The Squirrels Who Squabbled

Age Range: 5 - 11

Greedy squirrels Cyril and Bruce both have their sights on a very special prize: THE VERY LAST NUT OF THE SEASON! As the nut bounces crazily through the forest, the squirrels race after it, between the trees, over boulders, down the river and - ARGH! - right to the edge of a waterfall! Working together might be the only way to save themselves now ...

Book Author: Rachel Bright

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Teaching Ideas and Resources:


  • The title of this story features alliteration (squirrels, squabbled). Can you think of other examples of alliteration? Can you make up your own story titles that use it too?
  • Choose one of the illustrations in the book and think of some words and phrases that describe the setting. How does the author describe the setting?
  • Retell the story in the form of diary entries from Cyril and Bruce.
  • Make a list of the rhyming words in the book. Can you use these to start your own rhyming dictionary?
  • Look at the use of speech marks in the story. Can you choose a page and rewrite it using reported speech?
  • Think of some speech and thought bubbles to accompany the illustrations.
  • Write a review of this book that could be used on the bookshelf in a shop or in an online store.


  • Make a plan for Cyril to help him save food for the winter. If he needs to eat 5 nuts every day, how many nuts will he need to save for November? How many nuts will he need for the whole of winter?​


  • Find out more about squirrels and write a report about them.
  • Do squirrels live in your local area? Find out about wild animals that have homes where you live.
  • Why do we have seasons? Can you explain to a friend?


  • Design a game in which a squirrel has to catch the last pine-nut.
  • Design a web page to promote this book to an audience.
  • Watch this trailer to promote the book. Could you make your own?

  • Record your own ‘read-aloud’ video that retells this story. Watch this example for inspiration:

Design Technology

  • Can you make a model of a squirrel or a forest?​


  • Look at the facial expressions of the characters in the illustrations. How are they feeling? Can you draw a number of self-portraits that portray different emotions?
  • Look at the pages that show four illustrations in columns/rows. Can you use this technique to show a sequence of actions? Use our templates below to help.
  • Use natural materials (e.g. leaves, pinecones, sticks) to create some artwork. Look at examples by Andy Goldsworthy for inspiration.
  • Look at photos of forests in different seasons. Can you use these as inspiration for your own illustrations and paintings?
  • Create a comic strip about Spontaneous Cyril. What adventures might he have?


  • What does it mean to be ‘spontaneous’? Do you prefer to be spontaneous or do you like to plan ahead?
  • What is the moral of this story? Can you think of other stories that try to share a moral with the reader?


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Thanks for the downloads.
Great work.
Judith from Gentech

Average: 5 (1 vote)