“If you’ve ever underestimated a flying squirrel,
this book will surely change your mind!” – Realistic Poetry International
A Flying Squirrel with No Limits
There’s A Lesson For Every Story
This fantastic children’s book shares twenty-four fun and valuable adventures of Shelby F. Squirrel, who is the main character. These humorous and imaginative episodes inspire learning and make reading fun and lively for a bright youthful audience who is unafraid to journey with a furry, fast, and flying playful creature!
Firstly, we must note how the stories include important lessons that are excellent for children and young people (especially our children audience who absolutely loved the book!).
This concept is extremely important to consider when writing children’s literature, because in doing so, the reader(s) can successfully benefit from the best of both worlds, which usually involves both intellect and entertainment. Moreover, this is a book in which readers can actively get involved, as most episodes provoke meaningful relevant questions and incite a variety of common core values, morals, & principles distinct to humans, that are identifiable and also relatable to the masses.
We were really surprised to find the that the creative storyline taught us a lot about squirrels, both indirectly and directly. And Shelby’s no ordinary squirrel, nope! He is a nocturnal flying squirrel who has the power to glide high in the sky, and he’s not alone. It is him, his twin sister, Darby, and their mother who takes care of them and does her best to keep them out of trouble.
But Shelby’s adventures are not merely limited to only the forest. The stories of his life are packed with energizing animation and lots of unexpected fun! They cleverly include realistic depictions of emotions, portraying instances of bravery, happiness, curiosity, wonder, love, innocence, happiness, worry, and even fear, like in the story “Shelby In The Dark”.
Now, it’s time for Mother F. Squirrel to teach another lesson, and this time, it’s a flying one! Butwhen she tells Shelby that it is time for him to learn how to fly in the night under the full moon, he is finally forced to confront his hidden fear of ‘ the dark’. Nonetheless, while he is up in the tree resisting the urge to fly, he suddenly comes face-to-face with a Wise Old Owl (with very strange eyes!) who tells Shelby that he can fly and that he can see in the dark. Right after the owl tells him this, he flies, and he does it very well!
It is an exciting moment when this happens and you feel proud for Shelby. The story about his night flying lesson teaches young people to believe in themselves and to be brave when facing fears. It also shows how some people (or creatures, like the wise owl) appear in your life to help you overcome certain problems that seem really big at first, but are actually not so bad once confronted. We were all happy that Shelby met the old wise owl and was finally able to fly in the dark!
Did you know that awesome flying squirrels like Shelby go to school? We sure didn’t before reading this book – and before you gasp in disbelief, it turns out that Shelby isn’t the actual student in this episode. Instead, he ends up right in the middle of some schoolchildren after wandering off to follow the aroma of peanuts. And after eating too many he falls asleep, only to wake up bewildered and lost, distracted by the sound of children’s voices. This is the moment when we realize why the name of this episode is called “Shelby Goes to School”. His wild chase for peanuts had led him straight to a school where he is surrounded by young children. What an adventure!
Luckily, a nice crossing-guard finds him and leads him back to the forest where he is relieved to see his mother and sister again. The key lesson in this story is important to all children: always pay attention to your surroundings and be cautious of wandering too far from home, especially without your parents!
When we read the title “ Shelby Goes Camping”, we thought it was a bit funny since he and his family already lived in the forest. After reading all of the adventures Shelby has had so far, it is safe to say that he will have a lot of fun…or get into a really big mess! And sure enough, a mess it is! He meets a new friend, Marvin F. Mouse, who takes Shelby on a tour, showing him all of the ‘human’ stuff used for camping. Everything is smooth and dandy until the mouse convinces Shelby to enjoy some of the sweet oats from the humans’ food, and when Shelby does, the bag tumbles over, causing humans to walk right over to where they are – but thanks to speed and Shelby’s ability to fly, they make a clean and successful getaway!
Shelby gets into a lot of trouble, as you can see, but is awesomely fun!
Above all, the author cleverly implements key concepts that instill and reiterate traditional core values to help distinguish right from wrong, magnify family and friendship, and explore the depths of fun and adventure. Author Eleanor Lawrie’s collection of Shelby adventures is truly a classic and should be a television series, as it would be very successful! It is a great book for families, children, and even adults, if you enjoy reading animated children’s fiction! Through intense energy and vivid imagination, author Lawrie skillfully illustrates a series of episodes that provide an exceptional reading experience every single time you turn the page; and with refreshing detailed accounts of Shelby’s extraordinary life, you will never grow bored and will easily grow attached to Shelby, his family, and friends!
It is our honor to present this book with a 5 Star rating! Author Eleanor Lawrie knows how to tailor a story just for children.
At Realistic Poetry International, we believe that there is no better way to receive pure honest feedback other than obtaining real thoughts, opinions, and feedback from the actual source, which this book was specifically intended for, children. With that being said, the basis of this review was developed and written with the inclusion of direct feedback and thoughts originating from a small group of children, ages ranging from 8-10 years old.
Eleanor Lawrie, Author 