• Age: 3 to 5
• Grade: p to k
• Reading age: 3 to 5

Ilua the ground squirrel loves nothing more than to relax in the cool tundra and nibble on some freshly picked berries.
Her family, on the other hand, is always telling her to hurry up, to scurry here or there, but Ilua prefers to move at her own pace.
But with winter fast approaching, it will soon be the time for Ilua and all the other squirrels to burrow deep underground to hibernate. There is lots to get done before the family can hunker down, and if Ilua relaxes for too long, she may just be left out of the den in the cold.

Nola Hicks is a teacher, writer, and artist living in Chesterfield Inlet, Nunavut. She holds degrees in English literature and education, and loves teaching children about the joys of reading. Nola lives with her husband, Adam, and her two dogs, Yaro and Lulu. When not drawing, writing, reading, playing with her dogs, or teaching, she enjoys gardening.

Nola Hicks' profile page

• Finalist for the Shining Willow Award