‘Skunk And Badger’ Puts A New Twist On A Classic Tale Of An Unlikely Friendship

“Skunk and Badger” was written by Newbery Honor–winner Amy Timberlake and illustrated by renowned artist Jon Klassen.

Jon Klassen

Author Amy Timberlake’s new children’s book, “Skunk and Badger,” tells the story of two unlikely animal friends. The book was also illustrated by renowned artist Jon Klassen.

“This story I would describe it as sort of Wallace and Gromit kind of meets Winnie-the-Pooh and a little bit of The Odd Couple,” said Timberlake.

“City Lights” host Lois Reitzes spoke with Timberlake ahead of her Little Shop of Stories virtual event Wednesday evening. Timberlake will be in conversation with author Mark Shulman.

The story follows an important rock scientist named Badger, who’s world is turned upside down when a skunk greets him at his door to inform him that he will be his new roommate. Skunk is an extrovert who loves knowing other animals in the forest, known as “North Twist.” While Badger is more structured and a homebody, Skunk is spontaneous and outgoing. The journey of living together isn’t always a smooth one, but eventually the pair find ways to come together in the end.

The book is geared towards middle school readers, but it does offer adult humor and wit.

“One of the things I really wanted to do with this book is making something that an adult could read with a child and would laugh, and the child would get the sense of the adult laughing and they could laugh with the adult at the same time, even if they didn’t quite get the humor,” said Timberlake.

This book will be the first in the “Skunk and Badger” series.