Nutmeg is a little squirrel who lives in a beech tree with his mummy and daddy, his sister Poppy and baby brother Hops. This animal family becomes a metaphor for human families with problems, and when daddy leaves, and mummy can't look after the little squirrels properly ('sometimes big, fierce squirrels would come and visit...and one of them hurt Nutmeg'), Mummy asks Beth Badger (the social worker figure) for help, and for awhile things are better. But mummy really can't cope, and Beth says, 'You love your little squirrels but you can't look after them.' And then offers to find them 'a warm nest...with two squirrels who will look after them and love them...' Mummy is sad, but wants her children to be happy and so agrees. There is a time of fostering in 'two separate nest' and then in one, and finally, Beth Badger brings a new mummy and daddy to meet the little squirrels. There is a happy ending with understanding adoptive parents and a Wise Owl (the judge) who gives them a 'very special piece of paper'. Sensitively written with wonderfully bright, imaginative pictures, this story will prove a godsend to people working with sad and hurt children. This is the first in a series about Nutmeg. The others are: Nutmeg gets cross; Nutmeg gets a letter; Nutmeg gets a little help; Nutmeg gets into trouble; Nutmeg gets a little sister (see entry for this one in Healthy Books). All are available from BAAF Publication, 6-10 Kirby Street, London EC1N 8TS or www.baaf.org.uk.