The Pet Coon by James Whitcomb Riley
The story revolves around a young boy who befriends a raccoon that he has been caring for. The raccoon becomes a symbol of the boy's innocence and connection to nature. As the boy grows older, his relationship with the raccoon changes, reflecting the complexities of life and the loss of childhood innocence.
By James Whitcomb Riley · First published 1883 · Genre: Children's Literature, Poetry, Humor · 405 words
First lines
Noey Bixler ketched him, and fetched him in to me When he's ist a little teenty-weenty baby-coon 'Bout as big as little pups, an' tied him to a tree; An' Pa gived Noey fifty cents, when he come home at noon.
Nen he buyed a chain fer him, an' little collar, too, An' sawed a hole in a' old tub an' turnt it upside-down; An' little feller'd stay in there and won't come out fer you -- 'Tendin' like he's kindo' skeered o' boys 'at lives in town.
What this Textopian page supports
The Pet Coon is listed on Textopian as a poem by James Whitcomb Riley, dated 1883 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: James Whitcomb Riley
- Date: 1883 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Children's Literature, Poetry, Humor, Animal Story, Domestic Fiction
- Length: 405 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Pet Coon by James Whitcomb Riley
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Pet Coon?
- How does this poem by James Whitcomb Riley fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Children's Literature first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Children's Literature — The narrative is simple, playful, and centers around a child's experience with a pet raccoon, making it suitable for a young audience.
- Poetry — The text is written in verse form with a rhythmic and rhyming structure, characteristic of poetry.
- Humor — The playful tone and amusing anecdotes about the raccoon's antics contribute to a humorous atmosphere.
- Animal Story — The central focus on the pet raccoon and its interactions with humans and other animals aligns with the animal story genre.
Tags
Poetry · Children's Literature · Fiction · Animal Story · American Literature · 19th Century Literature · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Rural Setting · Family Life · Coming of Age