Stumpy the Squirrel and friends team up to save the day in this charming standalone companion to the beloved Gooseberry Park , from Newbery Medalist Cynthia Rylant and illustrator Arthur Howard. There has been no rain for months, and all of the animals in Gooseberry Park are in danger. Can the gang of dear friends come up with a brilliant solution in time to save the day? Absolutely! Newbery Medalist Cynthia Rylant’s first novel in more than a decade has all the wit and charm of the first adventure of the Gooseberry Park gang, which Kirkus Reviews called “sophisticated and funny…a tender tale delivered by a sure hand.” Gr 3–5—Rain matters…especially when there is none. Gooseberry Park is suffering an unusual drought. In Gooseberry Park (Harcourt, 1995), readers met Stumpy, the caring mother squirrel; Murray, the animated black bat; Gwendolyn, the wise hermit crab; and Kona, the brave Chocolate Lab. In this clever sequel, the odd menagerie fears the effects of the drought on their beloved park and come up with a plan to get every creature, from the youngest to the oldest, life-saving water. They enlist the help of the park's assorted residents. While their scheme is utterly outrageous, (it's amazing what a raccoon, 200 owls, and 20 packs of chewing gum can do,) it conveys the idea that no matter the obstacles, a solution can be found by those willing to overcome differences and work together., This contemporary tale is a surefire winner. Rylant's inspired writing gives readers a humane understanding of drought and its consequences. The importance of family and friendship is reinforced as every creature rises to the occasion. The characters are wonderfully defined. The cartoonish black-and-white drawings add to the fun. Vocabulary is sophisticated. VERDICT Rylant does it again with this wonderful tale of nature, friendship, and family; a must-have.—Sada Mozer, Los Angeles Public Library Ten years after the publication of her last novel, Gooseberry Park (1995), Rylant returns with a sequel....Rylant writes with her customary restrained humor, creating with apparently no effort a full cast of three-dimensional furred and feathered characters. The story comes with lessons ranging from the overuse of fossil fuels to the peculiar magic of friendship, all applied with a gentle hand and a spirit of generous trust in the abilities of her readers to understand them. Her frequent collaborator Howard supplies lumpily humorous grayscale illustrations that augment the character development and give readers' eyes places to rest. Readers new to Gooseberry Park will hope they don't have to wait another 10 years for the next book -- Kirkus Reviews ― March 15, 2015 Twenty years after Gooseberry Park, Rylant and Howard return with a companion book, and it’s well worth the wait. While an ice storm figured prominently in the previous book, a drought is now causing trouble for Stumpy the squirrel, Murray the bat, and other animals in and around the park. Rylant swiftly recaps the events of the earlier book before moving on to the animals’ efforts to secure needed water, using a plan devised by genius crow Herman (it involves 200 owls and a great many drinking straws). Howard’s b&w illustrations build on the story’s ample humor (as when he shows a blissed-out Murray enjoying a Reiki session from Gwendolyn the hermit crab) while Rylant unspools a quietly magical tale of cooperation and kindness, with a gentle environmental undercurrent. -- Publishers Weekly, *STARRED REVIEW ― March 23, 2015 In this follow-up to Gooseberry Park (1995), the animals are living the dream. Murray the bat has a steady supply of Oreos; Gwendolyn the hermit crab periodically cruises around on the back of Kona, the chocolate lab; and Stumpy the squirrel has three bright children, though their habit of emulating Murray by hanging upside down has generated a bit of neighborhood gossip. When a drought hits the park and dries up Gooseberry Creek, however, the animal friends grow concerned for those who cannot journey far afield for water. That’s when they know they need a plan—a master plan. Enlisting a possum, a parliament of owls, and a few others, the park’s animals come together to deliver water to those in need. Veteran children’s author Rylant shows her knack for storytelling by incorporating just the right amount of heart, humor, and suspense into this gentle adventure. Short chapters generously peppered with Howard’s endearing and often amusing illustrations make this a natural step up from beginning readers. A sweet tale of friendship and teamwork. -- Booklist ― April 15, 2015 Cynthia Rylant is the author of more than one hundred books for young people, including beloved series Henry and Mudge, Motor Mouse, and Mr. Putter & Tabby series. Her novel Missing May received the Newbery Medal. She lives in Oregon. Arthur Howard is the illustrator of the Mr. Putter & Tabby, Gooseberry Park, and Motor Mouse series by Cynthia Rylant; Goatilock