Scaredy+Squirrel

by Melanie Watt (2006)

Scaredy Squirrel is the central character in this book and he has a lot of quirks. Using a web format, place Scaredy Squirrel in the middle of the web and brainstorm quirky facts about him from a picture walk, prior to reading the book. After reading Scaredy Squirrel take a different coloured marker and add more characteristics about Scaredy Squirrel. For some students, this list may be transformed into a series of paragraphs about Scaredy Squirrel.
 * Character Web:**

An adaptation of this could be to take all the characteristics of Scaredy Squirrel from the character web and record them on separate pieces of paper (flashcard size). Give the words to the students to sort and classify. What descriptions are similar? What are different.

Use a template similar to the pages describing Scaredy Squirrel's routine. Have students describe their routine. For fun, ask them to add an unexpected event sometime during their day. This might involve discussion about recording time, differences between routine activities and unexpected activities.
 * Descriptions of Routines:**

Everyone has things that they are a little afraid of. Have students make connections by asking them to draw and write about the things that they are afraid of. OR Have students draw and write about things they think a younger person might be afraid of (things that they don't know about such as Scaredy Squirrel's fear of sharks in the pond). Divide a page into several sections as Scaredy Squirrel did.
 * Things That Are Scary:**

Melanie Watt creates her pictures for the Scaredy Squirrel books by drawing the outline shapes on paper, scanning them into a computer and then filling them in with colour digitally. She intentionally leaves a little white space around the edges. This began with the first mock-ups that she presented to the publisher because she had been in hurry but they decided that it was a look that they wanted her to keep using. Students could try using this technique with their own pictures of Scaredy Squirrel or another subject they choose by drawing, scanning and using a paint program such as Seashore.
 * The Art of Melanie Watt:**