Skunk and Badger

Badger likes living alone. He likes the quiet in his study, surrounding himself with tools and specimens, immersed in the study of rocks. But then a skunk shows up on his doorstep- a chatty, energetic skunk who insists he’s Badger’s new roommate. Badger doesn’t want a roommate. He feels compelled to be polite, but also tries to make Skunk realize he’s not really welcome- at first subtly, then not so. (Though he does find he likes Skunk’s cooking, but not the cleaning up afterwards!) Things are just awkward at first: Skunk attempting to get along, be comfortable, and welcome his chicken friends to visit. Badger gets irritated at constant interruptions to his work, and he doesn’t really like chickens. Can’t even understand what they’re saying. And there’s far too many of them. Eventually Badger overreacts to something, Skunk gets his feelings hurt and leaves, and Badger is relieved at first- but then realizes he misses his companion. He has to find Skunk, which gets him out of the house exploring the little town (he’d kind of been a reclusive with his rock interest). And then figure out how to apologize, and if he can make amends.

Cute book, although some parts were- odd. I did not at all get the Quantum Leap stuff, and the ukulele seemed out of place, too. I kept waiting for some explanation or backstory, nope. Maybe it will be clear in the next book (Egg Marks the Spot). I did really like the funny little bookstore! Nice that the story gave me some surprises. Before I had this one in hand, I thought it was a picture book- no, it’s a short chapter book. Along the lines of The Bat-Poet by Randall Jarrell, or The Griffin and the Minor Canon by Frank Stockton.

Illustrations by Jon Klassen. Borrowed from the public library.