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That Pesky Rat

On sale

25th February 2016

Price: £6.99

CILIP Kate Greenaway Children's Book Award, 2003

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Selected: ebook / ISBN-13: 9781408345320

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A funny, touching picture book from Children’s Laureate, and Charlie and Lola creator, Lauren Child.

Rat lives in dustbin Number 3, Grubby Alley. At night, when he’s tucked up in his crisp packet, Rat looks up at all the cosy windows and wonders what it would be like to belong to somebody. To be an actual pet. To have a home of his own . . .

Gently exploring themes of homelessness and poverty, this is the perfect way to talk about this often tricky subject with young children and encourage them to empathise with others.

At least 10% of the purchase price of every copy of That Pesky Rat sold will be donated to St Mungo’s Broadway, a charity providing help, support and advice to people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

‘Clever, rewarding and hugely enjoyable’ Guardian

‘Another little masterpiece from Lauren Child’ Mail on Sunday

Winner of the Nestle Children’s Book Prize Gold Award

Reviews

Daily Mail
A groovy, brilliantly illustrated story
What's On In London
Funny and touching
Cressida Cowell, Junior
A wonderful story about love and loneliness in the big city
The Mail on Sunday
Another little masterpiece from Lauren Child, whose stories and quirky pictures leave you helpless with laughter
Radio Times
Full of surprises, from the word-positioning on the page to the different materials used in the illustrations, this is a charming tale of a rat that just wants to be loved
Times Educational Supplement
Brilliant. Completely brilliant
English 4 - 11
A good story with a message worth discussing
Sunday Telegraph
Child is a unique talent, in that her famously arty montages of pattern, colour, cartoon and photographs are matched by equally exuberant text... three to seven-year-olds will love it almost as much as I do
School Librarian Magazine
Full of surprises... lively and amusing... exhilarating
East Cumbria News and Star
A wonderfully funny, touching tale from Lauren Child
Guardian
Clever, rewarding and hugely enjoyable
Waterstones Books Quarterly
A witty, enjoyable story accompanied by Lauren Child's famously stunning collages
Junior
Delivered with Child's customary mix of charm and wit... packed with humour and warmth
Carousel
Feast on the pictures and wonder at the skill with which she brings all together
Books Magazine
Witty and affecting... children will love her winning tale
Mail on Sunday
Another little masterpiece from Lauren Child, whose stories and quirky pictures leave you helpless with laughter
Times Educational Supplement
In every respect, Child has the knack. She engages the eye, tickles the fancy, makes jokes that resound and stand repetition
Northern Echo
Here's a book to make you smile... wonderfully quirky