There Goes The Neighborhood! The Belonging Tree by Maryann Cocca-Leffler

LIFE WAS FINE AND DANDY IN THE BIG OAK TREE ON FOREST LANE. SQUIRRELS LIVED UP, SQUIRRELS LIVE DOWN.

AND IN THE MIDDLE LIVED THE GRAY SQUIRREL FAMILY--PA, MA, AND LITTLE ZEKE....>UNTIL SUMMER ARRIVED AND A FAMILY OF BIRDS MOVED IN.

"THERE GOES THE NEIGHBORHOOD!" GROUCHED PA.

The jay birds' raucus squawks drove Ma and Pa crazy, but little Zeke liked their weird songs. Pa sound-proofed their hole with moss, ranting that the Jays didn't belong there.

And it only got worse in the fall, when the Chipmunk family moved in downstairs.

"CHIPMUNKS STEAL ACORNS!" HUFFED PA. "THEY HAVE LOTS OF CRYING BABIES!" ADDED MA.

Ma and Pa squirreled away all their acorns up in the attic, and when autumn set in, the Jay Birds flew south and the Chipmunks began to hibernate. At last the Squirrel family had their tree to themselves. Ma and Pa were happy, but to tell the truth, Zeke missed the cute Chipmunk babies, and he was bored.

But then.... spring came and the Jays and the Chipmunks were back-- as noisy as ever. And even worse, the Beavers move in.

"THEY DESTROY EVERYTHING! EVEN OAK TREES!" ROARED PA.

Pa and Ma have had it. They load up and move across the river into an old maple tree with lots of hollows and quite a few squirrels. Mama points out that Zeke can find lots of nice squirrel friends there. That is all well and good, but Zeke misses his oak tree neighbors, so one evening he slips out and goes across the river to visit.

Suddenly a wild storm comes up and blows down the maple tree. Ma and Pa land in the river, calling for help!

And suddenly their old neighbors come to the rescue. The Blue Jays mount a mission, flying Ma and Pa out of the river, the Beavers quickly come to their aid with one of their quicky constructions, and the Chipmunk family welcome them with hot acorn soup and warm beds of dry leaves. Life's better when everyone works together. Now the Squirrels know who is their neighbor. Soon the Squirrels move back to the safety of the sturdy oak tree, and life is fine and dandy for all--

THE WAY IT OUGHT TO BE.

"A friend in need is a friend indeed" is the powerful theme of Maryann Cocca-Lefler's new The Belonging Tree (Henry Holt and Company, 2020), a parable of true neighborliness that is more than a story of cute animals, one that appeals to one of the better angels of human nature, the urge to help each other. Artist Kristine Lombard's lovely illustrations of forest scenes and humorous animal families make this one a great read aloud for youngsters just learning to work together. With essential themes woven into a charming story, this is a recommended general purchase," says School Library Journal