I finished up a book project last month and took a small break last week, so it’s time to get back to my (unofficial) coloring page series!

This month, I’m still taking a break from insects. So, I decided to go back to an inspiration from a couple months ago. Back then, I posted this photo on my Facebook page.

It’s a real-life “What’s Wrong with This Picture” challenge!

Can you figure out what’s wrong?

Even though it’s wrong, I do like this version of the photo–that squirrel looks like he should be chilling on a beach!

Plus, it inspired this month’s coloring page. Here’s how that picture turned out:

Okay . . . maybe it’s a little strange to see a squirrel eating a hamburger?

According to the stereotypes, squirrels eat nuts. We think of them as cute little vegetarians.

It turns out, though, that squirrels are omnivores and will eat much more than just nuts. I won’t go into details, but there’s not much that they won’t eat–mushrooms, seeds, veggies, nuts, or meat. The only things they don’t eat much are cellulose materials such as leaves, grass, and woody stems.

Fun Facts about Squirrels:

If you need any more squirrel facts for the the kids in your life, check out these fun facts!

• There are almost 300 species of squirrels
• There are around 50 species of flying squirrels. 
• Despite their ability to live almost everywhere, squirrels are not native to Australia. (They were introduced there in the late 1800s).
• The largest tree squirrels (from SE Asia) weigh up to 5 pounds. Think about a squirrel as heavy as a bag of flour!
• The smallest squirrels weigh less than an ounce.
• In North America, a squirrel may hide up to 3,000 nuts each year. 
• Also, while they may seem flighty, squirrels do remember where they hide their caches, most of the time . . .

Be sure to check out the coloring page as well! You can download it here: coloring page.

Squirrel Activities

• Next time you see a squirrel, stop and watch it for a few minutes. What is it doing? Can you make a list or draw a sketch of the squirrel?
• Invent a new word to describe the way a squirrel moves.
• Use leaves, sticks, pine cones, and other natural material to create a collage “drawing” of a squirrel.
• Help a squirrel out! They are wild animals, so you shouldn’t feed them, but you can plant a tree (or a bush) that grows seeds or berries.
• Read some squirrel stories! (Ol’ Mama Squirrel, Scaredy Squirrel, and The Secret Life of Squirrels are fun books.)
• Make up your own story about a squirrel. If you want, you can use the tips here to practice storytelling.

If you are interested in more coloring pages and kids’ activities, make sure you sign up for my newsletter!

(Spoiler alert: if you didn’t figure out what was wrong with the first squirrel picture—the picture is turned on its side. The squirrel was actually hanging upside down like a bat.)

Update – 15 May 2025.

Watching squirrels inspired me to write my own picture book about a special kind of squirrel that lives in my area.

In Acorn Party, a small Douglas squirrel wants to plan a party for his friends. Unfortunately, squirrels sometimes get a little distracted. The results? A fun adventure, a runaway campfire, and a mixed-up counting story!

Acorn Party is available now online from Amazon and most major bookstores. You can also buy signed hardcovers here.