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The Great Ringtail Garbage Caper
A group of desperate and daring raccoons organize a bold hijacking scheme when their lush food supply is threatened by a pair of efficient young garbage collectors.
- GenresFictionHumorMiddle Grade
66 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1980
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 16, 2024
"Whew, Maude! Said the driver. For a second there I’d have sworn the man at the wheel was a big raccoon with a hat and mask.
Now, John, said his wife soothingly. I told you to go easy on the brandy after dinner."
Never come between a raccoon and his precious trash.
This was imaginative and loads of fun. Now sure how I would react to seeing a raccoon driving a garbage truck. I know I would probably keep it to myself because I don’t want those guys in the white coats to visit me.
Now, John, said his wife soothingly. I told you to go easy on the brandy after dinner."
Never come between a raccoon and his precious trash.
This was imaginative and loads of fun. Now sure how I would react to seeing a raccoon driving a garbage truck. I know I would probably keep it to myself because I don’t want those guys in the white coats to visit me.
April 16, 2024
This book was brought to my attention by my boss. It was sitting, uncirculated on a shelf in the library where we work. One look at the cover and I just had to check it out! I don't know how I never noticed it in nearly 6 years of working there and a lifetime of library patronage, but I digress.
As another reviewer pointed out, the illustrations make this book. The story is quite funny, and I found myself laughing aloud several times, but it's definitely geared towards elementary-aged readers.
Parents, just a heads-up: There are several mentions of alcohol consumption, a scene where 2 teenage boys are drinking beer and a description of the town drunk who drives under the influence. Hey, it came out in the 80's. Things were different.
All in all, this was a cute, funny story. I don't know if I'll be recommending it to many of today's kids (cuz, ya know, underage drinking and all that.) I sure am glad I gave this one a chance!
As another reviewer pointed out, the illustrations make this book. The story is quite funny, and I found myself laughing aloud several times, but it's definitely geared towards elementary-aged readers.
Parents, just a heads-up: There are several mentions of alcohol consumption, a scene where 2 teenage boys are drinking beer and a description of the town drunk who drives under the influence. Hey, it came out in the 80's. Things were different.
All in all, this was a cute, funny story. I don't know if I'll be recommending it to many of today's kids (cuz, ya know, underage drinking and all that.) I sure am glad I gave this one a chance!
April 1, 2024
Fun and nostalgic
April 16, 2016
2.5 stars
This very short chapter book is about a group of raccoons who rely on the human population's garbage as their main food source. Past garbage collectors have been careless enough that the raccoons had little trouble getting food, but when two students come along and actually start doing the job well and neatly, the coons worry about their food supply. So the concerned coons decide to take matters into their own hands--uh, paws.
I thought this was a creative and pleasant little story, but it's so short that character development is very limited, so it wasn't as engaging to me as I'd have liked. The story and characters probably aren't fleshed out enough to hold much appeal for children above elementary school. I can't fault the book too much for that, though, since that is probably the intended audience. But I can fairly say that I wasn't a big fan of the ending. It was sort of funny how, but the part about the raccoons being worried about future garbage supply again felt sort of incongruous and unresolved. The Great Ringtail Garbage Caper is a nice enough story, but would probably be best appreciated by young children.
This very short chapter book is about a group of raccoons who rely on the human population's garbage as their main food source. Past garbage collectors have been careless enough that the raccoons had little trouble getting food, but when two students come along and actually start doing the job well and neatly, the coons worry about their food supply. So the concerned coons decide to take matters into their own hands--uh, paws.
I thought this was a creative and pleasant little story, but it's so short that character development is very limited, so it wasn't as engaging to me as I'd have liked. The story and characters probably aren't fleshed out enough to hold much appeal for children above elementary school. I can't fault the book too much for that, though, since that is probably the intended audience. But I can fairly say that I wasn't a big fan of the ending. It was sort of funny how, but the part about the raccoons being worried about future garbage supply again felt sort of incongruous and unresolved. The Great Ringtail Garbage Caper is a nice enough story, but would probably be best appreciated by young children.
November 26, 2007
The Great Ringtail Garbage Caper presents a message of environmental protection from the point of view of a clan of desperate but resourceful raccoons.
Over a summer a clan of raccoons learn how to drive a garbage truck to guarantee a food supply for the entire community when the local garbage collectors are too efficient with their pick ups.
The story teaches the importance of sharing the environment with nature while still be entertaining. The way in which the raccoon clan is set up reminded me a bit of the society in The Giver by Lois Lowry.
This book was made into a CBS Storybreak animation by Hanna-Barbera Australia but I haven't been able to find much information about it online. I probably saw the cartoon as a child but I don't remember it.
Over a summer a clan of raccoons learn how to drive a garbage truck to guarantee a food supply for the entire community when the local garbage collectors are too efficient with their pick ups.
The story teaches the importance of sharing the environment with nature while still be entertaining. The way in which the raccoon clan is set up reminded me a bit of the society in The Giver by Lois Lowry.
This book was made into a CBS Storybreak animation by Hanna-Barbera Australia but I haven't been able to find much information about it online. I probably saw the cartoon as a child but I don't remember it.
June 29, 2009
Urm...I found this in a used book store and obviously was lured to read it for no good reason. And it was certainly a "no good reason" sort of book with some odd "green" undertones and a grand raccoon caper along with some downright brilliant illustrations. I finished it in an hour and was snickering the whole way through. Very simple with some little dashes of quirk thrown in. The pictures make it completely worth it.
I'm now very curious about the supposed animated adaption that CBS Storybreak did of this book. Sometimes, YouTube doesn't have everything.
I'm now very curious about the supposed animated adaption that CBS Storybreak did of this book. Sometimes, YouTube doesn't have everything.
March 31, 2015
This book was not one of my favorites , but it had a good story line .
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews