I dedicate this book in memory of Brownie, my Guinea Pig.                                      

   

At the edge of the sunny forest in New Jersey, Gray Squirrel looks out at his world. The cold crisp snow sparkles in the dawn sunshine. Gray Squirrel sits on a branch near his nest. His long fur is neatly groomed. Birds chirp, and little feet patter below on the crunching snow.  

   

 

The rising sun fills the sky with color. The air is freezing cold. Gray Squirrel scampers along a snow-covered branch, out to get a nut that he has stored in one of his special holes. His sharp claws click lightly as he scurries along the branch, looking ahead with his good eyesight. His tail gives him complete balance. Gray Squirrel is almost there. He is anxious to get his nut, because he is hungry.  

   

After awhile of searching, Gray Squirrel still hasn’t found his nut, and he is starving! He frantically digs holes through the deep drifts of snow. His fluffy tail brushes against the low branches of the oak tree. The cold wind ruffles Gray Squirrel’s fur. If he doesn’t find food fast, he’ll starve!!!  

 

 

Luckily, Gray Squirrel sees an opening through the trees. He scampers through, and to his amazement, he is in a wide garden!! He can’t see the house because some tall trees block it from sight. A bird has dropped some seeds from a feeder. The seeds are almost hidden from his view under the layers of snow. As Gray Squirrel munches on the seeds, he thinks how lucky he is. Finally, Gray Squirrel has food. For the rest of the day, he works hard to collect as many seeds as he can carry. He buries them in a new storage hole back in the forest. Gray Squirrel won’t be hungry for a long time!  

About the Author

Nina Bunn is in Mrs. Mattson’s third grade class. She likes animals, playing piano, and writing stories. She wants to be an artist when she grows up. She also likes foursquare and swimming. She lives with her Mom, Dad, and sister. Her favorite movie is ”Annie”. Her best friend is Sage Shepard.