The Family Business

PreS-Gr 2–Lucky is the youngest raccoon in his family of six and he longs for the day he’ll be big enough to help in the “family business,” which is simply finding their next meal. While his family searches for food, Lucky stays home and watches TV. His special show is “Everyone Loves Dancing!” and he gets to let loose and practice his steps. The day he’s finally big enough, Lucky joins the others in the hunt for edibles but soon discovers that he doesn’t enjoy it. His parents and three brothers dive into dumpsters, gather refuse from garbage cans, and remove rancid fruit from an orchard. Everywhere they go, the family leaves a mess behind and is run off by angry, shouting humans giving Lucky “a giant stomachache.” One day when he’s supposed to be looking for food, he happens to peer into an open window, sees his favorite show on TV, and can’t help but try out a few of his choice dance moves which are caught on video. After that, it’s win-win. A lively telling is accompanied by colorful pictures created in digital pen and ink; these are filled with funny details of the energetic raccoon family.