By Cynthia Rylant, Author & Arthur Howard, Illustrator. When Kona, a Labrador retriever, meets Stumpy, a squirrel in Gooseberry Park, they're best friends at first sight. But after Stumpy's babies are born, disaster strikes in the form of a violent ice storm. Kona is not a fair-weather friend; he's worried sick! How will Stumpy and her babies survive? With the help of Murray, a hilarious bat, and Gwendolyn, a wise hermit crab, Kona shows just how true--and heroic--a friend can be. In this animal adventure from Newbery Medal-winning author Cynthia Rylant, Stumpy Squirrel has just settled into a new nest in a magnificent pin oak in Gooseberry Park. It’s the perfect spot for her babies to be born! When they arrive healthy and strong, Stumpy’s three good friends--a Labrador retriever, a wise hermit crab, and a bat who eats Chinese food--are thrilled. But after a terrible ice storm destroys the pin oak, Stumpy disappears. It takes a special combination of courage, humor, and tenacity for Stumpy’s friends to rescue her babies and bring her home again. Arthur Howard's black-and-white illustrations illuminate the companions’ adventures throughout. For ages 8 and up.