Barbara Cairns

There is no way to describe my collection of rat related books except to say that it is, in some way, an addiction. I simply can't get enough of them. So when a friend of mine pointed me to this book, I jumped right in!

By the very nature of the animal itself, all rat books just have to be cute. I mean, look at that face and tell me that isn't the sweetest little thing you have ever seen! This book, though was very well thought out in order to maximize on cuteness. Not only is it written in Nimh's point of view, it is written so that it explains to young and old alike how to care for a rat. That combination of style and subject have the most heart melting impact of any combination I know and the author masters it so well you just have to read the book again, right after you finish it, so that you can spend more time with Nimh.

As a teacher I also read this book with an eye on education and found that it reads very well in that regard too. My young students enjoyed listening and would occasionally ask questions, which was okay because there were opportunities at each page to stop and discuss what was happening, usually in the pictures. The photos are very well thought out and provide for good out of text storytelling as well as complementing the story that is written. Children who are not yet reading can easily retell the story based on these pictures, which is important to their language development.

Topics covered include food, treats, cages, toys, behavior and proper handling. I wouldn't say you can learn everything there is to know about rats just from reading this one book, but it is an excellent introduction, especially for young readers. If you love rats you will want to get this book simply for the love of them. If you are curious about rats you might discover something you never knew before. Most importantly adults can share this story with their kids in the same way a dog owning family would read about puppies or a cat owning family would read about kittens. Children have waited a long time for a rat care book like this. They should really enjoy it.… (plus d'informations)