Raccoon Tales

Sharyn McCrumb, author of BIMBOS OF THE DEATH SUN, ZOMBIES OF THE GENE POOL, and the Elizabeth McPherson mysteries, best known for her long-running Ballad series of mysteries and historical novels set in the Appalachian region, writes vignettes about the raccoons and some other creatures that hang around outside her house in the Blue Ridge Mountains. She regularly posts these short pieces on Facebook and has collected many of them in three books called THE MARVIN CHRONICLES. Check them out on her website:

The Marvin Chronicles

On the TV Tropes "Sliding Scale of Animal Anthropomorphism" these raccoons, like the rabbits in WATERSHIP DOWN, fit in the category of Largely Normal Animals. Scroll down a bit to see that here:

Sliding Scale of Anthropomorphism

Like the rabbits, Marvin and his relatives differ from real-life raccoons only in having a language (with which they can talk to other animals as well as among themselves) and a culture. Their clan's storyteller, John of Gaunt, passes on the folklore and mythology of their kind. In other respects, they act like normal members of their species. The encounters that occur on the porch where the Waitress (as they call McCrumb) sets out platters of food for them every evening really happened; only the accompanying animal dialogues are invented. These mini-stories, mostly of flash-fiction length, offer facts about raccoon biology, ecology, and behavior; a sardonic beast's-eye view of their human benefactress and her household; and entertaining, sometimes touching tales of their history and mythology.

I highly recommend seeking out Sharyn McCrumb on Facebook, reading some of her "Marvin Chronicles" posts, and possibly visiting her website to pick up one or more of the collections. In addition to the characters themselves -- quirky individuals without being unrealistically anthropomorphized in violation of their essential animal nature -- I especially enjoy their folktales and myths. In that respect the series reminds me a lot of WATERSHIP DOWN. Here's a vignette about Groundhog Day from the raccoon perspective:

Magic Marmot

Margaret L. Carter

Please explore love among the monsters at Carter's Crypt.