Books

That Pesky Rat

Lauren Child, Author

Paperback

Imprint: Orchard Books

Publication date: January 14, 2016

Category: Picture storybooks

ISBN: 9781408337370

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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

A wonderful story about love and loneliness in the big city

Junior

In every respect, Child has the knack. She engages the eye, tickles the fancy, makes jokes that resound and stand repetition

Times Educational Supplement

Another little masterpiece from Lauren Child, whose stories and quirky pictures leave you helpless with laughter

The Mail on Sunday

A good story with a message worth discussing

English 4 - 11

A witty, enjoyable story accompanied by Lauren Child's famously stunning collages

Waterstones Books Quarterly

A wonderfully funny, touching tale from Lauren Child

East Cumbria News and Star

Witty and affecting... children will love her winning tale

Books Magazine

Feast on the pictures and wonder at the skill with which she brings all together

Carousel

A groovy, brilliantly illustrated story

Daily Mail

Full of surprises... lively and amusing... exhilarating

School Librarian Magazine

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

Sunday Telegraph

Funny and touching

What's On In London

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

Radio Times

Clever, rewarding and hugely enjoyable

Guardian

Here's a book to make you smile... wonderfully quirky

Northern Echo

Delivered with Child's customary mix of charm and wit... packed with humour and warmth

Junior

Another little masterpiece from Lauren Child, whose stories and quirky pictures leave you helpless with laughter

Mail on Sunday

Brilliant. Completely brilliant

Times Educational Supplement

Lauren Child

Lauren Child MBE is a multi-award-winning author and Waterstones 2017-2019 Children’s Laureate, whose books are known and loved the world over. She is the creator of many much-loved characters, including Charlie and Lola, Clarice Bean and Ruby Redfort. Since her first book was published in 1999, Lauren has sold over six million books in 19 languages worldwide. Her many awards include the prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal for I Will Not Ever Never Eat a Tomato, the Nestle Gold Book Award for That Pesky Rat and the Nestle Bronze Book Award for Beware of the Storybook Wolves. Lauren is a UNESCO Artist for Peace and a Trustee of the House of Illustration, and has an MBE for services to literature. She loves designing and making things and finds it exciting to see her drawings turned into objects. Other favourite things include the cinema, TV matinees, small Italian cars, handbags, cardigans, travelling and being picked up from the airport.