Author Kevin Coolidge (who you can find right here on the PA Wilds Marketplace!) brings the characters in his The Totally Ninja Raccoons books into the real world!
Now for the fourth time, Kevin invites families to search for the Raccoons throughout businesses in Wellsboro in the annual “Where Are The Totally Ninja Raccoons?” town-wide search.
The trio of brothers who star in the children’s book series are playing hide-and-seek throughout Wellsboro, starting at 9 a.m. on Saturday, July 1. Throughout July, folks can find illustrations of the Raccoons in 30 local businesses!
Learn more at https://www.kevincoolidgeoutreach.com/where-are-the-totally-ninja-raccoons.
For Kevin, it was important to be able to introduce the books and the act of reading in a fun way that kids won’t find intimidating or uninteresting.
"How does a werewolf eat an elephant? One bite at a time. It can be intimidating for a child who doesn't like reading to read a thick book. I wrote the Totally Ninja Raccoons with that in mind,” explains Kevin.
“Each chapter starts with an illustration and the chapters are short with fun dialogue. It's suggested a writer writes what they know, I go one farther and write where I know. I've always loved creatures of myth, legend and folklore, and talking to children, I know they do too!"
And of course, since The Totally Ninja Raccoons are masters of stealth, it was an obvious fit to pair them with a hide-and-seek search throughout the town.
Prior to 2020, Wellsboro hosted the Candlewick Press Search for Where’s Waldo, held by From My Shelf Books & Gifts in Wellsboro. However, the Waldo search was canceled in 2020 due to COVID, and the Raccoons were happy to take over.
"Our town enjoyed the ‘Where's Waldo’ hunt, and 2020 was not a good year for Wellsboro. Our annual Laurel Festival was canceled, tourism was down. It was understandable why Candlewick decided not to do their event, but Tioga county is rural,” says Kevin.
“The Totally Ninja Raccoons were the perfect fit. Raccoons wear masks and wash their hands. The series is set right here in Wellsboro and surrounding areas. People loved that it was local characters. You had to find the Totally Ninja Raccoons reading the Wellsboro Gazette. When 2021 came along and Waldo came back, Wellsboro wanted to stick with the Totally Ninja Raccoons. 2023 is our fourth year with the Totally Ninja Raccoons. The event really is a win/win event. It's a shop-local activity with a local creator, set in Wellsboro."
With the search now featuring characters created by a local author who lives in the Wellsboro area, the town-wide search became even more personalized and meaningful.
"Sometimes I'll be doing errands in Wellsboro and someone will say, ‘There goes the raccoon guy!’” says Kevin.
“I love going into local businesses and seeing if I can find where the raccoons are hiding, or watching other people look for those funny raccoons. I get asked in January if the event is happening in July."
"This year, we have 30 businesses, our most ever. We only had room for 25, my wife redesigned the passport so we could have 30. I have people asking to be in the hunt next year already."
"This year, we have two additional bookstores. One of the bookstores is in New Mexico and one in Minnesota. Our first was so satisfying, that some of the booksellers we network with wanted to try it. I gave them permission to use the Totally Ninja Raccoons, and it was a great, low-cost way to increase their foot traffic while having a fun, family-friendly event.”
There are even two additional bookstores doing a similar search now, in other states! The Totally Ninja Raccoons also have search events that are hosted at Amy's Bookcase in Farmington, New Mexico, and Paperback & Pieces in Winona, Minnesota.
Visiting Wellsboro during July? Both Wellsboro locals and tourists are encouraged to join in on the fun!
The 30 businesses that are participating in the search (listed below) have free passports, listing all of the locations in Wellsboro where the Raccoons are hiding. If you find a Raccoon at a business, simply take the passport to the check-out counter and the business will stamp your card.
All cards must be returned to From My Shelf Books & Gifts by 6 p.m. on Saturday, July 29 to qualify for the prize drawing. However, you do not need to have your entire passport book stamped to be eligible to win. Because so many businesses opted to allow the Raccoons to hide in their shops, From My Shelf Books & Gifts wanted to ensure that kids were focused on having fun rather than worrying about not finding the Raccoons by the end of July.
Participants could win $100 in cash, gift certificates, Wellsboro Chamber Dollars, and items donated from the participating businesses.
Participating businesses include:
- Antiques to Zebras, 5 East Avenue, Suite 101
- Café 1905 at 45 Main Street
- CBJ Collective at 5½ East Avenue
- C.S. Sports at 81 Main Street
- Cutting Edge Wellness & Nutrition at 19 Waln Street
- Dunham’s Department Store at 45 Main Street
- Dunkin’ Donuts at 7 Main Street
- Farmer’s Daughters at 11719 Route 6
- Frog Hut at 29 Tioga Street
- From My Shelf Books & Gifts at 7 East Avenue – home of The Totally Ninja Raccoons!
- Garrison’s Clothing at 89-91 Main Street
- Gmeiner Art & Cultural Center at 134 Main Street
- Highland Chocolates at 82 Main Street
- In My Shoes at 85 Main Street
- Karen’s Country Store at 15 Main Street
- Krout’s Creations & More at 5 East Avenue, Suite 102
- Kelly’s Canyon Country Crafts at 31 Waln Street
- NTCH (Northern Tier Children’s Home) Thrift Store at 1916 Charleston Road
- Omi of the Canyon at 4181 Route 660
- PA Wilds Gift Shop at Hills Creek State Park at 111 Spillway Road
- Pine Creek Outfitters at 5142 Route 6
- Rough Around the Edges at 5 East Avenue, Suite 109
- StacyKay’s Café at 17 Charleston Street
- Tioga Office Products at 96 East Avenue
- Tony’s Italian Cuisine at 3 Main Street
- Treasure N’ Treats at 5 East Avenue, Suite 104
- Wild Asaph Outfitters at 71 Main Street
- Wellsboro House Restaurant & Brewery at 34 Charleston Street
- The Yellow Basket Gift Shoppe & Ice Cream Shop at 2744 Route 660
The Totally Ninja Raccoons are at the PA Wilds Conservation Shop mobile unit at Hill Creek State Park!
Want to read The Totally Ninja Raccoon books (and more)?
Check out Kevin Coolidge's PA Wilds Marketplace storefront here!
With 15 books in his storefront, there are lots of choices! See just some of them highlighted below.
