Rascal the raccoon is everywhere in his cartoon form here in Tokyo. I won a plush version of him from a UFO catcher -- adorable! Imagine my surprise when I find a copy of Sterling North's Rascal and discover Rascal was real! My students are so excited to learn that Rascal was really owned as a pet by a little kid and that they had all manner of adventures. I'm excited they'll be learning more about the life cycle of animals and the meaning of animal behaviors. Additionally, the book is set stateside during WWI while Sterling's older brother is off fighting in Europe. Overall, Rascal is an enjoyable coming-of-age story filled with love for animals and childlike ingenuity with the added bonus of being a true story.