ALA Booklist (Tue Oct 01 00:00:00 CDT 2002)

It is easy to recognize Munsinger's personable animal characters, who always seem to sparkle with mischief and good humor. Dressed in shorts, sweaters, and sweetly striped dresses, the furry raccoons here are among her best: lively, wiggly, and sometimes wild--just like the kindergartners they're meant to represent in Elliott's story. Hunter and Stripes are best friends. They do everything together. But one day Stripes feels exceptionally silly: he throws his snack and teases, and he makes mischief instead of listening to Mr. Ringtail read a story to the class. Hunter makes mischief, too, but he really doesn't want to, and being naughty worries him. His concern: how can he be a friend to Stripes and still be himself? His wise mom comes to the rescue, telling him that sometimes being a best friend means helping your friend be his best. Not much subtlety here, but the lesson is cloaked in such wonderful pictures that it slides down easily.

Horn Book (Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 CST 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.

Kirkus Reviews

<p>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. (Picture book. 4-7)</p>

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Best friends and school join in Elliott's (<EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">Under a War-Torn Sky) tale for a kid-pleasing combination—and Munsinger's (<EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">The Teeny Tiny Ghost) comical, sometimes poignant illustrations give this picture book a double draw. Young raccoons Hunter and Stripe are fast friends who like "all the same things" and display contagious smiles as they make the rounds at recess, share a beloved book and munch on their mutually favorite lunch of crawfish sandwiches, huckleberries and milk. But one day Stripe comes to school "in a mischief-making mood" and goads Hunter into following his bad example. When Hunter's mother finds out from her son that he felt compelled to follow his pal's lead since "We do everything together," she delivers the tale's gentle moral: "Being a best friend doesn't mean always following along. Sometimes being a best friend means you have to help your friend be his best self." The following day, Hunter takes her advice and successfully demonstrates a positive role model for his pal. Adults will surely appreciate the message about resisting peer pressure, but Stripe snaps into good-behavior mode a bit too speedily to be entirely credible and the story winds up on a sticky-sweet note. Ages 4-7. <EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">(Aug.)

School Library Journal

K-Gr 2-Young raccoons Hunter and Stripe sing together, play together, and copy one another's tricks. One day Stripe makes mischief in class, and Hunter follows along, cutting up a paper frog he's made. He grapples with this decision, imagining how much his mother would have liked to see his artwork, and cries after it is destroyed. Later, when she discovers the shredded pieces of paper in his backpack, he tells her what happened. She explains that "Being a best friend doesn't mean always following along. Sometimes being a best friend means you have to help your friend be his best self." The next day, Hunter repeatedly models good behavior every time his pal acts up. Soon Stripe catches on and acts like "his very best self." Although the story is message-driven, and the young raccoon's turnaround is unrealistically abrupt, the characters are appealing. The entertaining artwork features endearing creatures dressed in children's clothing. A solid choice, filling a need for stories about friendship and peer pressure.-Melinda Piehler, North Tonawanda Public Library, NY Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.