A glimpes inside the daily life of nature's masked bandits.

The word raccoon is drawn from the Native American Algonquian language. Their term arakun roughly translates to “he who scratches with his hands.” Anyone who has found a raccoon rummaging around in a once securely closed trash container can attest to how skillful raccoons are with their front paws. In fact, they have four times as many sensory receptors in their forepaw skin as they do in their hindpaws, a ratio similar to that of human hands and feet. Samuel Zeveloff explores this trait and much more in his accessible natural history of raccoons. Written with the general reader in mind, Raccoons presents detailed information on raccoon evolution, physical characteristics, social behavior, habitats, food habits, reproduction, and conservation, as well as their relationship with humans and many other topics. The section on distribution and subspecies focuses on the raccoon’s current range expansion, and the material on their cultural significance demonstrates this mammal’s unique status in different North American cultures.

"Simple text and full-color photos explain the habitat, life cycle, range, and behavior of raccoons"--Provided by publisher.

When a baby raccoon is swept downstream in an abandoned canoe, he feels afraid. But soon he notices all kinds of things he has never seen before, and from the safety of his little boat, he begins to explore the world around him. Paralleling the exciting-and often frightening-experience of a child's first adventure away from home, Raccoon on His Own offers little ones a glimpse of being on their own for the very first time.

Raccoons look like furry bandits wearing masks. They are clever, too. When hungry, the tricky critters can even open locked doors. Look inside All About North American Raccoons to read and learn about these smart survivors. Raccoons is one of 18 books in our Animals Around the World series. Each title is beautifully illustrated with large, close-up photographs. Be sure to check out all 18!

Photographs and text introduce the physical characteristics and habits of the raccoon.

Introduces raccoons, describing their physical features, life cycle, habitat, diet, nocturnal behavior, and predators.