Hide and Seek, Nuts to Eat: A Fall STEAM Picture Book About Squirrels for Early Learners

A playful squirrel. A cozy forest. A winter stash full of surprises.

Hide and Seek, Nuts to Eat is a heartwarming rhyming picture book that turns squirrel behavior into a joyful storytime adventure―just right for curious preschoolers and early learners.

As the air turns crisp, one clever squirrel dashes through the forest, hiding nuts, seeds, and berries in every nook she can find. But winter is coming―and her neighbors have big appetites too! Blending rhythmic text with charming illustrations, this fall-themed read teaches kids how squirrels prepare for the changing seasons.

Whether you're a parent looking for a fun bedtime read or a teacher building a nature or STEM unit, this book delivers a memorable, educational experience kids ask to revisit.

Perfect for nature lovers and curious kids ages 3–7

What Makes This Book a Parent and Teacher Favorite:

• Science Meets Storytime – Introduces real animal behaviors like food caching and seasonal change, with a nonfiction spread on global squirrel facts perfect for early STEM learning.
• Rhyme That Captivates – Lyrical, read-aloud-ready text that keeps young readers engaged and giggling.
• Seasonal Learning Hook – Ideal for autumn reading, classroom themes, and back-to-school storytime.
• Illustrations Kids Adore – Rich, colorful artwork brings the forest world to life, keeping little eyes glued to every page.

For parents, grandparents, homeschoolers, and educators seeking books about squirrels, educational fall picture books, or STEM-aligned animal stories for kids.

Tracy C. Gold loves writing books that celebrate sweet moments in family life and the natural world. Her past books include “Everyone’s Sleepy but the Baby” from Familius, and “Trick or Treat, Bugs to Eat” from Sourcebooks. She also publishes essays, short stories, and poems. Tracy earned her MFA at the University of Baltimore and her bachelors in English from Duke University. She is the Published and Listed Member coordinator for the MD/DE/WV region of SCBWI. When Tracy is not writing or editing, she’s playing with her daughter, riding horses, or enjoying gardening at her home in Baltimore, MD.

Nancy Leschnikoff is an illustrator-designer based just outside of London in Kent. Growing up with her father who was also a professional illustrator, Nancy learned early on that doodling (all the time!) was her thing. She went on to study design and illustration at Nottingham Trent University, which led immediately to design studio work followed by 15 years as a children’s book designer at Usborne Publishing.

Her hand-drawn digital style, confident layout and typography skills, and bold approach to color have led to a variety of work in publishing and other design genres such as licensing, advertising, branding and packaging. She has a quirky sense of humor that translates into her art, and she loves to work on projects that make children giggle.