Nutmeg and Barley — Janie Bynum

An exuberant squirrel and a shy mouse discover that reaching out to someone who's not like you may be challenging, but can yield some surprising rewards.

Halfway up an old pecan tree lives Nutmeg, a chatty red squirrel who loves bright sunshine, gossiping with friends, and most of all, dancing. Burrowing below in a hollow log is Barley, an unsociable gray mouse who prefers cool shade, playing solitaire, and most of all, relaxing at the end of the day with a little music. What could these neighbors possibly have in common? Luckily, an unexpected development leads to an unlikely friendship in this charming story about bridging differences with kindness, thoughtfulness -- and the help of a few lively tunes.