So when Jed is snatched up by a hawk and carried away to another realm, TsTs and Chai resolve to go after him. New communities are discovered, new friends are made, huge danger is encountered (both man-made and of the fox and bobcat variety) and mysteries are revealed. Nuts to You is wholly original, funny, lively, and thought-provoking. It is a deeply satisfying piece of storytelling about the power of stories to save the world; about the power of friendship and the importance of community.


This beautiful book is illustrated in black-and-white on every page by the author and includes an introduction, epilogue, and funny footnotes throughout. A terrific read aloud!

Some favorite quotes:

"What I love most about peanut butter," he said, "is how it transports me to my youth. The first taste always takes me back to the very first time I had it. For an instant, I am young again, and strong. And probably foolish." (page 4)

But hope pushed its way into her heart. Stubbornly, it took its place beside sorrow. (page 25)

Then he stepped off the branch, looking to the spot where he would land. Step and land, step and land. That's all travel was. Throw in some running and a change of scenery. No big deal, right? (page 32)

Use of Language:

[...] her voice already dimming with distance, muffled by the laced fingers of the trees. (page 31)