How Chipmunk Got His Stripes

This buoyant picture book, based on a Native American folktale, tells the origin story of the chipmunk's stripes. A boastful Bear claims he can stop the sun from rising, but a skeptical Brown Squirrel waits all night to prove him wrong. When the sun inevitably rises, the squirrel's triumphant teasing leads to an unexpected transformation. It's a gentle yet impactful story for ages 4-8, exploring themes of pride, teasing, and the natural world, perfect for sparking conversations about consequences and respecting others.

Bear brags that he can do anything-even stop the sun from rising. Brown Squirrel doesn't believe him, so the two wait all night to see if the sun will rise. Sure enough, the sky reddens and the sun appears. Brown Squirrel is so happy to be right that he teases Bear. What happens when a little brown squirrel teases a big black bear? Brown Squirrel gets stripes and is called chipmunk from that day forward . . . Joseph and James Bruchac join forces to create this buoyant picture book, based on a Native American folktale. Illustrated by Jose Aruego and Ariane Dewey.