Review Detail

Have You Seen My Acorn?

Kids Fiction 171

Where, oh where, could my acorn be?

September 02, 2024

Overall rating

4.0

Plot

4.0

Characters

4.0

Writing Style

4.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

4.0

Squirrel is trying to find an acorn that he buried, but despite having dug up several areas, he can't find it! He asks his friend Deer if he has taken it, but cuts off Deer's explanation. The same scenario is repeated with Skunk, Racoon, and Woodpecker. He's leery of Fox's explanation that maybe it's rolled into the log where Fox is... would Squirrel like to come inside and check? Squirrel luckily scampers off yet again. Owl has a long winded explanation that Squirrel still doesn't listen to, but another acorn falls from the tree, bonking Owl on the head and landing at Squirrel's feet. He's delighted to have his acorn back, but buries it right away while Deer munches on the small Oak tree that was really the acorn for which Squirrel was searching.

Good Points

The autumn colors and illustrations of leaves and trees are so gorgeous, and the expressions on the faces of the animals are just goofy, making this a book that will delight children and parents alike. This same quirky animal style is employed in this author's Giraffe is Too Tall for This Book and Giraffe's Book is Missing.

The timing of Squirrel's acorn retrieval seems odd, but I am not a dendrologist. Wouldn't there be fresh acorns falling when the leaves were? When did he plant the acorn that it has sprouted already? Clearly, this book is humorous rather than factual, but this did give me pause. I'd pair this with Heos' Treemendous or Lentino's The Littles Acorn to get more insight into how trees grow.

If your favorite season is autumn, get out the afghans, bake some pumpkin spice muffins, and cuddle up to read Have You Seen My Acorn? with a little one, along with Kastner's A Very Big Fall, Hemming and Slater's The Leaf Thief, and Pak'sGoodbye Summer, Hello Autumn.