Squirrel Cam: The Secret Life of Squirrels by Nancy Rose

MOST SQUIRRELS SPEND THEIR DAYS GETTING NUTS AND CLIMBING TREES.

NOT MR. PEANUT.

Mr. Peanut is a unique squirrel. He plays his squirrel-sized piano ("Midnight Sonutta" is his showcase selection) and bakes acorn cakes in his cozy kitchen.

But even a perky squirrel finds that a solo role gets lonely, so Mr. Peanut pens and posts a letter to Cousin Squirrel, inviting him to come for a long visit:

Dear Cousin:

Please come for a visit. I promise you will have an excellent time.

Sincerely,
Mr. Peanut

The cousins have a jolly time, barbecuing on Mr. Peanut's little grill and picnicking on his hotdogs and homemade hazelnut cake, enjoying a wagon ride, and telling stories around a cozy campfire. A jolly time is had by all.

Somehow photographer Nancy Rose coaxes her squirrels into posing with her handmade squirrel-sized props--mailbox, beds, chairs, a miniature barby (with tiny catsup bottle) and wooden picnic table, and tiny hand-addressed and stamped letters, in her appealing photo picture book, The Secret Life of Squirrels (Little, Brown and Company, 2014). Twig-framed family photos and bentwood twig reading chairs, with tiny books and a knit Afghan, add to the kitchy indoor scenes, making this one a definitely adorable book. Author Rose even adds an appendix, "Ten Tips for Photographing Wildlife," which may inspire young crafters, photographers, or simply squirrel fanciers.