Squirrels gather interest
for new children's book

When it came time for Sylvester Allred to pick a theme for his new children's book, he got some help from memories he once shared with his own children.

"When my kids were little, I'd bring them out into the field with my classes," he recalled. "They loved the squirrels and when they'd go to sleep, I'd tuck them in and tell them 'Squirrel Stories.'"

Allred, an NAU biology professor and squirrel ecologist since 1985, has gathered those "Squirrel Stories" and translated his love and appreciation of squirrels into a children's book. Rascal: The Tassel-Eared Squirrel was published this month by the Grand Canyon Association.

"I've always loved telling stories and the squirrels told me it was time to tell theirs," Allred said.

Rascal documents the quests of a tassel-eared squirrel living on the edge of the Grand Canyon. The book uncovers the random power of nature and the various, harmonized inhabitants of a ponderosa pine forest.

Allred decided to write a children's book because of his love of storytelling after a serendipitous meeting with the book's illustrator, Diane Iverson.

"After meeting at an Audubon Society meeting, Diane asked me if I'd ever thought about writing a children's book," Allred said. "She really helped spark the idea in my head."

After spending so many years observing and studying the furry animals, Allred said he has multitudes of stories, and many of them are incorporated into the book. He said he hopes the book teaches kids about the wonder and value of nature.

"I've seen these little guys do some really interesting stuff, and in addition to being indicators of our ponderosa forest conditions, squirrels are intelligent and fascinating creatures whose actions give us insight into nature's order," Allred said. "In other words, never underestimate a squirrel."

In 2003, students selected Allred as Homecoming Dedicatee for his encouraging teaching style and the "positive connection" he maintains with his students. The scholarly community has recognized his squirrel studies, and scientists apply his findings to small game management policy in the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

Allred has three books out for review including The Natural History of Tassel-Eared Squirrels in the Southwestern United States and Mexico as well as two other children's books. Rascal is available through Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com.