You Are a Raccoon!
Help young learners understand life cycles, growth, and survival through play with You Are a Raccoon!—an interactive STEM picture book that brings science to life. Teach sequencing in a hands-on way. Explore animal life cycles through story. Blend science, literacy, and movement. Engage early learners with meaningful play. Perfect for PreK–2 teachers, homeschoolers, and early childhood educators.
Helping Young Learners Understand Growth and Survival: A Classroom Experience Inspired by You Are a Raccoon!
Have you ever noticed how children are constantly learning… without even realizing it?
They play.
They explore.
They try.
They try again.
And little by little…
they grow into who they are becoming.
That’s exactly what You Are a Raccoon! invites them to see.
Book Snapshot
Title: You Are a Raccoon!
Author: Laurie Ann Thompson
Illustrator: Jay Fleck
Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers (Penguin Random House)
Age Range: PreK–2
Genre: Informational Picture Book / STEM
Themes:
Animal life cycles
Growth & development
Survival skills
Habitats
Cause and effect
A Story That Connects Life and Learning
In this interactive nonfiction text, students step into the life of a raccoon—from birth to independence.
They don’t just observe…
They become the raccoon.
Sneak.
Climb.
Chase.
Snack.
And through that playful experience, they begin to understand:
👉 Growth is a process—and every stage matters.
Why This Book Matters (Teacher Pain Points)
Perfect for classrooms where:
Students struggle to understand sequencing and life cycles
Science concepts feel disconnected from real life
Engagement dips during informational reading
Teachers want hands-on, interactive STEM learning
Young learners benefit from storytelling + movement
What Students Will Learn
The life cycle of a raccoon
How animals adapt to survive
Sequencing and chronological thinking
Cause and effect in nature
First-person point of view in informational text
What’s Inside This Educator Guide
This guide is packed with meaningful, hands-on learning:
Story sequencing activities
First-person point of view writing
Interactive art projects (hello raccoon mask!)
STEM-based discussions
Collaborative games and movement activities
CCSS + NGSS aligned instruction
Standout Activity: Life Cycle Sequencing 🦝
This is such a strong comprehension builder.
Students:
Sequence a raccoon’s life from birth to adulthood
Use visual arrows to organize events
Illustrate each stage
Retell the journey in their own words
As outlined on page 11 of the guide, students physically arrange and glue events in order—making abstract concepts concrete and visible .
Another Favorite: Raccoon Mask + First-Person Writing
Students don’t just write…
They become the narrator.
Create a raccoon mask
Write from the raccoon’s perspective
Share their stories aloud
This activity (page 15) beautifully blends SEL, literacy, and science into one memorable experience .
Try This in Your Classroom
Life cycle science units
Sequencing and retelling lessons
STEM + ELA integration
Dramatic play + writing centers
Whole-group interactive read alouds
Download the Free Educator Guide
Ready to bring this playful, purposeful learning into your classroom?
About the Book Link (Transparency Note 💛)
If you’d like to explore or purchase You Are a Raccoon!, you can use this link and have some fun!
This is an affiliate link, which means I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). These small earnings help support the creation of free Guides by Deb resources for teachers and classrooms.
This guide is part of my Guides by Deb collection—standards-aligned resources designed to help educators turn great books into meaningful learning experiences.
I’m Debbie Gonzales, author, educator, and founder of Pin Lit Marketing, where I help children’s book creators grow their visibility through Pinterest.
Together, this work connects books, educators, and readers in lasting ways.
