The Squirrel Wife

by Philippa Pearce, Wayne Anderson (illustrator)

When Jack helps one of the green people who live in the forest, the fairy king rewards him with a mysterious 'squirrel wife'. The couple are happy until Jack's jealous older brother turns the villagers against him and, one day, they lock him up.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Fairy Tales, Middle Grade

30 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1972

About the author

Philippa Pearce was an acclaimed English author of children’s literature, best remembered for her classic time-slip novel Tom’s Midnight Garden, which won the 1958 Carnegie Medal and remains a staple of British children’s fiction. Raised in Great Shelford, Cambridgeshire, in the Mill House by the River Cam, Pearce drew lifelong inspiration from her rural upbringing. Educated at the Perse School for Girls and Girton College, Cambridge, she studied English and History before working as a civil servant and later producing schools’ radio programmes for the BBC.
Her debut, Minnow on the Say (1955), inspired by local landscapes and a childhood canoe trip, was a Carnegie runner-up and later adapted for television. Tom’s Midnight Garden, also rooted in her childhood environment, became her most celebrated work, inspiring multiple adaptations for stage, screen, and television. Pearce went on to publish over thirty books, including A Dog So Small, The Squirrel Wife, The Battle of Bubble and Squeak, and The Way to Sattin Shore, with several earning further Carnegie commendations.
Married briefly to Martin Christie, with whom she had a daughter, Pearce returned to Great Shelford in 1973, where she lived until her death in 2006. Her legacy continues through the annual Philippa Pearce Lecture, celebrating excellence in children’s literature.

Reviews

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This reminded me of some of the folktales that Kevin Crossley-Holland has written. A worthy lad does a good deed for the green people of the forest and is rewarded with a wife who is half squirrel, half human. When Jack lands in jail, however, due to the jealousy and ill wishes of neighbors, both he and his wife must make difficult choices. I love the way this book is illustrated, with each page surrounded by a border of intertwined leaves, flowers, and stems, giving it a Celtic look. Full-page illustrations are in color and have a chunky feel, as if they are made from woodcuts that have been watercolored, lending a feeling of "long ago" to the text. This story was reprinted recently with different illustrations. I'd like to get a copy of that one to compare. I do recommend this edition, however, for a very enjoyable tale.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This reminded me of some of the folktales that Kevin Crossley-Holland has written. A worthy lad does a good deed for the green people of the forest and is rewarded with a wife who is half squirrel, half human. When Jack lands in jail, however, due to the jealousy and ill wishes of neighbors, both he and his wife must make difficult choices. I love the way Derek Collard illustrated this book, with each page surrounded by a border of intertwined leaves, flowers, and stems, giving it a Celtic look. Full-page illustrations are in color and have a chunky feel, as if they are made from woodcuts that have been watercolored, lending a feeling of "long ago" to the text. This story was reprinted recently with different illustrations. I'd like to get a copy of that one to compare. I do recommend this edition, however, for a very enjoyable tale.

[Papillon · Rating 1 out of 5]

First and foremost, this book should NOT be geared towards children. Creepy would be a freaking understatement. I will start with the story itself and then move on to the illustrations.

The story low-key smacks of beastiality. Just saying. It's full of liars, abusers, "racists", and just plain awful. There is jack squat here to be positive about.

The illustrations are straight-up nightmare fuel. I'm an adult and it gave me a bad dream. The way the characters are drawn, along with the backgrounds, makes one have a bad feeling all over. As you're reading, you need to take breaks and look around yourself to make sure some little creepy demon isn't sneaking up on you to drag into that hell-world that is this book.

Please don't let your children see this book. They won't sleep right for a long time.

[Maya Engbrecht · Rating 3 out of 5]

Genre: Traditional Lit
Grades 2-6
I was drawn to this folktale originally because of the intricate illustrations and interesting title. While it does have all the class folktale aspects, the story itself was a little weird. It's a pretty lengthy book so it wouldn't hold the attention of super young readers. Overall, even though the story didn't interest me as much as others, I did enjoy the illustrations throughout.

[Maddy Roth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: Traditional literature
Date: 11-30
Grade Range: 2-6

Again, this is another story I had never heard of until I found it until the library. It was different than most fairytales. The language was more for older students and the pictures were more traditional and may not hold students interest as well. It was a very different story. I liked it a bit, but it is not my favorite book.

[Allen Sanita · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not your ordinary, everyday fairytale. The green people/fairies are kinda shady and weird... the illustrations make this story seems even more creepy and dark. But it's still interesting and not so predictable for me.

[Celina Chase · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though longer than traditional picture books, this fairytale features beautiful, softly-colored illustrations and is one of my favorites to read to children.

[Viviana · Rating 1 out of 5]

... :/
Lovely forest art, but gross and creepy story

[Adrienne · Rating 1 out of 5]

So disappointing! The book itself is beautiful and I broke the rules and judged it by it’s cover and awesome illustration and printing. There was so much potential to bring this attempt at a fable fairy tale to a unique and creative conclusion and it fell so short! I don’t know if I have ever been this disappointed with the ending of story. It’s almost like the author hadn’t fully thought through the potential of the story and just ended because she ran out of pages. This is the opinion of just one reader of course, but I feel it to be justified. I am actually going to attempt a rewrite of the ending just to make myself feel a little less like I have just been jilted.

[Caren · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story has the feel of a classic fairy tale. There is Jack, the kind younger brother, who is thought to be a fool; there is a wicked older brother; there are magical green forest folk; and there is a squirrel who becomes a woman in order to be Jack's squirrel wife. In the end, kindness and selflessnss are rewarded and evil is punished. It all happened 'once upon a time, long ago', as befits a fairy tale. The detailed illustrations, full of tiny forest creatures, add to the magic of the story. A wordy picture book, this would be best read to elementary-age children.

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally published in 1971, this 2007 edition has new illustrations. An interesting read. And rather odd. Two swineherd brothers live on the edge of a forest with their pigs. The older brother is mean, and makes the younger brother, Jack, do all the work. There are little green fairy people who live in the forest, and everyone feared them. One night, Jack becomes involved with the green people, and his life changes forever. It all gets rather odd by the end, with magic, half squirrel, half human creatures, and some other craziness.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a crazy-weird book. I read a different edition with different cover, and perhaps different illustrations. The illustrations in the library book we read were so old that the colors had sort of merged together and you could not make out much of the pictures. Interesting, but would not go to the top of a "to-read" list!

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute book except for how the main character is called a "fool" several times. The main character did nothing to deserve the slight. I found the use of the word off putting and unnecessary. I don't know why the authors felt the need to add that part.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting original fairy tale about a man who comes across the fairies in the forest after doing them a good turn, he is rewarded with a squirrel wife who helps him to live in the forest. I liked the illustrations, though the story itself was a bit odd.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really, really enjoyed these painstakingly detailed illustrations. They have a European look to them, and static figures. Embellished everywhere with small birds and beasts, the tree shapes frame gorgeous cameos in which the characters star. Beautifully done.

[Dianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet little book. Nice illustrations. While it's not the most wonderful of children's books, it is a lovely story with a good message.

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anderson's illustrations feel amateurish.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This wonderful original story is written like a folk or fairy tale. Very entertaining!

[Lauri Meyers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very much like a classic fairy tale, in a picture book format. Lengthy- read over two bedtimes.

[Emerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Its such a cute little fairytale, but I kind of wish that Jack had turned into a squirrel at the end.