Rachel Vogel Shares Her Adventures And The Inspiration Behind Her Beloved Animal Stories

Photo: Author Rachel Vogel, the twenty-five-time award-winning “Animal Adventure Author,” shares her journey of storytelling inspired by nature and animals.

Celebrating Adventure, Nature, And The Magic Of Storytelling

Award-winning author Rachel Vogel reveals the inspiration behind her stories, her love for nature, the conservation message in her books, and exciting new projects for her animal adventure series.

R  achel Vogel’s literary world is pure magic for readers young and old alike. As a twenty-five-time award-winning author, Rachel has captured hearts with her imaginative tales that weave adventure, humor, and meaningful lessons into every page. Her beloved “Raccoons Go Rafting” series is a testament to her ability to transport readers into vibrant worlds where mischievous raccoons, Nugget and Bandit, take center stage. Inspired by her time as a New York State Whitewater Guide on the Hudson River, Rachel’s stories are infused with real-life experiences and a profound love for nature.

Known as the “Animal Adventure Author,” Rachel’s storytelling is a joyful celebration of animals, exploration, and the great outdoors. Her works, from the award-winning chapter book Nugget & Bandit’s First Winter to the heartfelt Remember Me: A Celebration of Life Journal, showcase her versatility and deep-rooted inspiration. Whether crafting tales for children or journaling heartfelt memories for adults, Rachel’s narratives are brimming with authenticity, warmth, and humor.

At Mosaic Digest, we are thrilled to feature this remarkable author, whose delightful books remind us of the power of curiosity and conservation. Through her stories, Rachel inspires children to embrace adventure, cherish the natural world, and explore boundless possibilities. Her imaginative writing, paired with her passion for educating young minds, makes her an author whose journey is as captivating as her stories. We invite you to dive into this enchanting interview and learn more about the incredible woman behind the “tails” that continue to win the hearts of readers across generations.

From what I gather, your experience as a Hudson River rafting guide inspired this fun, funny tale. Could you share a memorable moment or sight during those rafting trips that sparked the idea for mischievous, adventure-loving raccoons?

All the pages within our rafting raccoon adventure feature real-life memories and highlight different rapids or features of the Hudson River. This colorful picture book offers a glimpse into the adventures that will be featured in future chapter books!

As an early childhood educator and mother of five, I wanted an animal that has many different attributes, moods, and starts with a letter that is hard for most children in their early school years. (In this case, the “r” was quite a rascally challenge in our house!) I chose raccoons for their silliness, intelligence, and, of course, those little masked faces!

You mention that beloved bedtime stories like Good Night Gorilla, Sheep in a Jeep, and Runaway Bunny – and series such as Pony Pals and Animal Ark – shaped your own childhood love of reading. How have those influences found their way into your own writing style or vision for the Raccoons Go Rafting story?

These stories were only a few of my bedtime favorites! Growing up, my parents would bring my sister and I to see all sorts of arts ranging from local author readings with signings, plays at the Charles Wood Theater, art collections at the Hyde Museum, glass bead creating at the Corning Museum, and many more adventures from New York to Missouri, but the tradition that I loved most was reading from my always growing book collection. When I was writing this book, many friends commented on the word count. I wanted this original book to embrace beautifully engaging and colorful illustrations like Good Night Gorilla and Runaway Bunny. The book’s prose rhymes like Nancy Shaw’s Sheep in a Jeep, which actually became the same fate as Bandit’s jeep that he taught Nugget to drive a manual on!

The Outstanding Creator Awards reviewed Raccoons Go Rafting during their Clash of Champions 2023 contest and noted “it follows the familiar formula of a book like Go, Dog, Go!” This comparison was absolutely humbling! Three of my other childhood favorite authors include P.D. Eastman, Eric Carle, and, of course, Dr. Suess! I have since taken my own family to enjoy the world of Dr. Suess at his museum in Springfield, Massachusetts, and plan to visit Eric Carle’s museum in Amherst, Massachusetts this Fall.

With reluctant readers of my own, I remembered how much I enjoyed reading the Pony Pal and Animal Ark series with the different animal characters. This prompted me to use animal characters for my own rafting series.

You hope your books encourage children to embrace adventure, explore nature, and support conservation efforts. What conservation message or insight do you most hope young readers take away from Raccoons Go Rafting?

While crafting this story, I wanted the Hudson River to shine. As a guide, I fell in love with the beauty and power of this River. The only way such places will continue to be enjoyed by all is through maintaining the natural landmarks. Conservation efforts, including early education, best practices, and responsible use, are topics that I enjoy bringing to local schools and events. If I had to choose just one conservation message for children to take away from my book, it would be the principle of “take only memories, leave only pawprints” as seen on pages 2 and 3’s sign.

Looking back at your writing journey—from childhood bedtime stories to becoming the “Animal Adventure Author”—what’s been the most rewarding moment for you thus far?

The most rewarding moments so far have been all the glowing faces of engaged children as I share my “tails” and author journey with them. I have been blessed by the number of children I have seen at later events who just can’t wait to hear what’s coming next and to share their own writing adventures with me!

Can you share what’s next on the horizon? What adventure lies ahead for the Animal Adventure Author?

In the words of Nugget, “Adventure does not start at the destination; it begins on the journey that brings you there”. While there are more summer and winter adventures already getting their ink, the world of Nugget continues to expand! She has been visiting new places and her favorite places alike with her eyes peeled for more possible raccoon adventures throughout the Northeast! One such amazing gem is the Natural Stone Bridges and Caves in Pottersville, New York! Two of her favorite spots there are “Inspiration Point” and “Artist Gorge”. Nugget cannot wait to finish creating the first book in her new “Raccoons Go Exploring” series, set for debut in Spring of 2027!