by Amy Robach
First published 2021
A fierce thunderstorm tears through the forest and destroys the Squirrelly family's nest. They race to find safety in a hollow oak tree, only to discover the McMunk family has claimed the same refuge. The squirrels and chipmunks eye each other warily in their cramped quarters. The families clash over space, food, and their different ways of doing things. The Squirrellys store nuts one way, the McMunks another. The children play games that confuse the other family. Arguments break out over sleeping arrangements and meal times. But as days pass in their shared home, both families start to bend. They learn to split chores fairly and combine their different traditions. The squirrel children teach the chipmunk kids their games, while the chipmunks share their songs. When it comes time to rebuild, the families realize they don't want to separate. They decide to stay together as one big family, the McSquirrellys, discovering that their differences make them stronger.
Genres: fiction, family, animals
Vibes: emotional-atmospheric, intimate, whimsical
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Forest, Oak Tree
40 pages · Hardcover · Flamingo Books