In the third book in the Indie bestselling series, with illustrations by award-winning artist Jon Klassen, Badger has a very important article about rocks to finish—but two mischievous young rats and the looming spectre of hibernation keep getting in the way!

Odd-couple roommates Skunk and Badger have an easy rhythm—Skunk cooks! Badger cleans!—until they take in two orphaned rat pups, Zeno and Zephyr. Badger is working on an important rock work article for Rock Hound Weekly and needs focus, focus, focus to write it. But how much trouble could two tiny rats really be? Some scheduling, a few strategically timed naps, and all will be well!

But it’s winter, and nothing goes to plan. Hibernation threatens every routine. Articles refuse to write themselves. And rats in the rock room? It will take a North Twist village to raise these rats! 

Featuring cozy drawings and full-colour pictures by bestselling artist Jon Klassen, Amy Timberlake’s delightfully off-kilter adventure explores the complexity of friendship and the meaning of family in a wintry world where chickens wear parkas and yard sheep host spaghetti dinners. And wait! Is that a dinosaur?