Revenge of the Raccoons - by Vivek Shraya (Hardcover)

About the Book

"We're furry, we scurry, we're wild . . . you worry!" So begins Revenge of the Raccoons, a rollicking tale that finally gives these ring-tailed garbage pirates their say. The narrator raccoons start us off by playing up how humans view them--"We come for your doughnuts, we come for your cash. / We scratch through your screen doors. We come for your cats."--accompanied by spooky yet hilarious illustrations. As they detail their shenanigans, including hopping on subways and scaling cranes, the "We're furry" refrain punctuates the tale, with slight variations each time. When the humans comically cringe, asking "Why do you eat our doughnuts? Why do you eat our plants?" / "Do you want to eat us next, then do a zombie dance?", readers get a direct answer. We meet a raccoon face to face, who says: "It was YOU who came for US / and built houses everywhere"... and it becomes clear that these raccoons are not just pests but survivors of the real invaders: humans. A classic "us versus them" tale: kids will enjoy cheering on the rebellious raccoon antiheroes as they make the best of a bad situation. Ends on a lovely nighttime scene, raccoons cavorting against a cityscape, the perfect capper for a bedtime read. Casts the normally derided creatures in a new light (and raises issue of environmentalism and colonization in a kid-friendly yet respectful way). Kids are also disenfranchised mischief-makers, so they'll relate. Vibrant illustrations by Juliana Neufeld are an homage to vintage horror-movie posters/"creature features." Rhyming text means a fun read-aloud."--

Book Synopsis

Rebellious raccoons take back the city in a hilarious urban romp by bestselling author and performer Vivek Shraya

Raccoons are hitting the streets to finally tell their story. The bushy-tailed bandits take over the town, swinging from cranes, scampering through subway cars, and pestering the police. Amid the mischief, the raccoons describe themselves as humans see them: thieving "trash pandas" that steal doughnuts and cash, topple our green bins, and frighten our cats. But when asked why they're invading the city, the raccoons insist they aren't pests, but survivors of the real invaders: humans.

Revenge of the Raccoons is both a riotous tale of underdog uprising and a clever commentary on humans' sense of ownership over the cities we live in. Playful rhyming text and vibrant illustrations inspired by classic horror movie posters bring the raccoons' antics to life.

As the raccoons frolic into the night, readers will enjoy cheering on the creative and cunning antiheroes, and maybe even reconsider who rules the city.

Review Quotes

"Highly recommend this book for any elementary school library as a funny read about our interactions with nature."

-- "Children's Literature Comprehensive Database"

"Kids will like this. The text rhymes, and it would make a fun read aloud--especially at Halloween!"

-- "Kiss the Book"

"Neufeld's quirky illustrations complement the story's tone, each mischievous raccoon depicted with a unique look and manner of movement ... Toronto readers, in particular, will enjoy the tongue-in-cheek depiction of their home city and its favourite pests."

-- "Canadian Review of Materials"

"Offers a refreshing take on Toronto's nefarious raccoon problem while teaching the next generation the importance of sharing space ... A highly relatable story that you'll actually enjoy reading with your kids over and over again!"

-- "Today's Parent"

"Readers will immediately be drawn to the strong art style and funny, rhythmic text ... An instant favorite for horror fans and ecological warriors."

-- "Kirkus Reviews"

"Shraya's sparse, repetitive, rhyming text creates a mesmerizing effect that is enhanced by Juliana Neufeld's dazzling artwork ... What starts as a manifesto for creating chaos contains a deeper message about the need to peacefully coexist with wildlife."

-- "Quill & Quire - STARRED REVIEW"

"This book would be a really fun read aloud, and kids will enjoy examining the pages afterwards to enjoy all of the many antics of the raccoons."

-- "Youth Services Book Review"