Scamper was a big gray squirrel who lived in Aunt Boo's yard. His greatest enjoyment came from annoying her. He helped himself to the best fruits from her prize orchard, took the biggest nuts from her pecan trees, and ate the golden cornbread she baked for the birds. Aunt Boo came up with a solution that would teach Scamper to be satisfied with what he had.

Scamper, the big grey squirrel that lived in Aunt Boo's backyard, dreamed of finding a cozy hide-away for the winter. He searched and he searched and he searched until he found the perfect hide-away. It was warm and comfortable and filled with everything a squirrel could ever want to play with. Scamper was so happy in his new hide-away until Aunt Boo heard his tiny footsteps in the attic. Then Scamper's hide-away wasn't so cozy and fun any more.

Scamper, a big grey squirrel, lives in a wonderful place filled with everything he could ever want to eat--apples, plums, pecans, and the delicious cornbread Aunt Boo makes. There was one catch to his living here. As winter nears, Scamper doesn't know where to store his pecans, so he has a tough decision to make.

Like the movie American Beauty, this novel focuses on a dysfunctional family. While providing for his family financially, the father Douglas, is in constant search of new and younger women for sexual gratification. The mother, Vicky, is discontent with her life and betrayed relationship, and in anger has a relationship with Douglas's co-worker in retaliation for his infidelity. She struggles with trying to find her freedom and leaving the security of the relationship. Robert and Barbara are teenagers trying to understand their family, although both of them are having adolescent problems of their own. Only young Winston, in his imaginary kingdom of fantastic creatures such as Sir Rhinoceros and other magical creatures have made any sense of his family.

"The first two books in the Dollanganger series"--P. [4] of cover.