Review of “Nugget & Bandit's First Winter” by Rachel Vogel

Score: 94/100 (9.4 out of 10)

Nugget & Bandit's First Winter is a beautiful, charming, and heart-warming children's/middle-grade book by Rachel Vogel! It is a touching story of friendship, companionship, adventure, and stepping outside of one's comfort zone!

Nugget begins the tale as a dreamer and relative loner—a reclusive yet curious little raccoon who mostly keeps to herself and her thoughts. She often daydreams alone on her favorite log. That all changes when she meets Bandit, a rambunctious, boisterous, adventurous, and outgoing boy raccoon who offers to not only make snow raccoons (a variant of snowmen) with her, but to teach her how to ski!

Bandit becomes the friend that Nugget needed in her life—someone who could get her outside of her comfort zone and help her to live her dreams, bringing her wildest imaginations to life! Likewise, Nugget becomes the friend that Bandit needed as well, someone to enjoy his escapades with who is grounded and caring.

Shortly after befriending Bandit, Nugget opens her doors to new opportunities and relationships including befriending two brother squirrels named Pip & Squeak. The friendship and chemistry between all of these characters is beautiful. Not only do they ski together, but they sing together and even bake cookies together.

While this book isn't very much in terms of plot, it is very character-driven and character-focused. There is a bit of a plot in Bandit not wanting to let Nugget down by forgetting their appointment or not being able to find her favorite log. There's also a bit of a plot in Nugget learning to ski, something which all of the characters support her in. There is a rather beautiful part of this book when Nugget is slightly hurt from skiing, and she is tended to. It's very tender and sweet. Another of our favorite moments is when the raccoon hug. This is especially powerful and meaningful because this—more than anything—shows how far Nugget has come in breaking out of her shell.

Most of this is lighthearted enjoyment as we sit back and watch these cute little raccoons and their cute little squirrel friends go about their business.

The illustrations by Anthony Richichi, although in black & white, are still adorable and appealing. We did finally start noticing some differences between Nugget and Bandit that weren't as apparent in the previous book, Raccoons Go Rafting. Nugget is noticeably smaller than Bandit with a stockier appearance and a shorter neck. Her body language, especially at the beginning of the book, is much more cautious, shy, and apprehensive than Bandit's. Bandit is often seeing standing tall and confidently, the coolest cat in the room. He's akin to Fonz in Happy Days.

We really appreciate this book for what it is. Is it a little long and wordy for younger children? Maybe. But older and middle-grade children will eat this up. Although, on the surface, this might seem like a book in which—substantively--nothing happens, a lot is actually happening in terms of the characters growing both individually and together.

Check it out on Amazon!