From award-winning creator Sergio Ruzzier, an oddball “squirrel” forges his own path in this comical picture book about being yourself.
Custard the Squirrel, aren’t you a duck?
Will you please quack?
Will you do anything you don’t want to do?
“NO!” said Custard the Squirrel.
From the brilliant mind of author-illustrator Sergio Ruzzier comes this delightfully wacky story about rejecting others’ expectations of who you should be and being unapologetically, authentically you. Simple, universal, and hilarious, this rollicking read-aloud is an ode to free spirits everywhere.
“With its steady repetition, this is practically a how-to manual on patiently combating relentless ignorance. Yet it is as much about believing someone when they tell you who they are as it is a guide for dealing with the rodents of the real world. Soft artwork rendered in pen and ink and watercolor deftly highlight the features and body language of both of the main characters.” —Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review)
Praise
**STARRED REVIEW**Kirkus Reviews
"With its steady repetition, this is practically a how-to manual on patiently combating relentless ignorance. Yet it is as much about believing someone when they tell you who they are as it is a guide for dealing with the rodents of the real world. Soft artwork rendered in pen and ink and watercolor deftly highlight the features and body language of both of the main characters."
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**STARRED REVIEW**Publishers Weekly
"Cleverly rendered, accessibly philosophical take on confronting bias, labels, and assumptions."
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"The characteristically unexpected details and color choices featured in Ruzzier’s watercolor and pen-and-ink illustrations pair perfectly with this story of individualism."The Horn Book Magazine
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"Custard’s serene refusals may strike a chord in readers who reject being saddled with predetermined or neatly delimited tags."Booklist
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"The opportunity for an entire room of kids to shout “NO!” with Custard the Squirrel in a call-and-response is one that can’t be overlooked—classrooms and libraries will have an exciting, if ear-shatteringly loud, storytime."The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
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