I think squirrels are adorable animals. They don't live in New Zealand, so whenever I'm in a country that has them I end up watching them skittering around the trees and parks, absolutely charmed. When I convey that charm to those around me, there are generally disapproving noises and grumbles of "pests" so I can only imagine they hold possum status for people who have to deal with them on a regular basis, but nonetheless I am charmed and the same holds true here. Don't get me wrong, Squirrel Nutkin is a nuisance pest who deserves the terrible thing that happens to him (I would have done it sooner, were I the owl), but this isn't a book I read for plot. It has, I think, the best Potter illustrations of the bunch, and every single little red squirrel she drew is just plain wonderful.