Of Poetry, Priorities And Pals

Your siblings can be your best friends.  People who appear to be your exact opposite can be your best friends.  Best friends can be your same age or decades apart in birth dates.  These people (or other creatures) considered best friends have unconditional affection for you; all of you.  They celebrate your triumphs, offer comfort when sadness descends and see your flaws and mistakes as opportunities for change and growth.  

Several years ago readers were introduced to two rats, siblings, Louie and Ralphie Ratso.  In the book The Infamous Ratsos (Candlewick Press, August 2, 2016) written by Kara LaReau with illustrations by Matt Myers, the duo try to demonstrate how tough they are but words like nice, thoughtful, generous and helpful follow every dastardly deed they attempt.  This combination generates hilarity garnering the title a 2017 Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Book award.  

A year later the brothers, their dad, Big Lou, and a cast of friends return in The Infamous Ratsos Are Not Afraid (Candlewick Press, September 12, 2017).  An incident at school and a huge neighborhood makeover bring the boys' fears into focus.  In this title, Big Lou offers advice which encourages Louie and Ralphie to face what makes them afraid.  We come to understand how the boys can learn from their father just as he learns from them.  The family dynamics are fabulous.  Each of the characters is evolving.  We find ourselves becoming more and more attached to them.

The third book in the series The Infamous Ratsos Project Fluffy (Candlewick Press, October 16, 2018) further cements the relationship between readers and Louie and Ralphie Ratso.  Popularity plays a role in altering priorities.  Being the older brother does not necessarily make you the smarter brother.  

ATTENTION, STUDENTS! Principal Otteriguez announces to the lunchroom.  "In honor of Poetry Month, Peter Rabbit Elementary will be holding its first annual Poetry Contest!"

Friends of Louie and Ralphie seem to have an opinion on this contest.  Chad Badgerton would rather eat, especially chocolate.  Fluffy only wants to work on designing, planting and growing fruits and vegetables in her plot at the community garden.  Eager Louie and not so eager Ralphie decide to work together.  The first prize would give both of them the chance to purchase coveted skateboards.

Immediately after school, plans change.  Popular Chuck Wood needs Louie's help.  (Louie is known as a great planner.)  The first thing Chuck asks is for Louie to work with him privately.  It's a secret.  Ralphie is not happy about this at all.  This is the beginning of Project Fluffy.

Clipboard in hand Louie decides to dedicate all his time to getting Fluffy to notice Chuck.  All thoughts of the Poetry Contest are gone, much to Ralphie's disgust.  Each Phase of the Project fails miserably supplying one humorous episode after the other.  These plans are having the opposite effect.

Finally a disgusted Chuck Wood stalks off leaving Louie friendless for more reasons than one.  On an evening before the Poetry Contest winner announcements, a family dinner provides food for thought and Louie's stomach.  Real friends . . . and brothers can astonish you.

The constant in the story lines in this series is the high quality of Kara LaReau's writing.  In this book ten short, succinct chapters usually revolve around a single incident designated by chapter headings such as SQUEEEEE!, OOPS or LOVE STINKS.  An adept blend of narrative and dialogue between the characters invites readers into the story.  Not only are we intrigued by the unfolding of the plot but we find ourselves respectfully appreciative of the character development.

The use of language is down-to-earth and appropriate for both the characters and readers.  Kara LaReau exhibits a keen knowledge of her audience.  Here are two passages.

"Not bad," Chuck says.  "But my name is Chuck, not Chucky."

"It's called poetic license," Louie informs him.  "Don't worry, Fluffy will love it.  Girls love mushy poetry.  It's, like, a fact." 

"She's better," Chuck says.  I can't take much more of this romance stuff."

"Me, neither," Ralphie grumbles.

"You're going to write a poem about Chuck?  You can't tell a boy you think he's cool," Chad informs Tiny, as he polishes off his second chocolate pudding. "Not if you're a boy."

"Why not?" asks Tiny.

"I don't know," says Chad.  "You just can't."

"I give you my dessert every day because I think you're cool," Tiny informs him.

"You do?" Chad says.  He hesitates . . . then pats Tiny on the back.  "Actually I think you're pretty cool, too."

"Thanks," says Tiny.

Chad takes another bite of pudding.

"Mmm," says Chad.  "Cool, and sweet . . . and chocolatey."

"Why do I think we're not talking about me anymore?" Tiny says.

"I like you a lot, Tiny," says Chad.

"But I love pudding."

From the front of the dust jacket (I'm working with an ARC.) it's clear to see Ralphie is not happy with an oblivious Louie.  We're not sure why but we most definitely want to know.  We are also curious about the individual talking with Fluffy.  Several important scenes take place in the featured park.  On the title page a large tree and grasses on the left cross the gutter to frame the text on the right.  Beneath the dedications a baseball and a strawberry provide a hint to one of the book's conclusions.

Full page and partial page pictures by Matt Myers rendered with ink and watercolor dye on paper supply extra, many times humorous details, to the story.  You need to pause at each illustration to appreciate all the particular elements.  Two of the many book titles Fluffy reads are Soil w/o Toil and The Hole-istic Garden.  When Matt Myers brings us close to the characters, their fully animated features endear us to them.  (I can hardly keep from laughing at Ralphies's oversized eyeglasses.) 

Of my many favorite illustrations one is of Fluffy in the cafeteria at lunch.  It is a partial page picture.  Her rabbit ears are bent on either side of her face.  She is earnestly drawing and writing in her notebook about her garden.  Books are stacked around her.  Her expression reflects her visions and dreams for her garden.  She, too, is wearing large eyeglasses.

From beginning to end The Infamous Ratsos Project Fluffy written by Kara LaReau with illustrations by Matt Myers is captivating and uplifting.  It's guaranteed this book will be read over and over by readers.  (I've read it three times already.)  We are entertained.  We are educated.  This book is a welcome addition to the series.  You will want it on your professional and personal book shelves.  

To discover more about Kara LaReau and Matt Myers, please visit their respective websites by following the links attached to their names.  Both Kara and Matt maintain accounts on Twitter.  Kara stops by Watch. Connect. Read., the site of Scholastic's Ambassador of School Libraries to chat with John Schumacher.  She tells us how many more books are left in this series and this is great news!  Kara is also interviewed at MG Book Village and Bookology.  At the publisher's website you can view an interior illustration, read a sample chapter and download a discussion guide.

"It's elementary my dear..."

When an event occurs with no initial logical explanation it can be considered a mystery.  Likewise any story in which this type of event drives the main plot is named a mystery.  As you read collecting the clues, it's like going on a scavenger hunt.  Following along with the characters is almost as exciting as being there with them.

Down through the history of mystery fiction there are classic and contemporary detective teams; Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, Frank and Joe Hardy (The Hardy Boys), Nancy Drew, Bess Marvin and George Fayne (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories) Emily Crane and James Lee (The Book Scavenger), Detective Rick Zengo and Detective Corey O'Malley (Platypus Police Squad), and Detective Wilcox and Captain Griswold (Wilcox and Griswold Mystery).  For younger readers a new duo hits the scene in their first puzzler.  The Missing Mola Lisa (Case #1 Q & Ray series) (Graphic Universe, a trademark of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc., August 1, 2017) presented by the collaborative wife and husband team of author Trisha Speed Shaskan and illustrator Stephen Shaskan.

Before the first of ten chapters begins we are introduced to an assortment of characters on a page titled

Who's Who.

Our terrific twosome, Quillan Lu Hedgeson aka Q and Ray Ratzberg followed by Mr. Shrew, media specialist, Ms. Boar, classroom teacher, Ms. Easel, art teacher, Jimmy, magic shop owner, The Great Don Realo, magician and Officer Rocco all play various and vital roles.  As readers will note Mr. Shew and the media center serve as the hub of the Super Sleuth happenings.

After an exchanged greeting between Mr. Shrew and Ray, we discover the new student from France is really Q attempting to fool Ray with a disguise.  It's her goal to become a master.  Ray wants to be a master of something else besides cheese-and-onion sandwiches.  Magic is his aim.

Their second grade classmates are going on a field trip today to see the famed Mola Lisa at the Elm Tree Art Museum but first the students are entertained by The Great Don Realo, a surprise visit by the magician.  In the afternoon as the children of Elm Tree Elementary stand before the Mola Lisa suddenly the lights go out, fire is sighted but before they can exit the lights are back on and the fire has disappeared.  The fire is not the only thing missing. The Mola Lisa is gone.

Sharp-eyed and on the job, Q and Ray quickly discover two clues.  Visits to three locations increase their knowledge of the culprit responsible for the crime but they lack real evidence.  Like the great detectives before them, they reexamine all the gathered clues, leading them to the truth. Q and Ray, masters of magic and disguise, deliver the final surprise.


Nearly the entire narrative is told through conversations between the characters.  Trisha Speed Shaskan weaves interesting facts about magic into the story which careful readers will eventually see are key to locating information about the theft.  She also cleverly uses Q's passion for disguise as part of the plot details.

The dialogue between the characters will be easily understood by the intended audience.  When Q and Ray are trying to solve the case, it's as if we are joining in the chat.  Humor appears when you least expect it.

Class:  ABCs!
Raise your paws!

Here is another passage during lunch between Ray and Q.

How about a magic trick?
Sure!
Look at the quarter.
It's been in my family for years.
We've passed it from one rat to the next.
Ha! It's gone!

Don't worry.  I won't let history
slip through my paws.  It's
right here! Or---right ear!
Aces! How did
you do that?


When you first look at the front of the book case, it's hard not to think of Saturday morning cartoons.  The characters are cute and comical at the same time.  Illustrator Stephen Shaskan has tied all the elements in the image together to look like a display at a gallery.  And he includes a huge clue or is it a red herring?  To the left, on the back, is text relative to the title you might find on a jacket flap.  The opening and closing endpapers are a crisp, pristine white.  A design technique similar to the case is used for the title page with text and images like pictures hanging on a wall.

In this graphic novel the panels are varied in size with the frames having rounded corners.  Smaller panels are placed within larger panels.  Sometimes we will be given a different perspective to draw our focus to a specific point as when Ray is doing his magic trick. Stephen's signature geometric rays radiant from his characters in some of the scenes.

The placement of the speech balloons will assist early readers.  For emphasis and dramatic effect text is enlarged, made bold and placed in jagged speech balloons.  Readers can easily discern the elevated volume of the speaker's voice.  I think readers with any art knowledge will find the depiction of The Scream, Girl with a Pearl Earring and the Mola Lisa hilarious.  A nod is given to two specific artists in the clothing worn by Ms. Easel.

One of my favorite of many illustrations is when Q and Ray are talking over a twist in the case.  They are standing facing each other.  Q is wearing a yellow jacket and skirt with purple accessories and shoes.  Ray is wearing another combination of his usual checked shirt (light blue and white) with red pants and shoes with light blue socks.  Their expressions are animated, endearing and funny.

During an impromptu and very short questions and answer on social media several nights ago, Trisha had this to say about this first title in the proposed series.

Like our picture book Punk Skunks, Stephen and I created Q & Ray together from its conception.  While brainstorming which type of story we wanted to create, we decided on a mystery for a few reasons.  For years, I taught mystery-writing classes to elementary students; it was my most popular class.  From teaching it, I always wanted to write a mystery.  Like the students, Stephen and I loved mysteries as kids.  At first, Q & Ray was a chapter book, but two things happened.  One: Stephen and I read tons of graphic novels for kids to prep for a class we taught kids on the subject.  In the meantime, I worked as a literacy coach with elementary school students.  Some of the emerging readers wanted to read the Babymouse and Lunch Lady graphic novel series, but they didn't have the reading skills to read them, yet.  I though the format could provide a readable text, but also visual cues for young readers.  Stephen and I chose the names Q & Ray as a riff on Q & A, questions and answers, which are the basis of mysteries.  While writing the story, I drew upon my love of Sherlock Holmes.  While illustrating the story, Stephen drew upon his love of the aesthetics of Harvey Comics (Little Dot, Richie rich, Casper the Friendly Ghost),---for the use of thick black lines and flat colors.  Together, Stephen and I drew upon the power of friendship; how a team versus an individual can be best suited to tackle the odds of solving mysteries---and of course, creating books!


For readers eager to read graphic novels and solve mysteries while enjoying the companionship of two likeable characters hand them The Missing Mola Lisa (Case #1 Q & Ray series) written by Trisha Speed Shaskan with illustrations by Stephen Shaskan.  I think it might be fun to act out some of the chapters or scenes from the chapters like a reader's theater.  I know there will be a copy of this on my personal bookshelves and ready to hand out at Halloween.  You will want one on your professional shelves too.  On the final page under Fun Facts readers can learn about Leonardo da Vinci upon which Leonardo da Squity is based in this book.

To learn more about Trisha Speed Shaskan and Stephen Shaskan and their other work please visit their respective websites by following the links attached to their names.  To view interior portions of this title please stop by the publisher's website.  Both Trisha and Stephen wrote posts for Picture Book Month.  Trisha was featured at KidLit 411.

Of Monarchs, Magic And Maliciousness

Many of us have listened to or read fairy tales for most of our lives.  We hear the words "once upon a time" and open our hearts and minds to familiar settings unlike our own, characters who cause terrible troubles and others who overcome great obstacles, and magic making an appearance when we least expect it or thankfully when we long for it.  Most people regardless of their age will be familiar with the young woman who has lost one or both of her parents and is under the control of a wicked stepmother and her two daughters.  They feel a kinship with her every hardship and cheer with a sense of justice and relief at the outcome.

Most will not know the original Cinderella is believed to have come from China more than one thousand years ago.  Since that time stories with the same motif have come from countries around the world each with a specific set of elements; each a mirror of the culture and people. Variants have been told and written with their own particular twist but keeping the essence of the original narrative.  The Rat Prince (Margaret Ferguson Books, Farrar Straus Giroux, August 23, 2016) a debut novel written by Bridget Hodder puts a wondrous spin on the tale, taking seeds from the story and growing it into something entirely her own.

Prologue
When you hear the tale of Cinderella, do you ever wonder about the rats who were turned into coachmen by her fairy godmother?
No?
Then do take a moment to consider.

Prince Char begins speaking to us about his observations as a royal rodent at Lancastyr Manor where generations of rats have been bound to the human occupants.  Rose de Lancastyr is the beautiful daughter of the late Lady Jane and the current Lord Lancastyr.  Due to her father's declining mental health, a stepmother and her two daughters now occupy the residence with her.  Prince Char and his royal councillor and best friend, Swiss, initially believe her to be kind but a total lackwit.  An encounter in the kitchen with her stepmother Lady Wilhemina, completely changes this assessment.

Of the two stepsisters, Eustacia and Jessamyn, nine-year-old Jessamyn is the more compassionate.  Rose, Cinderella, is her best friend.  We and Jessamyn discover at the same time of the unusual relationship between Cinderella and two rats who she has named Blackie (Prince Char) and Frump-Bum (Swiss).  Cinderella discloses to her stepsister of the generosity of the rats in bringing her food when Lady Wilhemina refuses her dinner.  Blackie has surprisingly enough given her, during a night of great sadness, a large sapphire ring.  Etched in the face is the Lancastyr seal.  Blackie comes close enough to Cinderella for her to pet him.

On the morning of the great ball Prince Char and a group of trusted companions leave their Northern Rat Realm, venturing into the Southern Rat Realm, ruled by Princess Mozzarella, to enter Castle Wendyn, home of Prince Geoffrey.  They have to see if he will make a proper ruler and husband for Cinderella. Even the Rat Prince's mother, Lady Apricot, sees the wisdom in this move, although rats rarely involve themselves in the affairs of humans outside Lancastyr Manor.  In their way of thinking if Cinderella is queen, Lady Wilhemina will be removed.  With her absence goes the rat poison which has killed many.

 It seems Cinderella will be allowed to go to the ball until the truth strikes her like a blow. What will she wear? When she arrives in her room, a pitiful place in the attic, several surprises await her.  Of these I will only say one offers her an opportunity and the other offers her an explanation.

On the day of the ball the Lancastyr household is a frantic flurry of activity with Rose doing most of the work wondering how every desire will be satisfied.  On the day of the ball the Rat Prince and Swiss observe an absolute horror at Castle Wendyn.  On the evening of the ball an equally horrifying series of events happen at Lancastyr Manor triggering an ancient invitation.  It's a big chaotic swirl of characters and a single wish.

Two individuals need to accomplish their goals; saving what is loved most.  Words need to be said but cannot be uttered.  As the clock ticks toward midnight the action is twisting and turning in all directions.  Readers will wonder what awaits each and every character.  The characters scarcely breathe themselves as each minute reveals one shocking bit of news after another.  As the twelfth stroke echoes, the past collides with the present.  It is indeed memorable.


To have imagined and written this novel of Cinderella, author Bridget Hodder is clearly a scholar of fairy tales, reading them and enjoying them with true affection.  Page by page as her version unfolds readers can see items from other known stories of Cinderella making an appearance, not necessarily as we expect them to but in a much grander perspective.  She takes what we know enhancing it; enlarging the narrative with wholly, beautifully believable stories within a story.  An example of this is the two stepsisters.  To have chosen one of the sisters to be younger and kinder figures more than once at critical points in the plot.

Another storytelling technique employed by Hodder is to have this portrayal spoken not be an unseen narrator but in first person (rat) voices in alternating chapters.  We start and end with wise Prince Char, taking turns with a determined and resilient Cinderella.  Whether they are in the same setting or a different place in the kingdom of Angland, each chapter flows flawlessly into the next.  We easily bond with the thoughts of the young woman and the rat.  We are able to ascertain the personalities of each character, primary and secondary, (usually) by the conversations throughout the story.  There is not a wasted moment as we speed toward the conclusion in classic page-turner style.  Here are some selected passages.

It has a carving on it," my stepsister breathed in awe.
"The seal of Lancastyrs," I said.
Together, on the same impulse, Jessamyn and I raised our eyes to look over at the rats.
They were nearer now.
Blackie's dark gaze on me was so intent, I would almost swear he understood what I'd said.
"But where could the rat have gotten such a thing?" Jessamyn demanded. "Wait.  You're merely teasing me, aren't you?  Oh, Rose, how could you?"
"I'm not teasing!  Blackie gave me the ring.  And every time I feel discouraged or tired or hungry, I touch it, and somehow it gives me the strength to carry on."
"Don't let my mother see it," Jessamyn said, in her wise little voice.
She was right, of course.  I tucked it away again, out of sight.

I wanted to nudge Rose's arm and tell her not to fear---if her stepmother were ever to steal the ring, I would get it back.  Believe me when I say there is nowhere a rat cannot go, and there is certainly nowhere Lady Wilhemina could have hidden the ring where I wouldn't have found it.  We rats had cherished the shiny golden thing for more than a century, ever since Prince Gravy, a most canny rat-ruler, nicked it from the bedside table of a slipshod Lancastyr ancestor, Vern the Vapid.

Swiss was looking at me with reproach in his eyes.  "You have yet to explain why you gave our greatest treasure to a human."


The Rat Prince written by Bridget Hodder is a Cinderella variant which I gladly devoured in a single sitting the first time and savored passage by passage the second time.  The tale is told with such excellence you can readily regard it as the true version.  This book is most definitely one to be read by those who crave fairy tales.  It is so much deeper and broader; I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves a great story.

To learn more about Bridget Hodder please follow the link attached to her name to access her website.  To read an excerpt, the first chapter, please follow this link to the publisher's website.  Bridget Hodder has been interviewed at Literary Rambles.

Rambunctious Rodents

Throughout our lives no matter our age there are those we see as guides.  They may be family, friends or people we don't even know personally.  We try to imitate those traits we admire about them the most.

When we are younger it is most likely our parents whose footsteps we wish to follow.  For children living in a single-parent home, this parent may be their only anchor.  The Infamous Ratsos (Candlewick Press, August 2, 2016) an early chapter book written by Kara LaReau with illustrations by Matt Myers follows two brothers who make every attempt to emulate their dad's view of people in the world.


This is Louie Ratso.  This is Ralphie Ratso.  

Neither Louie, a fifth grade student, nor Ralphie, a third grade student, want to be considered a "softie".  Everything they do needs to shout out loud they are tough to the core.  Louie who considers himself the brightest of the duo has a perfect plan to prove this truth.

During recess their body language and facial expressions supposedly convey their disdain for normal activities.  Working together they take a too-small hat from a huge bully, Chad Badgerton.  Their success, though, is short-lived.  It seems the hat was taken from one of their tiniest classmates on the bus earlier.  They are heralded as heroes!

With this failure weighing heavily on the twosome, a snow storm of epic proportions provides them with another opportunity.  Hours of shoveling have them gleefully hopeful but awakening from a much-needed rest, they are flabbergasted by their results.  Two more schemes, a food concoction and sudsy strategy, have Louie and Ralph nearly dancing at the probable outcome.

When they least expect it, Big Lou shocks them with a list of accusations.  If you would have asked any one of the three earlier about the outcome, they would have denied it.  Life is full of surprises.


Seven short energetic chapters written by Kara LaReau will captivate the intended audience.  The family dynamics, the comradeship between the two brothers (except when facing possible consequences) and the characters within the school and neighborhood communities are portrayed realistically.  It's the humor which flows freely in each episode that will have readers alternately cheering and laughing at the brothers.

LaReau uses words and sentence structure familiar to readers.  She writes like they think and talk.  Having Louie and Ralphie repeat a similar phrase at the end of most chapters adds a cadence to the narrative.  Here is a sample passage.

Then he says, "After tonight, everyone in the neighborhood will know how tough the Ratso brothers are."
They wait until they hear Big Lou's snoring, and then they sneak out of the apartment and down the stairs and outside.  They creep over to Mrs. Porcupini's house.  Ralphie reaches into his pockets and pulls out two big...

"Let's teach that prickly pickle not to give us sour looks," he whispers.  


The ink and watercolor illustrations rendered by Matt Myers elevate the comedy found in the narrative.  His first image of a portion of the brick-walled apartment building crosses the gutter to the title page.  Opposite the verso Louie and Ralphie can be seen carrying several water balloons.  In the following picture Louie is releasing a balloon out an open window.  It is on the final page we are privy to the results of that act.  (You will laugh out loud.)

At nearly every page turn we are greeted with a full or partial page picture.  The details mirror marvelously the characters and their surroundings. Readers can see a book titled Rat Trap 1000 Pranks Endless Fun on the floor of the family's apartment, the pattern of sawed logs on Miss Beavers' dress, and the sign hanging in Mr. O'Hare's store window, Hop In We're OPEN.  

One of my favorite illustrations is of the steaming cups of hot chocolate with marshmallows.  They are supposed to say HUG SOMEONE TODAY.  You can see the boys have changed the first word.  One days SLUG SOMEONE TODAY.  The other mug reads BUG SOMEONE TODAY.  They are trying to be tough in all respects, but will only elicit smiles from readers.


The Infamous Ratsos written by Kara LaReau with illustrations by Matt Myers is fun from beginning to end generating a huge dose of giggles and grins.  As readers will discover along with the brothers being tough is hard work.  The final two chapters will have readers hip-hip-hooraying.

To learn more about Kara LaReau and Matt Myers please follow the links attached to their names to access their websites.  At the publisher's website readers can view one of the inside spreads.  Both Kara LaReau and Matt Myers are on Twitter @karalareau @myerspaints

Update:  August 10, 2016 Author Kara LaReau shares ideas for hosting a The Infamous Ratsos party.

Update:  January 3, 2017 Kara LaReau stops by Watch. Connect. Read., blog of Scholastic's Ambassador of School Libraries, John Schumacher.