This book was made into a Japanese animation series decades ago, and I loved watching it when I was a kid. (here's a video about the anime, and if you are interested you can watch the whole series on youtube too -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHikdKnuJAk )

Rascal being the only raccoon that I know of growing up, it's no surprising that I consider them adorable animals. Only after I came to the U.S. that I found, to my dismay, that they are not as beloved as I expected, but instead have a reputation as rabies carrier and garbage digger.

Anyway, the anime got tucked in the back of my mind along with other childhood memories, until I chanced upon the original memoir at the library book sale. I didn't realize that this book was written so long ago, about a childhood during World War I!!

It's a lovely story about a boy and a raccoon, living in a simpler, more natural world. And to imagine how the adults in the book were reminiscing about even earlier time. Be glad they don't live long enough to see today's world. Imagine the lawsuit and uproar that will ensure when the raccoon bites a student!!

I am so glad to finally be travelling! I brought this to share with my fellow BCer Watakeet, who like me fondly remembers watching the adorable anime adaptation of Rascal as a child.

Thanks Azuki for passing me this book which brought back fond memories. I'm surprised that the story was written such a long time ago too, but I think love stays and we all got to learn to treasure the moments and say proper good byes when time is due.

released on Feb 24