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About The Book

Jory John’s Bad Seed series meets After the Fall by Dan Santat in this charming picture book about a young acorn’s grand adventure and the incredible transformation that follows.

Acorn is a little wild, and from his oak tree perch, he longs for adventure. When he’s the first of his friends to jump off the oak tree, he’s on his way into the wide world, full of new experiences that fill his little heart with excitement!

But when a squirrel buries Acorn deep underground, the thrill-seeking Acorn finds himself forced to stay still, in the darkness, for a long time. To turn this biggest setback into a wild adventure, Acorn may have to change from the inside out.

About The Author

Formerly an editorial director at Random House BFYR, Jen Arena has written over fifty books for kids, some of which have been translated into French, Spanish, Korean, and Arabic.

About The Illustrator

Jessica Gibson is a freelance illustrator from the riverfront area of Detroit, Michigan. She started her career after graduating from Wayne County Community College and has produced illustrations for a number of publishers and brands, including picture books, editorial spot pieces, packaging design, and surface patterns.

Product Details

  • Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (March 15, 2022)
  • Length: 40 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781534483163
  • Grades: P - 3
  • Ages: 4 - 8
  • Lexile ® AD630L The Lexile reading levels have been certified by the Lexile developer, MetaMetrics®

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Awards and Honors

  • South Carolina Picture Book Award Nominee
  • Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Award Nominee
  • Black-Eyed Susan Book Award Nominee (MD)
  • Nevada Young Readers' Award
  • North Carolina Children's Book Award Nominee
  • Wanda Gág Read Aloud Book Award Honor Book (MN)
  • Florida Book Award Silver Medal, Children's
  • Show Me Readers Award Final Nominee (MO)
  • Magnolia Book Award (MS)
  • CBC Favorites

Resources and Downloads

High Resolution Images