No other wild animal lets a child watch it this closely. A squirrel will work a park bench, a fire escape, or a bird feeder in broad daylight, freeze mid-step, flick its tail, and go back to burying an acorn it will mostly forget about — which is how oak trees get planted. Chipmunks run the same operation lower down, with striped backs and cheeks that stretch to ridiculous capacity. They are frantic, bold, comic, and endlessly outsmarting somebody, so it is no surprise that children's books hand them the roles of thief, hoarder, worrier, best friend, and occasional superhero.
Bookroo's collection of 266 squirrel and chipmunk books covers autumn storytime, first snow, hibernation science, backyard bird-feeder warfare, and the long journeys squirrels take when a hawk carries a friend away. Our editors chose fourteen favorites that spread across the whole span — a board book for a toddler's first fall, read-alouds for preschool, early readers and graphic novels for children just going solo, and two novels worth a month of bedtimes. Start with the shortlist, then browse the board, picture, and chapter shelves below.
A squirrel who has never once left his nut tree keeps an emergency kit, a daily schedule, and a long list of things that could go wrong.
Squirrel counts the leaves on his tree every morning, so he notices immediately when one goes missing — and then a great many more.
A vacuum cleaner swallows a squirrel, and what climbs out can fly, lift the vacuum overhead, and type poetry.
Squirrel's winter stash is gone, Bird has no plan whatsoever, and a cat is following them the entire way south.
Nutkin rows across to Owl Island to gather nuts and spends the whole trip taunting the owl who owns it.
Squirrel is far too busy stocking up for winter to nibble with the mice, hop with the frogs, or run with the dogs.
Old Man Fookwire fills his yard with beautiful birdfeeders. The squirrels treat this as an engineering problem.
Cyril and Bruce both want the last pinecone of the season, and neither will let go of it long enough to see where the chase is taking them.
Bear boasts that he can stop the sun from rising. Brown Squirrel says he cannot, then makes the mistake of gloating about it.
Zoom Squirrel has lost a tooth, and every other squirrel on the page has a theory about where it went.
Red squirrels drive Miss Suzy out of her oak tree, and a dollhouse full of toy soldiers helps her win it back.
Norma and Belly burn breakfast, spot a donut truck, and commit to a heist well beyond their abilities.
Four-word lines follow a squirrel through leaping, burying, nest-building, and sleeping — with flying squirrels appearing at dusk.
A hawk carries Jed off and drops him miles away; TsTs and Chai follow the power line to find him.
Sturdy first books about gathering acorns, first snow, and very small animals in very big trees, for ages 0–4.
A bear's loyalty tests a friendship when mishaps push a squirrel to seek space.
Four friends plot to catch a bird, but one has a better idea.
Discover squirrels in whimsical miniature worlds, defying expectations with delightful antics.
A young squirrel must balance play and preparing for winter.
Discover a squirrel's world through play, food, and forest life.
Celebrate the special bond of everyday moments with Mom.
Discover where Baby Chipmunk naps in this playful journey.
Count along with squirrels on a whimsical camping adventure.
Join a squirrel's quest to find the elusive letter Z in a world of human objects.
Explore fall's wonders with touchable textures in this interactive board book.
Discover a squirrel's daily adventures in the wild.
Falling leaves, disputed nuts, folktales, bird-feeder feuds, and true backyard nature stories for ages 3–8.
Zoom Squirrel seeks new emotions, but what if they're not what he expects?
A squirrel's wild chase for the perfect acorn leads to unexpected adventures.
Can a simple stick be the perfect gift for a bear with everything?
Can Squirrel find the perfect picnic spot, or is it just a dream?
Can Alvin and the Chipmunks break free from Dave's rules on their cruise?
Animals in trouble seek Dr. Sugar Glider's quirky advice.
A squirrel tries to make a friend while avoiding potential dangers.
A four-leaf clover brings Sophie unexpected misfortune. Can she break the curse?
Can friendship survive when differences are revealed at a sleepover?
A girl rescues a beast, but he's not happy.
Squirrel's first snow vanishes. Is there a snow thief?
A sleepless squirrel's dreams are about to come true. Can he survive the night?
Road trips, donut heists, rescue missions, and full-length squirrel novels for independent readers ages 6–12.
A pug named Baron von Bubbles helps his owner Bella with an invention challenge at school
A young owl named Tag dreams of becoming an Owl of Valor and protecting his forest from the evil vulture Thorn, who is using dark magic to destroy Perodia.
An ice storm scatters friends; can they reunite and save the lost squirrel's babies?
Tiny animals defy odds, proving size doesn't limit strength or heart.
A young animal's secret discovery could change his world forever.
A group of chickens and a squirrel team up to solve a mystery in their backyard
A princess vanishes, a mysterious illness spreads, and whispers of an old enemy haunt Mistmantle.
A chipmunk's cozy life invites unexpected adventures.
A boy discovers two ancient squirrels who have been frozen in time for nearly 2,000 years and must navigate the challenges of modern life with their help.
Can two friends break a dragon's spell to save a magical family?
An alien cat plots world domination with zombie squirrels. Can his human friend stop him?
Four friends journey through the Cloud Kingdom to find the Golden Temple and the lost firehawks, facing various obstacles and challenges along the way.
