That Pesky Rat

By Lauren Child

Book Overview

The creator of Clarice Bean has conjured up a clever alley critter so appealing--and so hilarious--that young readers will be begging to take him home. Sometimes . . . I look up at all the cozy windows and wonder what it would be like to live with creature comforts . . . to be a real pet. Most of all I would like to have a name, instead of just that pesky rat. A glamorous life in the lap of luxury like Pierre the chinchilla would be very nice. But really, our hero's not that fussy - he just wants to belong to somebody. With his cute, pointy brown face and beady eyes, why can't he get someone to take him home? Even a notice posted at the local pet store seems fruitless, until one day a nearsighted old man stops in and speaks the amazing words: "I'll take him." After all, he says, he's been looking for ages for a brown cat as nice as this. In her latest tour de force, acclaimed author-illustrator Lauren Child introduces a surprisingly endearing character, and assures young readers there's enough love for all of us.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 076361873X
• ISBN13: 9780763618735
• Release Date: July 2002
• Publisher: Candlewick
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 1.08 lbs.
• Dimensions: 10.9" x 0.3" x 9.4"
• Age Range: 4 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

If you like Charlie & Lola...

Lauren Child has a unique voice in children's literature today. So engaging. She really makes "That Pesky Rat" come alive for children. I LOVE reading this book to children. I can make all kinds of voices for the characters (a chinchilla in a fancy bon-bon eating foo-foo girlie apartment, a cat in a swinging bachelor pad penthouse, a terrier with a preppie, elderly puzzle-maven owner, the list goes on...). Lauren makes the scenes come alive with her descriptions and quotes from characters. Yet they are accessible to children. What a talent. Children love the brightly colored, humorous illustrations (a rat on a cushy pillow, a tightrope, a dog in a matching sweater set with his owner, etc.). The young ones may not understand the humor but with Child's words, it all sounds funny. A very funny ending, too.

"that pesky rat" gets a home, a name, and a new identity

Author/illustrator Lauren Child has one of the most distinctive pictrial styles in kids' books today. Flipping through "that pesky rat," one notices ornate backgrounds, juxtaposed contrasting patterns, rococo curves, an assortment of polygons and other geometric shapes, collages, varying fonts and font sizes, and several pop art touches. However, while you may come for the look, you stay for the story. Child'a stories take you on meandering inner and outer voyages--they're not simple, linear narratives. Here, she probes pesky the rat's neighborhood, his disappointments, and his hopes. Apparently, it's not easy being a rat. As with wolves and pigs, rats get a bad rap in many traditional stories. pesky is no exception: He loves in trash can #3 on Grubby Alley (and the contents of his home are collected every week), people say he smells (it's just the dirt), he's nobody's pet, and he doesn't really have a name other than "that pesky rat." His friends, like Pierre the chinchilla, OScar the siamese cat, NIbbles the rat, and Andrew the Scottie dog. pesky's complex mind graps that while each of these pampered pets has it relavtively easy, their domesticated life has a downside too (e.g., while Andrew is pampered, he also has to wear clothes, an idea which pesky finds appaling. Still, pesky wants a companion, some respectability perhaps, and so he admits that he'd do almost anything if he coud be someone's pet. He goes to a pet store, but the owner, Mrs. Trill, isn't very encouraging about his prospects. pesky posts a (hilarious) personal ad at the store: "Brown rat looking for kindly owner with an interest in cheese Hobbies include nibbling and chewing would like a collar with my name on it..." Good fortune arrives when in Mr. Fortesque, whose bad eyes lead him to read "rat" as "cat!" Mrs. Trill doesn't tell, pesky doesn;t tell, and Mr. Fortesque never knows the difference. pesky is very happy-- while there may be a few adjustments (like Scottie, he too wears a sweater sometimes), he's finally a real pet, and he has a real name-" Tiddles!" Ms. Child doesn't dumb down the conclusion, instead she offers a happy resolution that's just a little askew. Her writing is well-balanced and rhythmic, it's almost like prose poetry. As with all her books, this one gets an enthusiastic recommendation.

Wonderful classroom book

The writing and illustrations in this book are superb. This is a wonderful story of a rat longing to be a pet, and to have a name other than "that pesky rat". This book is a wonderful classroom tool to introduce children to a classroom pet. This book can be read to the students before choosing a name for the class pet.

A Home, An Owner, and a Name.....

That poor pesky rat. There he is living in trashcan number 3, Grubby Alley. He's all alone in the world wishing he was a real pet, with an owner, and creature comforts, and a name. His friend Pierre, the chinchilla, has a glamorous life eating chocolates, and Nibbles, the lop-eared rabbit, has an exciting life working in a circus. Even Andrew, the scottie dog, has a nice, quiet life with Miss St. Claire. She makes him wear a coat and hat when they go out, and that's embarrassing, but as that pesky rat tells us: "I would do almost anything to be somebody's pet." So he decides to take matters into his own little paws, and write an advertisement for the pet store window. He waits and waits and waits, and then one day old Mr Fortesque, with the very bad eyesight, stops by and reads..... Award winning author and illustrator, Lauren Child, has written a charming and humorous story that will have kids rooting and cheering for this unlikely and endearing want-to-be pet. Her engaging and witty text wraps itself creatively around her cleverly exuberant collage artwork, and children will enjoy all the colors, textures, and eye-catching details as they explore each playful illustration. With a satisfying, feel good ending, That Pesky Rat is perfect for youngsters 4-8, and a wonderful additional to all home libraries.

terrific picture book

I have never loved a rat more than this little pesky rat. He is sweet, brave, thoughtful, enterprising and wants only to be loved. My daughter and I spent a lot of time looking at this book at the book store and now we are actually buying it, so that we can give him a home, even though my children are past the age of picture books. We are also buying it because the illustrations are witty and interesting; being both straightforward and (using beautifully patterned photo collages) complex. The story is great fun. This rat is as appealing as a rat can be. As a mother of three kids who I've read many books to I am certain that this book is well worth owning. Your children will enjoy hearing this book over and over and you'll enjoy reading it every time.