Miss Suzy is not just another picture book from my shelf. It is, quite honestly, one of my very favorite picture books from childhood. I was a voracious reader as a child, and that is not an exaggeration. One of my elementary report cards even said something like, “Sallie checks many books out of the library. But does she read them?” Yes, I probably read most of them. So for me to say a picture book may have been my favorite is saying a great deal.

As I sit here and think back over all the books I loved, I cannot think of any picture book I loved more than Miss Suzy. I still have my childhood copy, and I count it among my childhood treasures. That alone tells you how much this book has meant to me. I was delighted to discover it is still in print, because it is exactly the kind of charming, old-fashioned story I love sharing with other families.

Book Snapshot

• Author: Miriam Young
• Illustrator: Arnold Lobel
• Ages: 4–8
• Themes: friendship, courage, home, kindness, squirrels, imagination, old-fashioned stories
• Best For: cozy read-alouds, character lessons, squirrel studies, and families who love classic picture books

About the Book

Miss Suzy by Miriam Young, with pictures by Arnold Lobel, is the delightful story of a little gray squirrel who lives “in the tip, tip, top of a tall oak tree.” First published in 1964, it has a timeless feel that still appeals to children today.

Miss Suzy lives happily in her cozy treehouse home until some mean red squirrels chase her away. Sad and homeless, she eventually finds shelter in a beautiful dollhouse. There she meets a band of brave toy soldiers, and together they form an unlikely and memorable friendship. In time, Miss Suzy and the soldiers help one another in ways that make the story especially satisfying and sweet.

It is a gentle, old-fashioned tale with all the elements children love: a cozy home, a bit of danger, loyal friends, and a happy ending. Arnold Lobel’s illustrations add so much warmth and charm that the book becomes even more memorable.

Amazon’s description captures it well:

Miss Suzy is a little gray squirrel who lives happily in her oak-tree home until she is chased away by some mean red squirrels. Poor Miss Suzy is very sad. But soon she finds a beautiful dollhouse and meets a band of brave toy soldiers.

How Miss Suzy and the soldiers help each other makes a gentle, old-fashioned tale that has captured the imaginations of girls and boys alike for forty years. Arnold Lobel’s enchanting pictures are sure to make the kind squirrel and the gallant soldiers the everlasting friends of all who turn these pages.

That description is true, but it still does not quite explain why this book has stayed with me for so long. As I have gotten older, it has been interesting to think about how the books of my childhood shaped me and why certain stories appealed to me so deeply. When I reread Miss Suzy now, knowing myself better and understanding more of how I was created, I can see so clearly why I loved it.

Because I see so much of myself in Miss Suzy.

She loves beauty, home, coziness, and quiet domestic life. She sings while she works. She makes lovely things. She creates a warm, welcoming place. She is gentle, but she is not without courage. There is something about her combination of tenderness, homemaking, and bravery that has always spoken to me.

And I love that this favorite from my own childhood became meaningful in our family as well. Caroline also loved Miss Suzy and even has a stuffed animal squirrel she named Miss Suzy. That alone makes this book even sweeter to me. It is one thing to carry a childhood favorite in your own heart. It is another to watch it become part of your child’s life too.

Why This Book Works for Homeschooling

Miss Suzy is a wonderful homeschool picture book because it offers far more than a cute animal story. It provides meaningful connections to character, nature study, narration, imaginative play, and even home life. It works especially well for:

• Character – discussing kindness, courage, friendship, hospitality, and helping others
• Nature Study – learning more about squirrels, oak trees, acorns, and even fireflies
• Language Arts – retelling, narration, copywork, creative writing, and descriptive vocabulary
• Imaginative Play – recreating the story with simple props and homemade materials
• Handicrafts – making treehouses, squirrel homes, nature crafts, and simple art projects

It is also simply the kind of book that reminds us why picture books matter. Some books do not need an elaborate lesson plan to justify their place in our homeschool. They enrich the atmosphere of home. They give children something beautiful, memorable, and worthy of loving. Miss Suzy is that kind of book.

Picture Book Activities

Use these simple ideas to turn your read-aloud into a cozy squirrel-themed mini unit study. Because this is such a rich story, you could easily spread these activities over several days.

• Retell the Story: Use a small gray squirrel or another squirrel figure and have your children retell the story of Miss Suzy. They can make her home out of a box and draw toy soldiers on cardstock.
• Firefly Lamps: Miss Suzy’s lamps had fireflies in them. Learn about fireflies and how they light up. If it is the right season where you live, catch a few in a jar to observe briefly before releasing them.
• Write a Song: Miss Suzy loves to sing while cleaning and cooking in her home. Invite your children to make up a song that Miss Suzy might sing while she works.
• Write a Story: Every night Miss Suzy told the soldiers stories. Write a story Miss Suzy might have told to her soldier friends.
• Word Search: Complete the Free Squirrels Word Search.
• Copywork: Enjoy this free Free Squirrels Copywork, which includes interesting facts about squirrels in both print and cursive.
• Acorn Art Project: Miss Suzy likes making acorn cake and using acorn cups. Collect acorns and use them in an art project, such as decorating a picture frame. If you cannot find acorns where you live, you can use purchased real or faux acorns instead.
• Design a Treehouse: Miss Suzy loves living in her home in the tip, tip, top of a tall oak tree. Design the perfect treehouse. Children can draw and label it or create a shoebox diorama of the inside.
• Even More About Squirrels: If your children want to keep going, add these squirrel-themed ideas: Squirrels Unit Study and We Made an Easy Squirrel Feeder Picnic Table.

Discussion Questions

1. What made Miss Suzy’s home in the oak tree feel so cozy and special?
2. How did Miss Suzy respond when the red squirrels chased her away?
3. What qualities made Miss Suzy and the toy soldiers such good friends?
4. Why do you think stories about small, gentle characters can still show real courage?
5. If you could help Miss Suzy, what would you do for her?
6. What part of the story feels most memorable or comforting to you?
7. What do you think children learn from books like Miss Suzy that they may not learn from louder, busier stories?

Final Recommendation

If I could recommend only a handful of truly cozy, memorable picture books for a family library, Miss Suzy would absolutely be one of them. It is tender, old-fashioned, and full of charm, but it is also a story about home, courage, friendship, and the quiet strength of a gentle spirit. For me, it is more than a wonderful picture book. It is one of the treasures of my childhood.

And perhaps that is part of why I recommend it so strongly. The best picture books do not simply entertain children for a few minutes. They stay with them. They shape what feels beautiful, safe, and good. They become part of the emotional and imaginative world a child carries into adulthood. Miss Suzy did that for me, and I think it can do the same for other children as well.

If you have never read it, I hope you will consider adding it to your family library. And if you already know and love it, then you understand exactly why this little gray squirrel still has a place in my heart after all these years.