(Or perhaps the naivety of the reader :)). some things seem far-fetched but for the most part I imagined it as something which really happened, and wether or not it did, that adds to the genius of the story-telling/the book itself. I wondered if the book was based on a true story. And it is full of such cute and at times humorous descriptions and stories, such as Rascal's washing his first sugar cube (which of course dissolved). The little boy's love for the raccoon is expressed so well that I don't think the reader (or listener?) can help but feel it, too. And full of beautiful, realistic illustrations. I just finished it (in one setting) and am sure it is the same book. It looked like a very good book, and one that would be perfect for introducing chapter books to children if the opportunity ever lends itself to me. I found this book at a thrift store and was reminded of making a clay raccoon in school in the fifth grade, when it seems my teacher either read the book to us, or perhaps we read it ourselves.

I delighted in knowing they opened doors like our cats and that they shared in Christmas with the Norths, just like our family! All of our birthdays are a must with our kitties, including their own! Sterling made the connection to never hunt, which goes to show compassion is not new. I would love to have heard a lot more about their wonderful, intelligent cats, including their names. Sterling was not diligent about caging Rascal but needed to get him to the wild regardless relieved to know he was safe and free. I am not keen on the novel, if it elaborates upon the unpleasantness. Why would his Dad hire anyone who dislikes animals and usurps Sterling's room to live in? Why should hired help get a say in the North's always content household? This version skimmed those hiccups. There were two unpleasant thorns in the year with his raccoon: a preacher threatening Rascal if he raided his produce again (not a Godly man to think the Lord's creatures are for killing) and a new sourpuss housekeeper.

Knowing the main events, I might not need to read the novel. I whizzed through these 80 pages in a day. I got ' Little Rascal', shortened for children and the whole 'Rascal' story, from garage sales or thrift shops.

We meet Sterling and his Dad, a lawyer, in 1918. Their brother survived world war I in France. They adored Sterling and helped raise him, after their Mom, Sarah Elizabeth Nelson North, died at 47 in 1914. It matters so much that he had an animal-loving, kind Dad and sisters. This is a lovely memory by a Grandfatherly person for his Grandchildren, about being ages 11 to 12 in Wisconsin, raising a baby raccoon.

Rascal book raccoon