All the Things

A blog by Holly Papa.

Skunks! by David T. Greenberg Illustrated by Lynn Munsinger

by | Jan 26, 2009 | Blog | 11 comments

skunksWe saw this at the library and I knew we had to get it. You see my daughter is afraid of the dark. So now you’re thinking what does being afraid of the dark have to do with skunks? Well my daughter saw an episode of Curious George about skunks and she learned that they are nocturnal and not only that they can make you stink when they spray. So in classic pre-school logic this translates into

Her: Mom I am afraid of the dark

Me: Why are you afraid of the dark?

Her:  Because skunks are nocturnal so I am afraid of the dark because because they might get in my room when I’m sleeping.

Basically her fear is that these skunks might somehow get in the house after dark and get in her room and then lift their tail . . . and the rest would be as they say . . . stinky. (We have a hard time convincing her to go places after dark because of skunks, which is kind of hard to avoid going out after dark considering the sun goes down at 5:00 pm)

I thought Skunks! might help her not focus so much on her fear of the dark/skunks. And this book is a fun one about skunks with rhymes and hilarious illustrations. She loved it!!!!! So far we have gone one week without the skunk fear. One of my favorite pages is the skunkmobile covered in skunks. This is what is says

Climb into your skunkmobile

Snap a skunk salute

Then rocket out of the skunk cave

In your super skunker suit

Hyper windshield-wiper skunks

Little baby diaper skunks

(Not only are they likable

They’re naturally recyclable)

Who would have thought skunks are so green. Really it’s a fun read – the pictures and words will crack you up. I am NOT convinced though that skunks would work for ‘undies’ as Greenberg suggests. I highly recommend this book.

So just out of curiosity do any of you have a fun I’m scared of the dark or skunk story? If so please share.

11 Comments

  1. Tricia

    My son saw that same episode and has since been afraid of skunks. I bought this book for him a while back and he loves it. For Christmas I got him Emily Jenkin’s book Skunkdog. It’s a great companion for this book, and is about a friendship between a dog who can’t smell and a lovable skunk.

    Reply
    • caribookscoops

      Tricia – Sounds like our kids are on the same wavelength. I will have to check out Skunkdog, my daughters loves, loves dogs.

      Britt – Thank goodness. You know she saw a show about tornadoes and she really, really wants to see one like up close and personal kind of see one. I think I would take a skunk over a tornado, but you know kids.

      Reply
  2. Britt

    Thank heavens that episode didn’t cause that reaction at our house!

    Reply
  3. essaadams

    Hey there – tell them I kiss two little girl skunks goodnight every night. They are sweet hearts. You can show them pictures and read them stories on my Pet Skunk Medicine blog.

    www dot skunkiedelight dot wordpress dot com

    Essa Adams

    Reply
  4. Natasha @ Maw Books

    Too cute! So far we haven’t had any fears yet in our house.

    Reply
  5. Charlotte

    Mine haven’t seen the episode, so aren’t traumatized by skunks, but this sounds like a lovely book to get anyway! thanks for the review.

    Reply
  6. Fulano

    I’ll admit skunks are stinky no doubt about that. To help your daughter with the skunks in your bedroom at night scare you can tell her the story of Old Mountain Man Joe. Old Joe use to have a terrible time keeping the skunks out of his log cabin. So one day he realized that if skunks are so stinky then they must not like beautiful smelling places or persons. Thus, Old Joe proceeded to gather up some pine needles and pine cones and spread them all throughout his home. From then on his room smelt so wonderfully beautiful that no stinky skunks ever dared take a step into his house.

    If it worked for Old Joe it can work for her. If the night skunk ordeal comes up again you might suggest she pick out a wonderfully smelling perfume or car odorizer of her choice and spray it on or hang it up before going to bed. Its a sure fire way to keep the skunks out of bedrooms at night.

    It sounds like a great book I’ll have to read it.

    That Old Mountain Man Joe story is a total wise tale by the way but I bet it would work.

    Reply
  7. caribookscoops

    Essa – You have pet skunks! Wow . . . excuse me for asking, but have their scent bags (not sure what they are called) removed? I think my mom may have a skunk, once I’m not sure. I’ll have to ask her. I’ll show my daughter the picture although she may decide she wants one assuming she gets over the fear.

    Charlotte – Thanks for stopping by. Yes it is a lovely book.

    Natasha – No fears . . . lucky . . . if and when they do happen they aren’t too bad.

    Fulano – Thanks for the suggestion. That is an excellent idea. She loves things that lotions that are scented and recently discovered car deodorizers.

    Reply
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