Bird & Squirrel #[4]

James Burks brings his beloved odd-couple duo back in Bird & Squirrel On Fire, and the cover sets the tone perfectly — a wide-eyed Bird clutching a marshmallow-tipped roasting stick and a grinning, buck-toothed Squirrel come bursting through a ring of leaping flames, framed by a dark tree hollow, while a pair of glowing red eyes lurk ominously in the shadows below. The energy is gleefully chaotic, balancing campfire fun with just enough danger to keep young readers on the edge of their seats. At $9.99, this 2017 Scholastic volume looks like a terrific addition to any middle-grade shelf.