Popcorn the Squirrel by Headline Books / Zoom Into Books

Charlie befriends an injured squirrel, and little does she know they will become great friends. They hunt Easter eggs by flashlight, ride sleighs, and plant flower bulbs together. They share adventures, friendship, trust, and kindness and learn how important it is to be kind to one another. POPCORN THE SQUIRREL RUSTY MCQUADE

Rusty McQuade is a native of West Virginia and attended the College of Health Sciences in Roanoke, VA. She works with home health patients to help them maintain and gain muscle strength. A former Lewisburg, WV firefighter for eight years, she was also a preschool director for fifteen years. She is a ski instructor, soccer coach and referees soccer children of all ages. She is a Zoom Into Books author and was featured at the American Library Association National Conference in Washington D.C. in the Headline Books Booth. She is with the Headline Kids School Show Program and author of award-winning Stickyman Movements and The Tattletale Bathtub. She lives in southern West Virginia with her family.

Rusty McQuade illustrated by Allison Bostic

Popcorn the Squirrel by Rusty McQuade illustrated by Allison Bostic ©2025 Rusty McQuade All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any other form or for any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage system, without written permission from Headline Books, Inc. To order additional copies of this book or for book publishing information, or to contact the author: Headline Books, Inc. P. O. Box 52 Terra Alta, WV 26764 www.headlinebooks.com mybook@headlinebooks.com Headline Kids is an imprint of Headline Books, Inc. ISBN: 9781958914427 Library of Congress Control Number: 2024944143

P R I N T E D I N T H E U N I T E D S TAT E S O F A M E R I C A

This book is dedicated to my children, Jason and Christina. Jason inspired me, and Christina encouraged me to put my stories on paper for other children to enjoy. This story was inspired by my granddaughter Charlie and her love of squirrels. It illustrates that kindness goes a long way.

Chapter 1

Charlie Makes A Friend Charlie loved going down by the river to eat popcorn and watch the squirrels play. One day, she saw a squirrel sitting on a branch and said, “Hello squirrel, I am sharing my popcorn. Would you like some?” The squirrel scurried down the tree to the ground. “Hi squirrel, I won’t hurt you,” Charlie said as she tossed a piece of popcorn down on the ground. The squirrel scampered over to the popcorn and ate it. She tossed another piece over and he caught it. She took a step closer and tossed another piece of popcorn and he caught it as well. She took a step closer and tossed another piece of popcorn and he caught that piece of popcorn. By now, Charlie was very close to the squirrel. She leaned over with a piece of popcorn in her hand. “Here you go,” said Charlie and the squirrel took the popcorn right out of her hand.

Charlie couldn’t believe it; the squirrel was eating popcorn right out of her hand! “Isn’t it nice to share?” she said to the squirrel.

Chapter 2

Acorn Pie Several days later, Charlie was making apple pie and noticed something looking at her. It was the squirrel and he had a bag of acorns in his hands. He wanted Charlie to make him a pie. “Okay, I’ll make you an acorn pie.” While Charlie was making the acorn pie, she looked out the window and yelled, “Oh, no, the squirrel is in trouble.”

Chapter 3

Popcorn in Trouble The wind had been blowing and now it was blowing so hard the branches were starting to move. The very branch the squirrel was sitting on snapped, the squirrel lost his balance and fell to the ground. Charlie ran out to check on the squirrel and didn’t see him anywhere. She thought he was so scared he ran away to hide somewhere. I hope that squirrel will be alright and I sure hope it wasn’t the squirrel I feed popcorn. She looked and looked, but the squirrel was nowhere to be found. Charlie went down to the river to her favorite spot. As she was sitting there, a deer came up to her as if to tell her something. At first it frightened Charlie. Then Charlie asked, “What is it? What do you want?” She could tell the deer wanted her to follow him, so she did.

Chapter 4

Charlie followed the deer She wasn’t sure what the deer wanted, then she thought maybe the deer knew something about the squirrel. Charlie and the deer walked around a big tree and she saw something. She ran over and on the ground was a squirrel. He wasn’t moving. She knelt down and saw he was breathing, but hurt. She said, “Don’t worry, little buddy, I’ll help you,”

Charlie picked up the squirrel and carried him home. She could tell it was the squirrel she had been feeding popcorn. She gathered up some bandages and doctored his wounds. She got a blanket and put it in a box to make him a bed. She was so kind to the little squirrel. Several days went by and the little squirrel didn’t move. Charlie kept saying to him, “Come on, little buddy, please wake up.” A tear ran down her face and landed on the squirrel’s face. Suddenly, the squirrel woke up!

Charlie shouted, “Oh, you are awake. How about some popcorn?” So Charlie shared her popcorn with the squirrel. The little squirrel got better, and Charlie took him outside so he could go back to his home in the tree. She said, “You know what? I’m going to name you Popcorn the Squirrel.”

Charlie sat down in her favorite chair under the tree where Popcorn the Squirrel lived. Popcorn ran up the tree and started shaking a branch, and acorns started falling down on Charlie. At first, she started to get angry. Then she began to wonder why he was doing that! Then Charlie realized that Popcorn the Squirrel was trying to share his acorns with her the way she had shared her popcorn with him.

Chapter 5

Charlie and Popcorn Build A Snowman When Charlie woke up the next day and looked outside, she was surprised. It had snowed during the night. Charlie loves the snow, so she went outside to play and make a snowman. Popcorn shared some of his acorns. He put them on the snowman for buttons. Charlie told Popcorn, “You are a great friend. Thank you for sharing.” 21

Charlie went to the barn and got her sled. She went to the top of the hill and sat down on it. When she started down the hill, Popcorn the Squirrel ran and jumped on the back of the sled with her. He held on tight to Charlie. “Yippee,” shouted Charlie, “we are going fast.” They played all day in the snow.

Chapter 6

Popcorn Hunts Easter Eggs Winter is finally over, and spring has arrived. Charlie ran outside to plant her tulip bulbs. She looked up, and there sat Popcorn on a branch—eating a tulip bulb! At first, Charlie got angry and said, “Popcorn, no, you aren’t supposed to eat them. You plant them in the ground, and they will grow into flowers.” Popcorn felt bad. He didn’t know about these things. He climbed down the tree to help plant the rest of the tulip bulbs. 24

Charlie said, “I’m sorry I got angry. Maybe I should have explained what I was doing.” Charlie and Popcorn finished planting the tulip bulbs together. One day, Charlie and Popcorn were sitting under their favorite tree eating popcorn when they both noticed that the tulips had bloomed. Charlie said, “All the hard work planting those tulip bulbs paid off. Look at all of those beautiful red tulips. Just in time for the annual Easter egg hunt.” All of her family and friends came to the river for the Easter egg hunt. They all brought food, a flashlight, and an Easter basket for their eggs. Everyone ate and then got their flashlights to go hunting for the Easter eggs in the dark. Some of the plastic eggs had prizes in them, but the one who found the most eggs would win a big chocolate bunny. Charlie and Popcorn hunted for the eggs together. They both hoped they would find the most eggs and win the chocolate bunny. They found one hundred eggs and they won the chocolate bunny. 25

Chapter 7

Charlie and Popcorn at The Beach The next day Charlie packed her bags to go on Easter vacation. Popcorn wanted to go too, so he hid in Charlie’s suitcase. When Charlie got to the beach and opened her bag, out popped Popcorn. “Popcorn,” shouted Charlie, “what are you doing here”? Charlie unpacked her bag and then she took Popcorn down to the beach. Popcorn had never seen the ocean. There was a lot of water and sand.

Charlie ran into the ocean. Popcorn wanted to play, but he was afraid of the water. Charlie told him to get on her head, so he climbed onto her head, and into the water they went. Popcorn held on tight to Charlie’s hair band with his feet. Now what a sight, a squirrel on a little girl’s head! They were both having so much fun that it made everyone else smile. When they got back home from the beach, they both ran down to the river to eat popcorn together. Charlie said to Popcorn, “You know what? We have great fun together. It is nice to do things with a friend.” The next day, as they sit together on a blanket, Charlie thinks about taking Popcorn on a fishing trip. Then she stopped, looked at Popcorn, and said, “You know what, I bet you could teach me how to climb a tree.” “High Five”

Fun Squirrel Facts 1. The gray squirrel isn’t just gray. It comes in a variety of colors, such as white, gray, brown, and black. 2. Gray squirrels are also known as living fossils. Their species has changed very little in 37 million years. 3. A squirrel has padded feet that cushion jumps from up to 20 feet (6 meters) long. Their sweat glands are also on their feet. 4. They are also fantastic runners. Squirrels can run 20 mph (32 kph). 5. They can run headfirst down a tree trunk. Eastern Gray Squirrels are also excellent swimmers. 6. Their hands are in the shape of a triangle, which helps their claws grab things easier.

7. Their eyes are high on their head and placed on each side of the head so they can see a large amount of their surroundings without having to turn their head. 8. Squirrels communicate with each other by making chirping sounds and by tail movements. 9. This squirrel’s greatest tool may be its tail. It is used for balance, as shade from the sun, as an umbrella, as a blanket, and as a rudder when swimming. 10. When gray squirrels forget where they have buried their acorns, the forgotten nuts grow into oak trees.

Sing to the tune of “She’ll Be Coming Around the Mountain When She Comes” He’ll be coming down the tree when he comes. He’ll be coming down the tree when he comes. He’ll be coming down the tree. He’ll be coming down the tree. He’ll be coming down the tree when he comes. He’ll be gathering up some nuts when he comes. He’ll be gathering up some nuts when he comes. He’ll be gathering up some nuts. He’ll be gathering up some nuts. He’ll be gathering up some nuts when he comes. He’ll be glad when Spring comes around again. He’ll be glad when Spring comes around again. He’ll be glad when Spring comes. He’ll be glad when Spring comes. He’ll be glad when Spring comes around again.

We’ll all go out to greet him when Spring comes. We’ll all go out to greet him when Spring comes. We’ll all go out to greet him. We’ll all go out to greet him. We’ll all go out to greet him when Spring comes. We’ll all make some popcorn when he comes. We’ll all make some popcorn when he comes. We’ll all make some popcorn. We’ll all make some popcorn. We’ll all make some popcorn when he comes. We’ll all eat the popcorn when he comes. We’ll all eat the popcorn when he comes. We’ll all eat the popcorn. We’ll all eat the popcorn. We’ll all eat the popcorn when he comes.

Questions 1. What was the little girl’s name? 2. What did she feed the squirrel? 3. What kind of pie did she make for the squirrel? 4. What name did she give the squirrel? 5. What did they make with snow? 6. Did they go sleigh riding? 7. What can of flowers did they plant? 8. What color where they? 9. What did they hunt for by flash light? 10. Who got hurt? 11. Did the little girl take care of him? 12. Where did they go on vacation? 13. What can the squirrel teach the little girl to do? 14. What matters in life? 1. Charlie 2. Popcorn 3. Acorn pie 4. Popcorn the Squirrel 5. Snowman 6. Yes 7. Tulip Bulbs 8. Red 9. Easter Eggs 10. Popcorn the Squirrel 11. Yes 12. The beach 13. Climb a tree 14. Kindness 32

Charlie befriends an injured squirrel, and little does she know they will become great friends. T hey hunt Easter eggs by flashlight, ride sleds, and plant flower bulbs together. T hey share adventures, friendship, trust, and kindness and learn how important it is to be kind to one another. POPCORN THE SQUIRREL RUSTY MCQUADE

Rusty McQuade illustrated by Allison Bostic