Rotten Ralph
by Jack Gantos
from Houghton Mifflin
Rotten Ralph is a cat that brings no end of trouble to his owner Sarah and her family, but she still cares for him. The reader follows Ralph from one escapade to another, and while his pleasure is usually at the expense of the happiness of others, Sarah gently admonishes him until one of his jinks goes to far. This story shows the pleasure of being naughty while reminding readers of the importance of being nice. Children will find Ralph entertaining since he is both fun and exasperating. The illustrations are quirky and colorful, and children will be amused by Ralph's endlessly expressive face and mischievous smiles, so characteristic of cats everywhere. This may be a good book for showing a child how a pet can be both a companion and a responsibility, since Sarah cares for Ralph even as she monitors his behavior. This is a funny story about a cat that exceeds the bounds of patience and acceptance but not of love. Ages 5-8; Grades K-3 Paperback; 48 Pages
Back to School for Rotten Ralph
by Jack Gantos
from HarperTrophy
The character Rotten Ralph was created more than twenty years ago. Now the worlds most rotten cat and his friend, Sarah, set out again on a variety of capricious capers. In three brand-new boisterously entertaining stories, Rotten Ralph is sure to weasel his way into the hearts of another generation of readers. In Back to School for Rotten Ralph, summer is over, and Sarah cant wait to start school and make some new friendsother than her rotten cat, Ralph. But Ralph wants to be Sarahs only friend, and he won't be left behind. When Sarah boards the school bus, he disguises himself as a student, follows her to class, and starts his scheme of sabotage. Ralphs plan works brilliantly until his true identity is revealed and the entire class wants to be friends with Sarah and Ralph!
Ham and Pickles: First Day of School
by Nicole Rubel
from Harcourt Children's Books
Favorite illustrator Nicole Rubel has given us a quirky and funny story about first-day jitters--and about a sister who comes to appreciate her brother for his unique charm and big heart.
Practice Makes Perfect for Rotten Ralph: A Rotten Ralph Rotten Reader
by Jack Gantos
from Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
School Library Journal hails Rotten Ralph Helps Out, the first Rotten Ralph Rotten Reader, as a “wise choice for youngsters making the transition from picture books to chapter books.” In this feisty new adventure, the world’s favorite come-back cat shows Percy and Sarah that all his practice at losing can make him a winner in the end.
Rotten Ralph's Rotten Romance (Rotten Ralph)
by Jack Gantos
from Houghton Mifflin
Sarah wakes Ralph up with a great big kiss. "Happy Valentine's Day!" she says. Rotten Ralph hides under his pillow. Sarah is very excited to take Ralph to Petunia's Valentine's Day Party. But Ralph will do almost anything to avoid the party and drippy Valentine kisses!
Rotten Ralph Helps Out: A Rotten Ralph Rotten Reader (Rotten Ralph Rotten Readers)
by Jack Gantos
from Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Sarah needs a topic for her school project on ancient Egypt. Her rotten red cat, Ralph, thinks history is a bore. Only after he spoils a research trip to the library does Ralph decide to help. According to Sarah, the ancient Egyptians believed cats were wise and had special powers. And Rotten Ralph knows he can prove them right!
This antic adventure is the first Rotten Ralph Rotten Reader, a rambunctious new series for beginning readers.
Rotten Ralph's Show and Tell (Rotten Ralph)
by Jack Gantos
from Houghton Mifflin
Sarah takes Ralph to school so he can do his ABC's for show and tell, but as usual, the rotten cat refuses to cooperate.
Grody's Not So Golden Rules
by Nicole Rubel
from Silver Whistle
Why do kids have to follow so many rules? Everyone in Grody's life gets to tell him what to do: his mother, his father, his sister, his teacher. . . . He's tired of it! Determined to take matters into his own hands, Grody comes up with his own set of rules. Clean socks? Who needs 'em? Use a napkin? What's the point?
Beloved author-illustrator Nicole Rubel has created a character who will have kids howling--and maybe, just maybe, seeing the reason behind some of those awful rules grown-ups like so much.
No More Vegetables!
from Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Worse Than Rotten, Ralph (Rotten Ralph)
by Jack Gantos
from Houghton Mifflin
Rotten Ralph makes an earnest attempt at good behavior but is enticed, not too reluctantly, into a series of misadventures by some ruffian alley cats.
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