About the Author
Mildred Bowers Armstrong was an American writer who loved making poems and stories for kids. She was born around 1901 in the United States. She went to good schools like Northwestern University and learned a lot about books and art. Armstrong enjoyed watching birds, animals, and nature in her garden. This made her write fun poems about everyday things, like a playful squirrel. She wrote in the middle of the 1900s and wanted children to smile and learn from her words. Her simple poems help us see the world with joy and wonder.
What’s the Story About?
This is a short and happy poem about a cute squirrel that lives in a tree. The poet watches the squirrel and tells us what it looks like and how it plays. The squirrel has a bushy tail that looks just like a question mark—curvy and fun! It wears a soft gray coat, like an overcoat on a cool day. The squirrel sits up tall on its back legs to eat a nut, holding it like a little prize.
The squirrel loves to tease and play all the time. It runs up and down the tree trunk, making kids laugh. If children run around the tree to catch it or play chase, the squirrel is smart. It quickly goes the other way around the tree! So, the kids never catch it, but everyone has fun. The poem makes us feel like we are there in the garden, giggling at the squirrel's tricks. It shows how animals bring joy with their simple games and quick moves. The poet uses easy words to paint a picture, so we can almost see the gray fur and hear the happy noises.
Who’s Who in the Story
- The Squirrel: The main little animal in the poem. It is gray, with a tail like a question mark, and loves to eat nuts and play chase.
- The Poet: The writer who watches the squirrel and tells us about it. She sees the fun and shares it in simple lines.
- The Children: Happy kids who play around the tree. They try to catch the squirrel but always get tricked.
Themes and Moral
Themes:
- Joy in Nature: The poem shows how watching animals like squirrels can make us smile and feel happy.
- Play and Fun: Animals and kids both love games and teasing, which brings lightness to life.
- Seeing Beauty in Small Things: A simple squirrel teaches us to notice and enjoy everyday wonders around us.
- Smart and Quick: The squirrel's clever ways remind us that being fast and playful is a good skill.
Moral: Life is better when we play and laugh like the squirrel. Take time to watch nature and join in the fun—it makes our days brighter and teaches us to be quick and kind.
Important Vocabulary and Phrases
Here are some key words and short phrases from the poem. I explain them in easy words:
- Question mark: A curved sign (?) we use in writing to ask something, like the shape of the squirrel's tail.
- Overcoat: A warm, long coat you wear outside in cold weather.
- Tease: To make fun in a light way, like poking or chasing to laugh together.
- Sat up straight: Sit tall with your back straight, not bending over.
- Nut: A hard seed from a tree, like almond or walnut, that animals eat.
- Trunk: The thick main part of a tree that holds up the branches.
- Went the other way: Turned around and went in the opposite direction to trick someone.
- Phrase - "Likes to tease and play": Enjoys making jokes and running games with friends.
- Phrase - "Ran around his tree": Chased in circles near the squirrel's home tree.
These words help paint the picture of the poem. Try using them when you talk about animals or games!