Acorn was a little wild /

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Jory John's Bad Seed series meets After the Fall by Dan Santat in this charming picture book about a young acorn's grand adventure and the incredible transformation that follows.

Acorn is a little wild, and from his oak tree perch, he longs for adventure. When he's the first of his friends to jump off the oak tree, he's on his way into the wide world, full of new experiences that fill his little heart with excitement!

But when a squirrel buries Acorn deep underground, the thrill-seeking Acorn finds himself forced to stay still, in the darkness, for a long time. To turn this biggest setback into a wild adventure, Acorn may have to change from the inside out.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

School Library Journal Review

PreS-Gr 3--Acorn is ready to let go of the mighty oak tree and set out on exciting adventures. Oak warns the little guy about squirrels, but Acorn, a born thrill-seeker, doesn't listen, loving the bounces down the hill and taunting the squirrels to catch him. After some close encounters, Acorn gets buried in the earth. What seems like the inevitable end of his adventures turns out to be the beginning as Acorn grows into a magnificent tree--teasing, encouraging, and entertaining the forest's many occupants with his fun-loving spirit. The adorably, exuberant illustrations are a highlight. The rambunctious and untamed spirit of the flora and fauna is clearly conveyed alongside bold seasonal colors. This book will easily support science discussions on the life cycle of trees, with a caveat. To reinforce Acorn's daredevil vitality, some of the language is deliberately colloquial (worms are described as "so chill"), but it is infrequent enough to feel out of place. Readers may infer various positive messages from the story, despite "wild" having a mostly negative meaning as applied to behavior. They will also delightedly discover the importance of having a good attitude when facing life's challenges: Change and growth can be exciting instead of scary, and it's okay to hold on to the carefree joy of youth. VERDICT A perfect invitation into learning about the life cycle of trees, this is also a lighthearted glimpse into one little adventurer's exciting journey.--Alyssa Annico, Youngstown State Univ., OH

Booklist Review

Acorn is a fearless and lively little nut, eager to explore his surroundings. Despite Oak's warning about squirrels, Acorn jumps from his branch, rolling downhill with the sun and breeze deliciously on his cap. The cute anthropomorphized acorn even gets a thrill when a squirrel picks him up and bounds with him up a tree. The excitement fades, however, when the squirrel attempts to nibble Acorn, who makes a quick escape--only to be scooped up by another squirrel. But this time, he gets buried in the soft, wet ground. Miffed that his adventuring has been cut short, Acorn comes to realize that being buried is its own kind of adventure. Acorn uses his time underground for mindful observation, personal growth (literally), and reflection. A four-panel spread shows Acorn growing through the different seasons until he becomes a strong, tall tree with acorns of his own, which he encourages to "Go for it!" when their itch for independence begins. A lovely story about growing up and being your own person.

Author notes provided by Syndetics

Formerly an editorial director at Random House BFYR, Jen Arena has written over fifty books for kids, some of which have been translated into French, Spanish, Korean, and Arabic.

Jessica Gibson is a freelance illustrator from the riverfront area of Detroit, Michigan. She started her career after graduating from Wayne County Community College and has produced illustrations for a number of publishers and brands, including picture books, editorial spot pieces, packaging design, and surface patterns.