The Raccoon

Susan Brown is a B.C. horticulturist, permaculture designer, and early
childhood education instructor.

These are three of six volumes in the Fauna in Colour series, which was
originally published in French. Each double-page spread features a
bright, colorful drawing and factual, rhyming text of two to four lines.

While the text tells us that ladybirds have flying wings folded
underneath hardened forewings, the picture shows us humanized beetles on
swings suspended from a carousel flowering plant with arms (no wings in
view). Elsewhere the ladybirds are drinking nectar from candy-striped
straws while hanging from rope ladders suspended from little airplanes
(flying, yes, but still no wings). A raccoon sits in a reclining chair
with portable stereo, “shades,” drink, and swimsuit. Text reference:
racoons are by nature solitary.

The illustrations in The Ladybird and The Raccoon contain such a
confusion of information and disinformation that it is difficult to
predict what might be retained by the 3- to 6-year-olds with whom the
books might be read. The Mosquito is the closest of the three to being a
useful, attractive, and enjoyable children’s book (although the
insect’s compound eyes are given an anthropomorphic pupil in the
middle).

I would not recommend that libraries, schools, and families stretch
their budgets for this series.