Rascal's Trip

Bandana Acres #2

by Kathy J. Perry

Young, unthinking, and impetuous, Rascal gets swept away by a whirlwind into a forest filled with uncertainty. Injured, but able to walk, he secures a safe place for the night. Jasper, a rabbit, greets him in the morning. He provides breakfast and offers to get Ollie, the farm dog, to help him find his way home. But, Rascal doesn't listen to Jasper's instruction. He wanders away and gets into still more trouble. Fortunately, Ollie arrives in time to save his life. There's a serious discussion about the importance of thinking ahead. Rascal promises to remember this lesson and Ollie leads him home where he shares his adventures, and what he's learned, with his mom.

50 pages, Paperback

Published May 1, 2018

About the author

Planting seeds for tomorrow's leaders, I hope my books will inspire kids and young adults to be confident and of excellent character.

Award-winning author:
Nibbler & Captain Make Peace - Bronze Award for children's fiction in 2019 with The Wishing Shelf. (From the Bandana Acres series)

Emeline -A Journey - Finalist Award in the young adult category from both The Wishing Shelf (2020) AND Book Excellence Awards, 2021.

Author & Speaker of stories for children and teens with compelling plots and memorable characters.

Emeline-A Journey, a young adult historical adventure and companion journal - My Journey (guided journal). Published 2nd edition, illustrated 8/1/23 under the title A Journey.

My Bandana Acres Journal (guided journal for ages 8-12).

Released the sequel to Emeline's story: Finding Strength: During the Panic of 1893. (2024)

Released new 5- book early reader chapter book series: Oakwoods, April, 2025.

Member of ALLI (Alliance of Independent Authors). and The History Quill

Reviews

[Connie Saunders · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Kathy J. Perry takes us back to Bandana Acres and this time Rascal the raccoon is the animal who gets a chance to become a Bandana buddy. Rascal makes a bad decision and is swept away during a storm, until Ollie the farm dog and a rabbit named Jasper come to his rescue. This scary adventure teaches Rascal that he needs to think before he acts, and it also allows him to make new friends.

Easy-to-read text and colorful illustrations make it very appealing, but Rascal's Trip is also a wonderful teaching tool. Perry shares a glossary of words to help young readers understand the story, and there are also questions that prompt them to consider what they would do if they were in the same situation. This book targets beginner readers but I believe it's also an ideal book for adults and children to read together. Rascal's Trip is a worthy addition to the Bandana Acres series and it would be perfect for a school library!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Celebrate Lit, but there was no obligation for a favorable review, These are my own thoughts.

[Savanna Kaiser · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Rascal’s Trip” was a quick read about a raccoon who gets in to trouble and needs rescued. He learns from his mistakes and his friends wisely encourage him. Filled with fun illustrations and an index for promoting discussion with your child, this book is on our daughter’s bookshelf to stay!

[Beth Olsson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This adorable book about a spunky raccoon named Rascal teaches kids a valuable lesson about thinking through decisions before acting. Rascal has to face problems because of his choices more than once. Although lighthearted, the story gives children a great example of consequences. In addition, the artwork is beautiful, the glossary is great for vocab, and the What If questions are sure to help parents and teachers start important discussions.

[Janell Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kathy has created an entire world of charming friends that weave into each other's stories. I have taught second grade for five years and now homeschool two kids, and can safely say these books are an adorable read-aloud for a whole class or one-on-one. The author intentionally provides situations to which children can easily relate and learn from. These stories remind me of Frog and Toad or Little Bear. They are tasteful and simplistic to a child's mind, but artfully crafted by a wise writer.

[Cindy Wiens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rascal learns a difficult lesson on how important it is to make wise choices! His curiosity and impatience gets him into trouble. If he had just obeyed from the beginning he wouldn't have found himself in such a mess! This book isn't just good entertainment, it is character building at its finest.

[Mary Hake · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Bandana Acres book series for young readers tells stories through the experiences of animals, who think and speak like humans, offering life lessons in a rural setting. The cute drawings accompany the tale and add to the delight. In this book, Rascal the racoon gets blown away from home in a storm and finds helpful animal friends as he seeks to journey back home. Children should enjoy the realistic tale whether they read it on their own or listen to it read by an adult, along with discussing the adventures the characters have and the decisions the main character makes. The back matter contains questions to think about and a glossary of word definitions. This is the second book in the series, but it stands on its own. This tale offers a speedy read at just twenty-four pages long. Some of wording and dialogue sound more mature than the target audience, but children should understand it okay. I received a copy from Celebrate Lit. All opinions are my own.

[Renee Knoblauch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love children’s books. I love the illustrations and the stories in them. I have some favorites and this book is now one of my all-time favorites. This is a keeper and will stay on my library shelf. This book has all the elements I love in children's books. The illustrations are fun and capture your imagination. The content and characters in the story are amazing. I love the character traits, friendships, and life lessons taught.

Rascal the raccoon made a bad choice and the consequences aren’t good as he gets lost. He wandered away from home knowing it was a bad decision with the approaching storm. He thought if he just went a little further he would get home before the storm. Then he is hit by a whirlwind that takes him far from home. He is scared and lost now. He meets Jasper and Ollie who help him get home. If only Rascal could stay out of trouble and learn the importance of thinking ahead.
There are five books in the Bandana Acres. Each one teaches a lesson based on the book's character. I adore the map at the front of the book. The map has all the places of the animals in the series and the main locations in the book.

At the end of the book, it concludes with “What if questions”? This gets you thinking of the character Rascal his choices and the consequences of his actions. This is a nice way to have some meaningful conversations with your child.

This sweet story is intended for ages five through eight, the books are short chapter books. I think some older kids would love this story. The book is labeled as a beginning reader but I think kids who are more confident in reading will do better with reading this story. There is a glossary at the back of the book. I love the variety of vocabulary, the words are more colorful. There are words like ominous, wafted, excitement to just name a few.

Bandana Acres Rascal’s Trip by Kathy J. Perry shines and is a heartfelt story with a lesson to be taught. I highly recommend this sweet story.

Disclosure: I received this complimentary product through Celebrate Lit Bloggers in exchange for my honest thoughts.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

It can be hard to find books appropriate for “advanced” readers when they are in the lower elementary grades. It can also be a challenge to find books for older elementary students who struggle. Kathy J. Perry has created a series that is perfect for those groups of kids.
In Rascal’s Trip there are no human characters - just animals. Other books have human characters but not this one. Ollie (a dog) returns from a previous book in the series. Readers are introduced to Rascal (a raccoon) and Jasper (a rabbit) in this book.
Rascal learns a lesson about consequences to actions that all children need to learn. He doesn’t think ahead to the consequences of his actions until it is almost too late - sounds like a lot of children doesn’t it.
Kathy Perry shows that she knows her audience in providing an interesting text with a reading level appropriate for the audience. She also knows the behavior patterns of this age group and is able to mimic them in her animal characters.
Perry closes the book with a glossary and discussion questions making this a great title for a book club or even a classroom “reading group.”
I look forward to reading more of the titles in the Bandana Acres series by Kathy J. Perry.
Rascal’s Trip and the other books in the Bandana Acres series would be a great addition to the leveled reader section or early chapter book section of a K-12 Christian school library.
I received a complimentary copy of Rascal’s Trip. This is my honest review.

[Connie Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bandana Acres: Rascal’s Trip is a Early Reader Chapter Book that is written by Kathy J. Perry. This is geared toward ages 5 -8. I read this with my 8 year old son, who is not a huge fan of reading. We have read one of the other Bandana Acres books and we are enjoying the series. This one is focused on Rascal the racoon. He is exploring the ravine by his home. He is having a fun time and then a storm comes and he is whisked away.

When Rascal realizes the storm is coming, it is too late, the wind takes him away. Jasper the rabbit greets Rascal when Rascal sleeps in Jaspers tunnel. Jasper introduces himself. Rascal is very intrigued by the bandana. Jasper tells him he is part of the bandana buddies. Jasper takes him back to meet the rest of the gang. Rascal, is really a rascal and has a hard time listening and stay where he was.

As in previous books members of the Bandana buddies pitch in to help get Rascal back to his home. One of the best things about this book is the questions at the end. It really opened up the conversation between my son and I. The questions relate to the book and then to real life. This is a super cute book for readers ages 5-8 that are not quite ready for a bigger chapter book. The book is written well, the pictures are fitting.

I received a copy of this book through the Celebrate Lit Blogging Program, all thoughts are my own.

[Randi Sampson]

Time to head back to Bandana Acres in the next story in the series, this one featuring a cute little raccoon appropriately named Rascal! Whether this is their first visit or they've read other books in the Bandana Acres series, kids will love checking out this fun beginner chapter book series full of fun animals and great lessons that they can relate to. In this fun story, kids will learn the lesson of thinking ahead and that their actions might just have consequences--- all in a fun and easy to understand way, of course!

This book and series is great for beginning readers, starting to read chapter books on their own or to be read with a grown up too. My daughter is perhaps a bit more of an advanced reader than the intended audience, but even still she has enjoyed this book and the series in general just the same too. I do wish we had discovered these just a little sooner, as I think they'd have been even better when she was making that transition into chapter books. The glossary and the what if questions are really fantastic tools to help make sure kids are getting the most out of the story and truly understanding what they are reading too! If you have a young reader, this is certainly one to add to your at home library!!

**I received a complimentary copy for consideration. All thoughts are my own.

[Janelle]

Since I am not in the target age demographic for Rascal’s Trip, I am going to review it from the perspective as a future parent and a librarian.

First off, I love the illustrations and I appreciate that at the beginning of the book is a map of Bandana Acres so readers can see where certain places are.

One thing that I was confused by was the text that was in green scattered throughout the book. It took me a while to figure out why that was. I think they are supposed to be Rascal’s thoughts, but I could be wrong!

I really enjoyed the story and the message to think ahead when making a decision, especially if it could potentially put you in a dangerous situation. I also liked getting to meet Jasper and Ollie. The story reminded me a lot of the Winnie the Pooh stories by A. A. Milne with it’s charm.

I also liked the glossary at the end of the book, as well as the “What If” questions pertaining to the story and to the target audience. I think they do a good job of further driving home the message of thinking ahead.

Overall, I really enjoyed Rascal’s Trip, I think it is a great book for kids who are in between Easy Reader books and chapters books. I can’t wait to share this with my own kids someday.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rascal's Trip is the second book first book from Kathy J Perry’s series, Bandana Acres. I thought this was a fun and inspiring tale and will enjoy reading it over and over with my young ones. I love that it teaches the lesson of having courage to do what is right. I loved it.

Rascal's Trip is illustrated by the talented author, as well. The pictures perfectly follow the story. The younger readers will be captivated and be able to hold their attention and continue reading to find out what happens all the way to the end.

Rascal's Trip is getting a very well deserved five plus stars. I highly recommend it for young readers who are between the ages of four and nine. I look forward to reading more books like this from Kathy J Perry in the future. It would make a great addition to the local or school library and even in a little ones’ classroom for story time. I look forward to the next book from the Bandana Acres series, Nibbler & Captain Make Peace.

I received a paperback copy of Rascal's Trip from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

[Kelly-Ann ~ Sassy Bookish Mama · Rating 5 out of 5]

My kiddos enjoyed being back in Bandana Acres and this time following along with Rascal the Raccoon. In this story Rascal makes a bad decision and is swept away during a storm. This scary adventure teaches Rascal a valuable lesson in thinking before we act and through that it allows him to make new friends.

We love Kathy J. Perry books. They are colorful and appealing but most importantly so far the ones we have read have valuable lessons and teachable moments. I used this as a read aloud with my kiddos ranging in ages of 12-6. They all enjoyed it and we could talk about it. As a homeschool mom it's always important to me that books make an impact and that good conversations can be had. This book will do that. It is also a good book for a beginning reader to use to read on their own.

I received a copy of this book from the author. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Bandana Acres: Rascal’s Trip"by Kathy J. Perry is the second book in the "Bandana Acres" series. This series seems to be a really cute series that children will really like. In this book, Rascal, a raccoon decides to ignore warning signs that a storm is coming and he faces danger .
At the end of the story there are questions to enhance the valves taught in the story. There is also a glossary for the new words introduced in the story.

This book is for children who are learning to read but I think it could also be read aloud to younger children. I believe children will enjoy reading this story over and over and will enjoy telling other children the story after they learn it.

This series would be a great collection to add to a children's library.

I was given a complimentary copy by the author and Celebrate Lit and these opinions are my own

[Deana Dick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute book for children to enjoy. The author has written an easy story to follow and beautiful illustrations to enhance the book. Rascal is a fun little animal that doesn’t quite think before he acts. He is adventurous and finds himself in trouble.

I am enjoying the series and I thought this story had a great lesson on thinking about decisions before making bad choices. The author includes a What If? section at the end of the book to interact with children. There is also a glossary to help children understand words they may not be familiar with. This would make a great addition for a children’s library or gift for a child .

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

[Vicky Sluiter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Has your child ever acted impetuously, or chosen not to listen when given instructions? Of course they have and so has Rascal. Rascal’s Trip will show the reader that it can be dangerous to do these things and help them learn to think more carefully with the help of his friends.

As with all of the books in the Bandana Acres series, you’ll find a map and delightful pictures that will help to feed the imagination. And there is a “what if” section of things to think about along with a glossary of words that may be a challenge, making this a great learning opportunity in more than one way. I highly recommend it for the young reader.

I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.

[Carol Keen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rascal is a raccoon. He's just made a horrible choice. What is he going to do now? He's been sucked up into a storm! This suspenseful children's book is all about not making a bad decision. Listening to the warnings that we, too often, ignore and how to get some help when that happens. It helps reinforce thinking through for good choices. It has cute illustrations and an engaging story. Like the rest of this series, it has questions that can be discussed, a map of the areas in the book series, and a glossary in the back.

Thanks to Celebrate Lit for my copy of this book. This review is my own, with my "take" on this book. A positive review is never required.

[Lisa Shores · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bandana Acres Rascal's Trip is a great lesson teaching children to think ahead before making choices. Rascal the Raccoon is brilliantly illustrated and you love him immediately since he is adorable. He makes some new friends while also learning that bad choices land him in some trouble. His friends help him out and save the day though. A wonderful read with a Things To Think About Section at the back of the book along with a Glossary. I highly recommend it as a fun learning tool about making decisions.

[Elizabeth Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are looking for an adorable character building Christian Book Series for your children, I highly suggest this one. “Rascal’s Trip” teaches children to always think ahead and to make good choices. Rascal’s impatience and curiousity gets him into trouble, but he is rescued by his friends who encourage him with their wisdom. I enjoyed the questions at the end of the book, because it’s the perfect opportunity to reflect on the story’s lessons as family!

I received this book from Celebrate Lit. This is my honest review.

[Ashley Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was happy to go back to Bandana Acres. This story is about Rascal, a raccoon who has to learn a lesson. I liked the pictures that went with the story. My 6 year old enjoyed the story There was our friends we already met in the previous book and of course, a lesson to be learned.

I think it is a good book for young kids and that parents will like the lesson it teaches

5/5

Thank you to the author/publisher for the review copy of this book via Celebrate Lit. I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

[Amanda H · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books have been the perfect series for my daughter to read through, with being in grade school and finally enjoying to read on her own. I love that they are sweet animal stories with a deeper message. We both enjoyed the lessons that Rascal learns along the way as he ignores the warnings and goes on an adventure that could of been prevented if he had planned ahead. I enjoyed the questions to help spark conversation!

I received this book from Celebrate Lit. This is my honest review.