What to Expect: Siblings, Adventure, Cooperation, Animals, Food, Emotional

intelligence.

Humorous and wise, this picture book builds literacy skills for readers transitioning

from picture books to longer texts while offering gentle instruction in social skills,

empathy, and teamwork.

Ali, Elise, and Ren dream of having the ultimate feast, but their inability to work

together often causes trouble as the raccoon siblings attempt to raid the human

campground they share their forest with. Ali is cautious and likes to plan, but her

unwillingness to take risks leaves the impetuous and restless Elise feeling frustrated.

Ren has skills and good ideas, but his fighting sisters rarely notice or include him.

Ultimately, it takes a willingness to compromise-and some good advice from

grandma-for the siblings to learn to hear and appreciate one another. And when

they do, they have the most exquisite feast of their lives!

The three raccoon siblings are endearingly cute, with diverse personalities sure to

resonate with young readers with their own siblings. In addition to modelling

communication and listening skills for readers, the story is filled with humor as the

raccoon's point of view disregards the priorities of the human campers they contend

with. Artwork filled with rich colors and lots of movement invites readers to view

the natural world as magical and welcoming, underscoring the humor of the

raccoons' raiding. Reflection questions at the end of the story help reinforce the

social-emotional learning of the story, making this a great resource for counsellors

and teachers, as well as for home reading.

Sweet, funny, and instructive, The Exquisite Feast is a book that is sure to captivate

and become a favorite wherever it is read.

-The Children's Book Review