A Perfect Home for a Family

PreS-Gr 1—Mama and Papa Raccoon have a problem. Their cozy tree house is too noisy and crowded due to a nest of baby blue jays and a large family of opossums for neighbors. Adding urgency to their dilemma is the impending arrival of their own twin babies. Off they set to find a new home for their growing family. Real-estate agent A.J. Squirrel shows them several possibilities, but none is quite right, until he takes them to an attic that is roomy and quiet. The raccoons move in and are delighted with their new digs until they are awakened by sounds from a "critter" down below. (the infant who lives in the house). Matters get worse when they hear barking and then, worst of all, people. Totally revolted by the idea of humans in "their" house, the raccoons vacate the premises and resume searching for a suitable home. They return to their original tree to discover that their noisy neighbors have moved. The full-color acrylic artwork is whimsical and appealing. The cutaway scenes with raccoons in the attic and humans below are particularly engaging with similar expressions of alarm on both sets of faces. The small number of words per page will encourage new readers, and the large illustrations make this picture book good for group sharing. A satisfying read.—Sara-Jo Lupo Sites, George F. Johnson Memorial Library, Endicott, NY