Orchard Books ISBN 9781408337370 £6.99
Did you ever think you could feel sorry for a rat? Well, Lauren Child will tug at your heartstrings with her story of That Pesky Rat. He lives in a dustbin but all he longs for is to be loved as someone’s pet. He envies his friends and their seemingly pampered lifestyles, although on reflection he realises none of them would quite suit him. In desperation he puts an advert in the pet shop, hoping for an owner. Eventually Mr. Fortescue turns up and his poor eyesight saves the day. Misreading ‘rat’ for ‘cat’ he buys our hero and both live – of course – happily ever after. Lauren Child tells us on the inside flap that the book reflects her own time of being homeless and wishing to have a place of her own. 10% of each book sold is donated to St. Mungo’s Broadway, to aid their work in helping the homeless. A good story with a message worth discussing. Age Range 5 – 9.
Pam Dowson, retired primary teacher and PGCE tutor
