Don and Roy Freeman Follow a Squirrel Through Washington, D. C. in One More Acorn

Author-illustrator Don Freeman is best known for Corduroy, the classic picture book about a teddy bear who lives in a department store and longs for a home. He created many memorable books in his lifetime, but one of his most cherished ideas never saw the light of day until last year.

As his son, Roy Freeman, explains in a note in the back, his father began working on One More Acorn, a story about a squirrel in Washington, D. C., during a trip to the Capitol in 1963. He spent so much time on it during that trip that he set up a meeting with his editor to talk about publishing the book, but before the meeting occurred, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, and Freeman was too heartbroken to continue the project. It was only recently that Roy discovered his artwork and narration for the story, and with the help of artist Jody Wheeler, he brought his late father’s book to fruition.

One More Acorn is a beautifully illustrated tale about a gray squirrel – the father of his family – foraging for acorns to help his family get through the winter. As he darts here and there, hoping to find the nuts he buried weeks ago, fiery leaves surround him on every tree – and on the ground as well. He finds plenty of acorns, but he has his eyes on a particular prize: one extra-large nut he remembers finding long ago. Getting to it will require agility and cleverness.

Meanwhile, although the text only identifies the Washington Monument, the illustrations offer a charming tour of several of Washington, D. C.’s most prominent landmarks. Along with the interesting setting is a subtle message about the value of trees. Earl the Squirrel stumbles upon a Plant a Tree parade, and we see schoolchildren planting saplings. Then, of course, there’s the fact that he and his family live in a tree and that trees provide his food. A tree also helps him to get out of a tight spot toward the end of the book.

The story here is simple but enjoyable. There’s a soothing repetition to his interactions with his family, and it’s fun to get the squirrel’s perspective n things. For instance, when he sees the children doing their planting, he speculates that they, too, are on the lookout for acorns.

One More Acorn has a very realistic look to it, and while Earl and is family are anthropomorphized, they look and act as normal squirrels do. On one level, this is a little story about a squirrel preparing for cold weather, but it’s also a sort of love letter to the nation’s Capitol, whose atmosphere and excitement is beautifully captured here. If you got a kick out of Corduroy, you’ll want to have a look at this unique father-son collaboration.