A Flicker, A Flash, A Friend

"A Flicker, A Flash, A Friend" is the fifth book to follow the adventures of Shoo Shoo the little squirrel and Teakettle the tiny wren. In this edition, Shoo Shoo and Teakettle make a new friend when a strange red bottle appears in the garden. Their new friend turns out to be a hummingbird visiting a feeder. They soon see a monster in the garden and with the help of the Wise Old Owl, they learn it is a praying mantis. They also discover that a praying mantis is a natural enemy of the hummingbird. Together, Shoo Shoo and Teakettle set out to protect their new friend and convince the praying mantis to leave the garden.

Shoo Shoo the little squirrel and Teakettle the tiny wren are puzzled when they see a strange red object appear in their garden. It must be a magic bottle! A whispering wind and a flash of color awakens them and with it comes a new friend: Glinty the hummingbird. They are happy to have a new friend, but on the way home to their tree, they discover a monster lurking in the garden. After consulting their friends, they realize they must seek wisdom from the Wise Old Owl about the monster. Shoo Shoo and Teakettle set out at night to find the Wise Old Owl, who tells them the "monster" is actually an insect called the praying mantis. Shoo Shoo and Teakettle ask the owl if the praying mantis is dangerous, and he tells them it is very dangerous to other insects and to the tiny bird called the hummingbird. Shoo Shoo and Teakettle are horrified to learn that their new friend is in danger, and they decide to come up with a plan to protect Glinty. With the help of the friendly dog, Good Girl, and their favorite children, Jack and Lucy, they save Glinty and convince the praying mantis to leave the garden.

"A Flicker, A Flash, A Friend" follows the books, "Some Friends Roost and Others Flock", "When a Bully Becomes a Friend", "Two Friends, One Gift", and "My Friend the Little Wren". The author and illustrator has over 40 years of experience in art and education. She lives with her husband and enjoys creating sculptures, painting, traveling, and dancing. She writes and illustrates under the name Jacqueline E. Hartman.