Pumpkin: The Raccoon Who Thought She Was a Dog

August 1, 2016

Young, president of the Bahamas Humane Society, and her husband took in a baby raccoon that had fallen from a tree and suffered a broken leg, naming the animal Pumpkin. The family already had two dogs, Oreo and Toffee, considered potcakes (a Bahamian term used to describe mutts). Upon meeting Pumpkin, the dogs developed an instant bond by both cuddling and scolding her when necessary. The raccoon began to act more and more like a dog and imitated everything her foster-parent dogs did, including staying on the ground. Young posted photos of the trio on Instagram, which led to the inspiration for this title, which mostly consists of adorable photos with funny captions of Pumpkin eating and getting into mischief, or the threesome chillin' together. Young responsibly cautions that raccoons are not house pets, but belong in the wild, as Pumpkin's situation is an exception. VERDICT While not a necessary purchase, this book is cuteness overload and will appeal to all age groups.--Eva Lautemann, formerly with Georgia Perimeter Coll. Lib., Clarkston

Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.