Those Darn Squirrels! is part of our Starts With a Story Collection, which includes more than 550 picture book companions based on high quality children’s literature that support you in delivering highly-engaging interactive read alouds with follow up activities. Learn more about this children’s book below! - Jodi and the Starts With a Story Team
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SUMMARY
"Those Darn Squirrels!" by Adam Rubin is a hilarious and heartwarming children's book that follows the amusing antics of an eccentric old man named Mr. Fookwire and a group of mischievous squirrels. Mr. Fookwire is an avid birdwatcher who spends his days painting and studying the local bird population. However, the squirrels, led by their clever leader, decide to wreak havoc on Mr. Fookwire's bird feeders. Despite his best efforts to outsmart the squirrels, they continuously outwit him with their antics and acrobatics. Eventually, Mr. Fookwire realizes that the squirrels aren't just pests but creatures with their own charm and uniqueness. Through Rubin's humorous storytelling and lively illustrations by Daniel Salmieri, the book highlights the importance of embracing unexpected friendships and finding joy in the unexpected. It teaches young readers the value of acceptance, tolerance, and appreciating the quirks of others.
 USE THIS BOOK TO TEACH:
Our read aloud lesson plans for this picture book come with reading comprehension questions (with sample student responses), 30 writing prompts, teaching ideas for grammar skills, social emotional learning discussion ideas, and more. Check out our list below to get a sneak peek at some of the skills this resource teaches.
- Encourage students to use their summarizing and retelling strategies.
- Discuss the different characters in the story and analyze their thoughts and actions.
- Help students to analyze what the author’s purpose for writing the book might be.
- Discuss the different adjectives used in the book.
- Explore exclamation points and why writers use them.
- Use examples from the book to teach a lesson on subject and predicate.
- Encourage students to think about ways they can show compassion.
NO-PREP PRINTABLE ACTIVITIES:
If you are looking for “ready to go” activities for the first day of school, be sure to check out the book companion. With it you’ll receive all of the following resources to align with this specific book:
- comprehension questions
- 30Â writing prompts with themed paper
- vocabulary activities
- word study print & go activities
- ideas for grammar lessons with focus sentence printables
- social emotional learning discussion topics
- graphic organizers to target specific comprehension skills and strategies
This book is a must have for your school or classroom library. Your students are going to love completing these activities for the book and you will be impressed with how much they learn. You will want to read this book to your class every year.
GET THE PRINTABLE ACTIVITIES
ADDITIONAL BOOK SUGGESTIONS
You and your students will love the similar books listed below, which can all be found in our free picture book list.
- The Squirrels Who Squabbled by Rachel Bright
- Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin
- Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein
TRY OUT A SAMPLE COMPANION
It's hard to explain how amazing the Starts with a Story book companions are because there is just so much goodness included in each one. It's best if you experience using one for yourself. Sign up below & we'll send you an entire book companion to try out for FREE!
