Sterling North and the Story of Rascal

By Sheila Terman Cohen

Learn how childhood adventures inspired Wisconsin writer Sterling North to pen one of the best-selling children’s books of all time, Rascal, in the Wisconsin Historical Society Press’s new book for young readers, Sterling North: and the Story of Rascal. Rascal was the name of North’s childhood pet, a raccoon he befriended in the early 1900s after his mother died of pneumonia when North was just 7 years old. Together, North and Rascal enjoyed many adventures and changing times in their hometown of Edgerton, Wis., including witnessing the effects of World War I, the Spanish flu, and the invention of the automobile as well as enjoying the adventures of camping, fishing and racing the streets of Edgerton on North’s trusty blue bicycle. These were the experiences North drew upon for his beloved children’s book, one of many books the award-winning author wrote during his celebrated career.