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Skunk and Badger

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Skunk and Badger (Skunk and Badger #1)
By Amy Timberlake
Illustrated by Jon Klassen
Chapel Hill, NC: Algonquin Young Readers, 2020. Fiction.

Badger is perfectly happy with his life just the way it is, thank you very much. He lives alone in his Aunt Lula's brownstone where he has ample space to spread out and work on his Important Rock Work. He hardly has time for friendships, barely has time to actually cook meals, and definitely does not have time to read letters sent by his Aunt Lula. That's why he's caught by surprise one day when a Skunk appears on his doorstep -- his new roommate. Of course, the brownstone belongs to Aunt Lula, and Badger feels compassion towards Skunk because it is true that not everyone wants to live with a Skunk (their proclivity for spraying and whatnot), but Badger is also certain that he does not need a roommate.

Add this charming early middle grade story to your pile of odd-couple animals stories from Children's Literature. For readers who have graduated from Frog and Toad, this story will bring the laughs and illustrations from Jon Klassen will charm and delight. This would also make a great read-aloud for families with younger kids. This book, the start of a new series, is just exactly what it ought to be.
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