• Age: 4 to 8
• Grade: 1 to 12

Rebellious raccoons take back the city in a hilarious urban romp by bestselling author and performer Vivek Shraya

Raccoons are hitting the streets to finally tell their story. The bushy-tailed bandits take over the town, swinging from cranes, scampering through subway cars, and pestering the police. Amid the mischief, the raccoons describe themselves as humans see them: thieving “trash pandas” that steal doughnuts and cash, topple our green bins, and frighten our cats. But when asked why they’re invading the city, the raccoons insist they aren’t pests, but survivors of the real invaders: humans.

Revenge of the Raccoons is both a riotous tale of underdog uprising and a clever commentary on humans’ sense of ownership over the cities we live in. Playful rhyming text and vibrant illustrations inspired by classic horror movie posters bring the raccoons’ antics to life.

As the raccoons frolic into the night, readers will enjoy cheering on the creative and cunning antiheroes, and maybe even reconsider who rules the city.

Vivek Shraya is the author of the young-adult collection God Loves Hair, the novel She of the Mountains, the poetry book even this page is white, and the children's picture book (with Rajni Perera) The Boy & the Bindi (all published by Arsenal Pulp Press), as well as I'm Afraid of Men and What I Love About Being QUEER. She is editor of the Arsenal Pulp Press imprint VS. Books, dedicated to work by young black, Indigenous, and writers of colour. Vivek was the 2014 recipient of the Steinert & Ferreiro Award for leadership in Toronto's LGBTQ community, the recipient of Anokhi Media's inaugural Most Promising LGBTQ Community Crusader Award in 2015, a 2015 Toronto Arts Foundation Emerging Artist Award finalist, and a 2015 recipient of the Writers' Trust of Canada's Dayne Ogilvie Prize Honour of Distinction. Originally from Edmonton, she now lives in Calgary, where she is an assistant professor in the University of Calgary's Department of English.

Vivek Shraya's profile page

Juliana Neufeld is a Canadian children’s book illustrator and comic artist, known for her work on Treasure Hunters, the bestselling middle grade series by James Patterson, as well as her collaborations with multidisciplinary artist Vivek Shraya. Juliana’s work is inspired by folk art, classic children’s literature and small moments of connection and humour in everyday life. She lives in Toronto, Ontario.

Juliana Neufeld's profile page

• Short-listed, R. Ross Annett Award for Children’s Literature

"Readers will immediately be drawn to the strong art style and funny, rhythmic text ... An instant favorite for horror fans and ecological warriors."

Kirkus Reviews

"Neufeld’s quirky illustrations complement the story’s tone, each mischievous raccoon depicted with a unique look and manner of movement ... Toronto readers, in particular, will enjoy the tongue-in-cheek depiction of their home city and its favourite pests."

Canadian Review of Materials

"Highly recommend this book for any elementary school library as a funny read about our interactions with nature."

Children’s Literature Comprehensive Database

"This book would be a really fun read aloud, and kids will enjoy examining the pages afterwards to enjoy all of the many antics of the raccoons."

Youth Services Book Review

"Offers a refreshing take on Toronto’s nefarious raccoon problem while teaching the next generation the importance of sharing space ... A highly relatable story that you’ll actually enjoy reading with your kids over and over again!"

Today's Parent

"Shraya’s sparse, repetitive, rhyming text creates a mesmerizing effect that is enhanced by Juliana Neufeld’s dazzling artwork ... What starts as a manifesto for creating chaos contains a deeper message about the need to peacefully coexist with wildlife."

Quill & Quire - STARRED REVIEW

"Kids will like this. The text rhymes, and it would make a fun read aloud—especially at Halloween!"

Kiss the Book