Harold's Tail
Grade 3-5-Harold, a squirrel, lives in a New York City park, tours the area daily, and samples nuts offered by his human friends. Life is good until a rat suggests that it is only Harold's bushy tail that separates him from the lowly and loathed rat world. To test this hypothesis, Harold agrees to having his tail shaved. The rodents break into a barbershop, the rat glues Harold's tail fur onto his own spindly tail, and the two trade places. Sure enough, Harold is treated cruelly by his former benefactors and chased out of a nearby park by haughty squirrels. He finally finds shelter in a cellar with other outcast but friendly rats. By the story's conclusion, the counterfeit squirrel gets his comeuppance, Harold's fur has grown back, and he's made new friends. Frequent black-and-white line drawings move the tale along. Children may have a difficult time getting by the believability factor and caring about Harold and his predicament. George Selden's Cricket in Times Square (Farrar, 1960) tells a better friendship story and E. B. White's Stuart Little (HarperCollins, 1945) is a more compelling adventure.Susan Hepler, Burgundy Farm Country Day School, Alexandria, VACopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.