Kirkus Review A fun, well-illustrated story about working together to make rainbows in the snow. Four children work to speed up their sled through trial and error in Hepner's picture book. Four children work to speed up their sled through trial and error in Hepner's picture book. Acee, Mia, Riley, and Tobias are ready for the annual toboggan race, but they want to give their sled a speedy edge. After brainstorming ideas, they decide to try bacon grease; it works, but it also attracts all the neighborhood dogs—so it's "Back to the thinking porch." The kids try crayon wax next, first coloring the bottom of the sled, then melting the wax to coat the bottom. After a test run, they decide the latter is the solution, and they apply a fresh coat for the race. Soon they're racing down the hill—and across the finish line. This story of trying different ideas and not giving up highlights teamwork, with four children ready to work together (and not argue) as they pursue their goal. Hepner uses short sentences and only a few challenging words (toboggan among them), making this accessible for emergent readers. Moore's bright cartoon illustrations feature a diverse friend group with various skin tones. Some of their poses are repetitively reused on multiple pages, however; Acee's position racing the sled, for example, is identical in three illustrations. The rainbow track left by the crayon wax, however, is inspired.

Kameron Brook Reedsy Discovery “Racee Acee and the Toboggan Race” encourages creativity, thinking outside the box, teamwork, and perseverance. Cooperation, and a team effort come together to get them to the finish line…But do they win? The Second book in the Racee Acee Series will delight readers of all ages. It was an exciting time for Acee, Mia, Riley, and Tobias; the toboggan race was only three short days away. They were in strategy mode, brainstorming ways to make their sled go faster. The crew shared a couple of suggestions to give them the boost they needed to win. Then, all four mental lightbulbs went off, and they shouted the same answer simultaneously (no spoilers). I was sitting on the edge, waiting to see the outcome. The team initialized their master plan and quickly realized they needed to tweak their tactic. Back to square one! Racee Acee and the Toboggan Race by Debbie Hepner teaches children to think on their feet, adjust experiments accordingly, and rely on their team (friends) to help solve a problem. It enforces the importance of listening to one another and being open to new theories. Remember, no voice is more important than another. Racee Acee and the Toboggan showcases four young children’s determination to find the optimal material that lets them zoom down the hill at top speed. It was a trial-and-error process that required patience and calm heads. Do they win, or do they lose? The answer will have fans of the Racee Acee Series cheering with the crowd. Even though the book ended with a happy ever after, that’s not the point of the short read. The story’s point is not who won the race but how the events led them to cross the finish line.

Kameron Brook Reedsy Discovery “Racee Acee and the Toboggan Race” encourages creativity, thinking outside the box, teamwork, and perseverance. Cooperation, and a team effort come together to get them to the finish line…But do they win? The Second book in the Racee Acee Series will delight readers of all ages. It was an exciting time for Acee, Mia, Riley, and Tobias; the toboggan race was only three short days away. They were in strategy mode, brainstorming ways to make their sled go faster. The crew shared a couple of suggestions to give them the boost they needed to win. Then, all four mental lightbulbs went off, and they shouted the same answer simultaneously (no spoilers). I was sitting on the edge, waiting to see the outcome. The team initialized their master plan and quickly realized they needed to tweak their tactic. Back to square one! Racee Acee and the Toboggan Race by Debbie Hepner teaches children to think on their feet, adjust experiments accordingly, and rely on their team (friends) to help solve a problem. It enforces the importance of listening to one another and being open to new theories. Remember, no voice is more important than another. Racee Acee and the Toboggan showcases four young children’s determination to find the optimal material that lets them zoom down the hill at top speed. It was a trial-and-error process that required patience and calm heads. Do they win, or do they lose? The answer will have fans of the Racee Acee Series cheering with the crowd. Even though the book ended with a happy ever after, that’s not the point of the short read. The story’s point is not who won the race but how the events led them to cross the finish line.

With degrees from Weber State University, University of Utah, and Utah State University, Debbie taught in the Davis School District in Utah for 30 years. Now retired from teaching, she writes children's stories. Some of her stories were inspired by experiences with her children, grandchildren, and students. She has published several books and received many awards. She continues to write children's picture books while branching out into chapter books for young adults. Besides writing, she likes to travel, go on long walks, ride her bike, and go to the gym.

Publisher: Debbie L. Hepner
Author: Debbie L. Hepner
Illustrator: Hayley Moore
ISBN: 979-8987292433
Size (H x W): 7.5x9.25
Weight: 11.5 ounces
Cover Type: Hardcover
Number of Pages: 42
Language: English
Date Published: 2023-06-06