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Synopsis
Describing a year in the life of a raccoon family as the mother teaches her cubs to climb trees, find food, and survive predators, this fun and educational wildlife guide teaches children about one of North America's most intelligent and ubiquitous mammals. Detailed illustrations portray the birth and rapid development of the cubs, the cubs learning to catch a frog and eat a fiddler crab, and mother raccoon defending her cubs from a ferocious predator. Also included are facts about the raccoon name and range, raccoon relatives and trivia, tips on helping injured or orphaned raccoon cubs, and handling techniques and recipes for temporary diets approved by the Delaware Wildlife Rehabilitators Association.
Author Biography: Nancy Carol Willis is a writer and illustrator of natural science articles that have appeared in Outdoor Delaware magazine and is the creator of educational posters for the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control. She is the author of The Robins in Your Backyard, which was named outstanding from a learning perspective by the Parent Council. She lives in Middletown, Delaware.
School Library Journal
K-Gr 3-Willis follows her wonderful exploration of The Robins in Your Backyard (Birdsong, 1998) with an equally charming narrative about frequent backyard marauders. Her story traces the life of a raccoon family from the cubs' birth under the April moon to their winter's sleep. Facts are seamlessly woven into the narrative ("Rudy and Spice rip the ears of corn from the stalks. Rusty tears away the husk and devours the plump, yellow kernels. He can eat five pounds of food a night"). Brilliant, realistic paintings make the mother and her three cubs come to life. Willis joins the ranks of wildlife artists and writers like Jim Arnosky (Raccoons and Ripe Corn [Morrow, 1991]) and others, who offer young readers a chance to experience the wonder of real animals closely observed.-Kathleen Whalin, York Public Library, ME Copyright 2003 Cahners Business Information.