Phyllis Kennemer, Ph.D. (Children's Literature)
Hunter and Stripe are best friends. They do everything together. They like the same clothes, the same foods, and the same books. One day Stripe comes to school in a mischief-making mood and Hunter does not know how to react. He feels like he has to join in with Stripe's antics to keep from losing his friendship, but when he tries to impress Stripe by tearing up his beautiful cut-paper frog he feels miserable. When Hunter's mother discovers the torn frog in his backpack, she explains that sometimes a friend helps the other to be the best person that he can be. The next day at school, Hunter ignores Stripe's antics and sets a good example by following directions and doing what is right. Eventually, Stripe gets the picture and begins to behave in more appropriate ways. Although the story is obviously didactic, Musinger's charming raccoon characters ensure that children will enjoy the story without realizing they are being taught a lesson. 2002, HarperCollins, $15.99. Ages 5 to 7.

Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, June 15, 2002 (Vol. 70, No. 12))
Hunter wonders what to do when his best friend Stripe decides to be naughty at school and expects Hunter to join in on the roguish behavior. After all, as best buddies, Hunter and Stripe have always done things together; from clothes to food, their interests and activities were always on par. Elliott (Under a War-torn Sky, not reviewed) sympathetically addresses the prickly topic of peer pressure from a child's perspective, revealing how easy it is for the well-intentioned to slide into trouble just by going with the flow. Initially, Hunter finds Stripe's antics humorous and easily participates. Yet, when Stripe encourages him to destroy an art project, Hunter finds himself on the horns of a dilemma. Although he is proud of his artwork, Hunter wrecks his project, instantly feeling remorse. With the guidance of his teacher and mother, Hunter learns a critical lesson regarding the importance of staying true to one's self. Bolstered by the affirmation of the adults around him, he resolves to provide a stellar example of good behavior for his wayward pal. Munsinger's (Tackylocks and the Three Bears, below, etc.) anthropomorphic raccoons are irresistibly cute and cuddly. The accouterments of early childhood education are liberally scattered throughout the illustrations, depicting a familiar setting for young readers. Elliot does a remarkable job portraying how difficult it is for Hunter to resist Stripe's entreaties and later, not react to his teasing. Readers will readily respond to Hunter's dilemma and be reassured by his ultimate success. 2002, HarperCollins, $15.99. Category: Picture book. Ages 4 to 7. © 2002 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Deborah Stevenson (The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, October 2002 (Vol. 56, No. 2))
Hunter and Stripe are raccoon best friends who “liked all the same things,” and at school they “did everything together.” That’s a pleasing practice for them both until the day that Stripe arrives at school in an obstreperous frame of mind, squirming and poking Hunter during story hour, sticking out his tongue out at the girls during lunch, and flinging pieces of his paper frog around gaily during art. Loyal Hunter joins in with his best friend but ends up unhappy as a result (he’d really wanted to take his lovely green frog home to his mother), so the next day, armed with Mom’s advice (“Sometimes being a best friend means you have to help your friend be his best self”), he tries a different approach. The message is obvious (and Stripe’s quick conversion to upright citizen more wishful than likely) but it’s also useful, and Elliott wisely makes Stripe’s misbehavior inviting (it is fun to secretly poke and giggle during story hour) and playful rather than mean-spirited. As usual, Munsinger’s deceptively simple line-and-watercolor art gives her characters individualistic charm without cloying cuteness. She gets a good deal of furry mileage from raccoon whiskers and ringed tails, making Hunter and Stripe’s raccoon-filled classroom one that many youngsters will envy, but even on a raccoon’s masked face the expressions are humanly recognizable. It’s hard to prompt genuine behavioral suasion on the story rug, but this endearing attempt is worth a try. Review Code: R -- Recommended. (c) Copyright 2002, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. 2002, HarperCollins, 32p, $17.89 and $15.99. Ages 4-6 yrs.

Horn Book (The Horn Book Guide, Spring 2003)
Hunter the raccoon faces a dilemma when his best friend, Stripe, starts misbehaving in school. Should he imitate Stripe, even though it makes him uncomfortable? Guided by his mother, Hunter sets a good example instead and succeeds in getting Stripe to be "his very best self." With the help of Munsinger's funny, energetic illustrations, Elliott delivers her message of being true to oneself with a light touch. Category: Picture Books. 2002, HarperCollins, 32pp, $15.99, $17.89. Ages 4 to 9. Rating: 3: Recommended, satisfactory in style, content, and/or illustration.