Historical Fiction

Squirrel and John Muir is written by Emily Arnold McCully. This story is of a girl named Florence, nicknamed squirrel, she lives in Yosemite National Park around the year 1868. While living in the hotel her parents run, she meets John Muir who will become a famous naturalist, scientist, in America. The book shows their encounter and the relationship that builds overtime.

This book is a historical fiction young reader book. Squirrel and John Muir shows very superficially the life of Florence and how she grew up and acted as a young girl. She is shown to be a gutsy, no fear child. She is also shown to be a bit primitive and lacking manners. When she meets John Muir, he teaches her about the value and small intricacies of the forest in which she lives in. he helps her to develop an appreciation of the world around her. It is an ok book to briefly talk about two American characters from history.  The story does not go into much detail. The colors of the illustrations definitely help to draw attention to the book.

This book shows respect for others by John Muir showing Florence the good in nature and how to be kind and understanding of people, plants, and nature as a whole. This book can be used in class to add information during lessons on settlers and early America.