Raccoon Tune [Hardcover]

Nancy Shaw (Author), Howard Fine (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up

A family of mischievous raccoons rifles through sleeping people’s trash in search of treats.

"Moonlight
June night,
Just-right-for-raccoon night—
Not too dark,
Not too bright,
As we look for treats."

And look, indeed, they do! A precocious family of raccoons prowls around the neighborhood, making a ruckus until they find a supper that’s truly “delish.”

This rollicking night outing, in lively verse and action-filled pictures, is sure to make the young reader laugh out loud.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2-Short rhyming lines tell of a family of raccoons making a nocturnal raid on suburban garbage cans. They accidentally roll one into a stream and when they fish it out, it is filled with trout. Shaw's lively lines, all written from the animals' point of view, add to the humor of the simple story. Such phrases as "Ash cans./Trash cans./How we love to crash cans,/Mash and smash and bash cans" beg to be read aloud. Playful illustrations expand the lighthearted mood of the story. Fine's use of blues, greens, and light makes nighttime scenes almost as bright as the white of the raccoons' markings, and such objects as the metal trash cans shine with reflected moonlight. These exuberant creatures dance across the road toward their goal, team up to attack closed cans, and finally slump in sleepy satiation after feasting on fish. This story will combine well with Jim Arnosky's Raccoon on His Own (Putnam, 2001) and Jane Thayer's Clever Raccoon (Morrow, 1981; o.p.), or nocturnal nature adventures such as Jane Yolen's Owl Moon (Philomel, 1987).
Louise L. Sherman, formerly at Anna C. Scott School, Leonia, NJ
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Nancy Shaw is the author of the popular Sheep in a Jeep and its sequels. She holds degrees from the University of Michigan and Harvard University. She and her husband live in Ann Arbor, Michigan. They have two grown children.

Howard Fine is the illustrator of several books for children, including the highly successful Piggie Pie! He studied at Bucknell University and the Philadelphia College of Art. Mr. Fine lives in White Plains, New York, with his wife and three children.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR); First Edition edition (May 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 080506544X
• ISBN-13: 978-0805065442
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 8.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #695,433 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Nancy Shaw was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and now lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan with her husband and two children. She is a freelance writer and a homemaker. She received her B. A. with high distinction and highest honors in English from the University of Michigan, where she was named to Phi Beta Kappa and won the prestigious Hopwood Award. She received her M.A.T. from Harvard University. Ms. Shaw came up with the idea for the Sheep books during a very long car trip with her husband and two children.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Big Hit!, October 6, 2008

By 

refmininwi "joshnjill" (Santa Maria, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Raccoon Tune (Hardcover)

We borrowed this book from the library and we will put it on our Amazon.com wishlist in hopes of getting it for Christmas. My 3 year old daughter loves this book. The illustrations are beautiful and entertaining. It is well written. My daughter loved the language of the book and had most of it memorized by the third night and would ask for it by saying "Moon light June Night Just right for Raccoon night".

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars With whimsical drawings and trash can antics, December 14, 2003

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Raccoon Tune (Hardcover)

Howard Fine illustrates an engaging and zany story of a family of raccoons by Nancy Shaw. The raccon family prowl the neighborhood making a ruckus until they find just the right dinner dish. The whimsical drawings and trash can antics of the raccoons will delight a wide audience and Raccoon Tune is a very highly recommended pick.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a giggle!, April 28, 2003

By 

"marshmamma" (Menasha, Wisconsin USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Raccoon Tune (Hardcover)

Being a fan of "Sheep In A Jeep" and all its sequels, I waited impatiently for "Raccoon Tune". It was well worth the wait! I read this one often as a bedtime story and my children (aged 10 and 6) are giggling every time. Of course Mom is right there in the thick of it too! The illustrations really make this book! I'll use this one at the Nature Center where I work with my Preschool Storytime crowd - they'll love it!