For the fifth year in a row, From My Shelf Books & Gifts at 7 East Avenue in Wellsboro, the local bookstore owned by author Kevin Coolidge, is hosting the “Where Are the Totally Ninja Raccoons Hunt?”
 
The raccoons will be hiding in 25 area businesses during the month of August.
 
The hunt is based on Coolidge’s “Totally Ninja Raccoons” action series for 7- to 10-year-old, reluctant readers. The series is about three raccoon brothers who become ninjas.
 

The 2024 search for the raccoon brothers starts at 10 a.m. next Thursday, August 1 and ends at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 3, the day after Labor Day when all hunters must turn their passports in at From My Shelf Books & Gifts to be eligible for prizes.
 
Each participating business will have free passports listing all the businesses where searchers can find the Ninja Raccoons. When a customer spots the raccoons, the business will stamp or sign his or her passport so the customer’s tickets can be placed in the prize jar. Winners need not be present to win.
 
Prizes include the $100 grand prize and gift certificates donated by all 25 participating businesses. Prizewinners will be announced on Friday, Sept. 6.

The 25 participating businesses where the Totally Ninja Raccoons can be found are: Antiques to Zebras, 5 East Avenue, Suite 101; Café 1905 in Dunham’s at 45 Main Street;
 C.S. Sports, 81 Main Street; Cutting Edge Nutrition, Pearl Street Shops; Dunham’s Department Store, 45 Main Street; Dunkin’ Donuts at 7 Main Street in Tops Plaza; Farmer’s Daughters, 11719 Route 6; Frog Hut, 29 Tioga Street; From My Shelf Books & Gifts, 7 East Avenue – Plus Find Bigfoot; Gmeiner Art & Cultural Center, 134 Main Street; Highland Chocolates, 82 Main Street; Hume’s Blooms, 14282 Route 6; In My Shoes, 85 Main Street; Karen’s Country Store, 15 Main Street; Kelly’s Canyon Country Crafts, 31 Waln Street; Krout’s Creations & More, 5 East Avenue, Suite 102; Laurel Mountains Home Decor & Gifts, 533 North Road, Middlebury Center; Omi of the Canyon, 4181 Route 660; Pag-Omar Farm Market, 222 Butler Road; PA Wilds Shop at Leonard Harrison State Park, Grand Canyon, 4797 PA Route 660;
 StacyKay’s Cafe, 17 Charleston Street; Tioga Office Products, 96 East Avenue; West End Artisan Shop, 152 Main Street; Wild Asaph Outfitters, 71 Main Street; and Wellsboro House Restaurant & Brewery, 34 Charleston Street. 

“This event gives both locals and tourists of all ages an opportunity to play for a few more days, compared to when it was held in July,” said Kasey Coolidge, bookstore manager.

For this year’s search, hunters can go to From My Shelf Books to look for the raccoons plus Bigfoot for an extra chance to win.

For more information, call From My Shelf Books & Gifts at 570-724-5793.