Squizzy the Black Squirrel: A Fabulous Fable of Friendship

From School Library Journal
Grade 1-3-As Marcus, a seven-year-old African American, ponders his teacher's suggestion to make a new friend each year, he becomes quite fascinated by a black squirrel in Fairmount Park. When it begins to talk, he is so excited that he can hardly contain himself. However, the animal seems irritated by Marcus's constant attention and asks to be left alone. Marcus quickly apologizes and explains that he has never seen a black squirrel before. Squizzy then insists that he is just a squirrel, not a black squirrel. He knows nothing about color. After much conversation, he helps the boy realize that making friends should not be based on skin or fur color. Stone's message is that one should "never judge a book by its cover." Unfortunately, some youngsters will judge this book by its cover and possibly pass over it. The oil paintings, both inside and out, are attractive, but they do not always support the text and the uneven flow of the art is at times distracting. Still, this is an acceptable choice for teaching tolerance.-Tracy Bell, Durham Public Schools, NC Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.


Dr. William Friday, President Emeritus of the University of North Carolina
Squizzy tells a simple, beautiful story about a profound principle. This splendid little volume belongs in every school library!


Dr. Constance E. Clayton, Retired Superintendent of the School District of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Squizzy has great universal appeal in that it focuses on a universal challenge—getting beyond differences to recognize and appreciate similarities.


Charles Stone III, Director of the hit movie “Drumline”
I vividly remember my father’s passion when reading fables to me. I look forward to reading Squizzy to my children.


Book Description
Squizzy the Black Squirrel: A Fabulous Fable of Friendship tells the tale of an unlikely friendship between a seven-year-old African American boy named Marcus and a black squirrel - Squizzy. Squizzy teaches Marcus that judging one's friend by the color of his skin is just plain silly! After all, color is only skin (or fur) deep.


About the Author
A Tuskegee airman in his youth, Chuck Stone became widely recognized as one of the twentieth century’s most influential African American journalists. In 1991, he was named the Walter Spearman Professor at the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and continues to hold this prestigious chair to the present date. Jeannie Jackson is a self-taught fine arts painter as well as an illustrator and graphic designer. She is currently working on a series of oil paintings that portray the coal miners and landscapes of her youth in Boone County, West Virginia.


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Gr 1-3-As Marcus, a seven-year-old African American, ponders his teacher's suggestion to make a new friend each year, he becomes quite fascinated by a black squirrel in Fairmount Park. When it begins to talk, he is so excited that he can hardly contain himself. However, the animal seems irritated by Marcus's constant attention and asks to be left alone. Marcus quickly apologizes and explains that he has never seen a black squirrel before. Squizzy then insists that he is just a squirrel, not a black squirrel. He knows nothing about color. After much conversation, he helps the boy realize that making friends should not be based on skin or fur color. Stone's message is that one should "never judge a book by its cover." Unfortunately, some youngsters will judge this book by its cover and possibly pass over it. The oil paintings, both inside and out, are attractive, but they do not always support the text and the uneven flow of the art is at times distracting. Still, this is an acceptable choice for teaching tolerance.-Tracy Bell, Durham Public Schools, NC Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.


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