Rocky is a nervous raccoon. When an invitation arrives for his family to attend a reunion at Grandma Rigby’s place in the country, Rocky proclaims quite loudly that he doesn’t want to go. “I won’t know anyone.” Terri Sabol’s Raccoon Reunion follows Rocky and his family as they attend the family reunion. At first, Rocky is overwhelmed by all the cousins. They’re introduced quickly and he instantly forgets their names. When paired with another young raccoon, Rascal, the two bond, sharing stories of their lives. Rascal is a country raccoon who knows how to swim, whereas Rocky is a city raccoon who knows how to dumpster dive for food. Sharing stories and dumpster finds, the two become fast friends and Rocky’s nervous feelings about the reunion fade into the past.

Terri Sabol’s picture book, Raccoon Reunion, is all about good family times and facing one’s fears. The story is told in simple language so young readers can easily follow along and improve their reading skills. The illustrations by Pei Jen are bright, bold, and colorful and help move the story forward. There is a lot of adventure and action in the story and the illustrations. Young readers will instantly connect with the fun the raccoons have in the water and they’ll chuckle at their antics as they team up to dumpster dive for food. Rocky learns a lot on this adventure: how to make friends, the importance of family, how to move beyond his comfort zone, how helping others helps himself and so much more. A fun and engaging read.

Join Rocky and his family as they embark on an adventure in the countryside with Raccoon Reunion by Terri Sabol. When Rocky's family receives an invitation to an extended family reunion at Grandma Rigby's place in the countryside, everyone is delighted to go -- everyone except Rocky. While Rocky's sister Ringtail is excited to meet cousin Meeko, Rocky has never set foot outside the city and doesn't want to. After they arrive at Grandma Rigby's place, filled with their aunts, uncles, and cousins, the games start, which include Marco Polo, an egg-eating contest, and dumpster diving. As a city raccoon, Rocky doesn't know how to swim, and he dislikes eggs. But he really shines in dumpster diving, helping everyone get their share of dinner from the dumpster. More importantly, he strikes up a bond with his cousin Rascal.

Raccoon Reunion is a delightful adventure tale full of heart, humor, and lots and lots of fun. This illustrated children's book celebrates the bond between family members while taking you on a countryside adventure you don't want to miss. Inspired by her own experiences of extended family gatherings, Terri Sabol tells a heartwarming story of family, friendship, and adventure. Illustrator Pei Jen beautifully captures the spirit of Sabol's tale with lively illustrations that breathe life into the characters. Rocky, Ringtail, Meeko, and Rascal are adorable raccoons that young readers will enjoy meeting. I loved the different games shown in the book, especially dumpster diving, which is something real raccoons are prone to do. Games are one of the best ways for youngsters to bond during family gatherings, and this book shows that wonderfully. All in all, a treat for young readers.

Raccoon Reunion by Terri Sabol is an illustrated children’s story about Rocky (a raccoon), who is anything but excited about going to visit relatives for his first-ever family reunion. From the start, he feels out of place and doesn’t want to participate in any of the activities. But when help is needed with one of the family’s projects, will Rocky step forward and hang out? This is a colorful story, full of wonderful pictures and clean illustrations by Pei Jen. The artwork makes the characters come alive. I especially appreciate how the family doesn’t scold Rocky for not participating. They let him do his own thing and experience the reunion at his own pace, to choose to do what he wants. I think this is important since parents (myself included) are often apt to jump in and lecture, criticize, and force children to get involved before they are ready.

Several themes in this book will help young readers: dealing with anxiety, moving out of your comfort zone, trying something new, making friends, and more. This book helps bridge the problems and solutions that children face in today’s society, especially when dealing with new and uncomfortable situations. There is humor aplenty in watching these dumpster divers as they do their own thing, and encourage the whole family to join in. And for these reasons, I think this book is a real winner, sure to entertain and teach children about changes. Raccoon Reunion by Terri Sabol is a pleasurable and highly recommended read.

Raccoon Reunion by Terri Sabol is a sweet story about Rocky, the raccoon, and his first big family reunion. He does not want to attend the reunion because he won’t know anyone there. The family gets together and plays games before their feast begins. Rocky did not join in the game of Marco Polo because he did not know how to swim. He did not participate in the egg-eating contest because he did not like eggs. He begins to feel like an outsider, even though all the other raccoons are related to him. Finally, Grandma tells the family it is time for the dumpster diving contest. The cousins, aunts, and uncles all live in the country and do not have a dumpster in their area. They are confused about how to do dumpster diving; however, Rocky lives in the city and knows all the ins and outs of dumpster diving. He explains what to do, and then everyone enjoys a great feast with what they found in the dumpster. Rocky becomes good friends with his cousin Rascal, who plans to teach Rocky how to swim. Read this book to learn all about the rest of the adventure.

The unfamiliar comes with many anxieties, and Rocky the Raccoon experiences many feelings when he is invited to a family reunion. In Raccoon Reunion, Terri Sabol deals with many themes that, as a parent, you can use to have meaningful discussions with your child. I grew up in Atlanta but moved to a very small rural town when I married. I can identify with Rocky’s cultural shock when he meets his rural relatives. This book also leads to discussions about being outside your comfort zone and all the surrounding anxieties. Fear is often attached to trying something new, and this book will help teach your child how to handle fear. Teamwork is frequently needed when helping others, and Rocky learns this during the dumpster diving game. I highly recommend this book for enjoyment and opportunities to teach your child life lessons that will help them throughout their adult years.