By Christine McFaul
A roommate? Not possible! Yet, here is Skunk, knocking persistently on Badger’s door and insisting they are meant to be housemates. Despite Badger’s best efforts to stop the inevitable, Skunk and his dilapidated red suitcase manage to charm their way across the threshold of Aunt Lula’s brownstone…and a classic odd couple is born.
Skunk is lively. He bounces. He skips. He whistles tunes and clangs pans. He refuses to stay put in Special Guest Closets or to respect the boundaries of private Rock Rooms. How can Badger, a serious geologist, be expected to complete Important Rock Work under such conditions?
The main plot contemplates this dilemma while subplots provide beautiful moments along the winding journey to friendship. The subplots, at turns silly (such as the saga of “rocket potato” complete with theme song, or the mysterious exploits generated by the silent music from Skunk’s chicken-whistle) and at turns profound (such as a “hope-filled” debate over Shakespeare’s Henry V, or a subtle contemplation of the effects of abiding loneliness) create erudite layers within a deceptively simple story of friendship.
When the reader, along with Skunk and Badger, have made their way through a grand adventure, a spray gone wrong, and more chickens than one would expect to encounter in such a tale, they will, undoubtedly, realize that despite significant differences (or perhaps because of them), great friendships are indeed possible.
With shades of Arnold Lobel’s Frog and Toad and Kenneth Grahame’s The Wind in the Willows, Timberlake’s Skunk and Badger has the feel of a throwback. The plot creeps up slow and subtle, the humour is dry as toast, and the story proves Timberlake a master of language. Klassen’s line drawings are perfectly paired, complementing the classic feel of the text and bringing the warmth and humour of these quirky characters to life.
Certain to delight readers of any age, Skunk and Badger is a great option for a chapter-by-chapter read aloud. It would also be an excellent choice for confident readers in the recommended 7–10 year-old age category.
Bonus: An audiobook version of Skunk and Badger is also available and generating buzz for being particularly well done!