Robert Raccoon's Case of the What-ifs

On the night before his very first day at Roaring River School, Robert Raccoon’s tummy twists and turns with anxious thoughts.

From morning jitters to classroom questions, lunchtime fears to library fidgets, Robert’s imagination tumbles from one worry to the next. His teachers and parents do their best to reassure him, but the worry snowball keeps rolling…until Ms. Katz calls in the school counselor, Mr. Finch.

With kindness and calm, Mr. Finch teaches Robert and his classmates about the Cognitive Triangle, showing them how thoughts, feelings, and actions are all connected—and how to challenge those pesky What-Ifs. Together, they learn how to tell a little worry from a big worry, and when to ask a safe friend or grown-up for help.

By the end of the day, Robert discovers something amazing: he can handle far more than he thought. With new skills and newfound confidence, the once-nervous raccoon realizes he’s braver, stronger, and more prepared for school than he ever imagined.

A heartwarming, empowering story, Robert Raccoon's Case of the What-Ifs helps children understand anxiety, build coping strategies, and see that even the biggest worries can be challenged—one brave question at a time.