Elvis the Squirrel: A Bloomsbury Young Reader: Gold Book Band

Elvis the squirrel has spotted some food on a bird table that would be perfect for breakfast and takes no notice of his more careful friend Chuck's misgivings. When Chuck is snatched by a raven (the biggest and meanest bird around), Elvis needs the help of a gang of other birds to help him save his friend. Elvis is a confident and boisterous character and both he and the Bird Gang have a convincing swagger to their early encounters. The story is overtly didactic, the lesson here being the importance of listening to others and of teamwork, but young readers are likely to enjoy the lively action and natural exchanges between the characters. The language of these conversations is very informal; elsewhere, the story contains some interesting and challenging vocabulary. The vibrant colour illustrations are very attractive and a great help in bringing the story to life. As a nice additional touch, the book contains some tips for reading together and for follow-up activities. 48 pages / Ages 5+ / Reviewed by Monika Davis, teacher.

Suggested Reading Age 5+

One of a selection of stories from Bloomsbury Education for young readers. This story shows the importance of working together and thinking carefully before rushing into decisions! Elvis and Chuck are two squirrels who enjoy scampering around together. Elvis is a little more careless than Chuck, however, and one day this carelessness gets Chuck into some trouble as he is captured by Ronnie the raven. Elvis feels guilty about his mistake and landing his friend in trouble, however, the birds are reluctant to help his as he hasn't always been the nicest to them either! Eventually, Elvis manages to see the error of his ways and wins the other animals over to help him to save his friend. This is an exciting adventure story for young readers aged 5+ with a valuable lesson on working together, looking out for others and thinking carefully before we rush into bad decisions. A nice story to read at home with top tips for adults to engage in discussions with their children and optional activities for children to complete afterwards. 48 pages / Ages 5+ / Reviewed by Lucy Newton, teacher.

Suggested Reading Age 5+