Raccoon on His Own [Hardcover]

Jim Arnosky (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up

When a baby raccoon takes an unexpected solo ride on an abandoned dugout canoe, being separated from his family is scary at first. But once he realizes the canoe offers security from scary creatures like snakes and alligators, he becomes brave and adventurous. He chatters with the warblers, reaches for the turtles, and takes comfort in his own reflection. All the while, mother is nearby with his two siblings, waiting for the time when he can come back to them. Whether it's the first day of kindergarten or a sleepover with grandparents, children will recognize all the apprehension, magic and discovery of being on their own for the very first time.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Jim Arnosky enthusiasts will welcome Raccoon on His Own, about a baby raccoon separated from his family. The fellow climbs aboard a canoe and Arnosky's illustration conveys the raccoon's fright as he floats past a "great big alligator." Five warblers call "Zweet, zweet, zweet," bringing him comfort until his family meets him on another mud bank.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2-Without anthropomorphizing his animal characters, Arnosky has created an information-packed story with enormous appeal for young children. Through the simple narrative, children follow an adventure of a baby raccoon that crawls into a boat that floats away from his mother and her two other offspring as they dig in the mud for food. Sentences are short, descriptive ("Mother found a crunchy crawfish"), and easy to read aloud. Suspense builds gently as baby raccoon avoids snakes, alligators, and the water. Through the illustrations, however, readers are reassured that he will be safe because mother can be seen following the boat. Arnosky's illustrations are bold and large, conveying accurate information about the swamp environment in which the story occurs. The book can serve as a springboard for further research about the animals and plant life of that ecosystem. It's hard to imagine a more ideal book to read to a group or to share with primary-grade children-it offers just the right amount of tension with a reassuring resolution.-Lee Bock, Glenbrook Elementary School, Pulaski, WI

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Juvenile (May 21, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399227563
• ISBN-13: 978-0399227561
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,404,460 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great depiction of life in a Southern bottomland forested wetland (swamp), March 28, 2007

By 

Gary Bridgman (Midtown Memphis) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Raccoon On His Own (Picture Puffin Books) (Paperback)

My 3-year-old son was captivated by this story. I was, too, since I'm a swamp canoe guide. It's a pretty accurate depiction of that type of ecosystem. The boy liked it because all of the critters and because of the ending with the wayward raccoon....well, I'm not going to spoil it for you.