When Digz the Dog Met Zurl the Squirrel

July 15, 2024
Digz, a black and white dog, and Zuri, a gray squirrel, both see themselves as royalty in Ms. Pincher’s idyllic backyard garden, and initial lines develop their backstories. Digz, once a lonely and frightened pup at a pound, is now fiercely protective of his happy home. Zuri, whose short tail makes her feel different from her siblings, roams the garden with confidence. When Zuri inadvertently tickles Digz’s nose one day, it results in a confrontation that underlines the squirrel’s beliefs about the dog’s intelligence (“that ding-a-ling dope”), and the dog’s about the squirrel’s physicality (“that furry turd... with the tail too short”). Things escalate, but in the heat of conflict, Digz pauses: regarding frightened Zuri reminds him of his own past pain and confusion. Who says the garden can’t have two monarchs? Actor Pine makes his picture book debut with a familiar tale of an empathy epiphany, while pencil and digital illustrations from Groenink (Mum, Me, and the Mulberry Tree) create a vivid sense of place and give the animalian protagonists a touching, relatable emotional immediacy. Human background characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Ages 4–8.

August 1, 2024
In film star Pine's debut picture book, a dog and a squirrel overcome mutual distrust and forge a friendship. Before Digz began living with kind, light-skinned Ms. Pincher on Appletree Lane, he eked out a lonely existence at the dog pound. Now he considers himself king of the yard. Zurl the squirrel used to have an inferiority complex because her tail was shorter than her peers'. After her father's pep talk, she felt better--and now considers herself queen of the yard. When she trips over Digz's nose one day, the two start trading insults: Digz is a "ding-a-ling dope" and a "dummy"; Zurl is a "furry turd." When a menacing Digz corners Zurl, she becomes frightened, but Digz summons a sense of empathy. Spoiler alert: "They were different, of course, but just the same in their hearts, / and in friendship these two were never apart." Rhymes, near rhymes, and rather awkward rhythms tell a tale whose simple plot is stretched by delving into the psychological backgrounds of the titular characters. The text is wordy and sometimes trite. But the masterful art and layout will keep readers engaged. Muted colors and gentle lines create a comforting outdoor space, while the dog pound is appropriately stark and dark. Both protagonists have semi-realistic bodies, as well as facial and bodily expressions that display an amazing range of emotions. Every character, from Zurl's siblings to a tiny snail, is endearing. Uninspired writing rescued by extraordinary art.(Picture book. 3-5)

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