Author/Illustrator: Lynne Jonell/Jonathan Bean
Plot Summary: After Emmy's parents inherit a large sum of money, they become obsessed with money, travel and socializing. Emmy is left to live with a strict (and strange) Nanny. We realize just how strange she is as we get to know Emmy, the rat she befriends, and her classmates who end up helping her.
Comments: This book was recommended to me by my fourth grade niece who loved it. My fourth grade son has yet to read it but I think he will like it as it is interesting, involves rats and potions and evil grownups. This is the perfect book for fourth, fifth and even sixth graders.
Extensions:
1. This would make a great read aloud for fourth or fifth grade. A class discussion about values followed by a writing assigment where children write about the things that are important to them.
2. Activities and discussion questions can be found here on the author's website.
3. Learn how to "Blog with the Rat" on the author's Ratblog. Tips for new bloggers can be found here.
Themes/keywords: rodents, humorous stories
Age/Reading Level: 4 - 6; ATOS/Follett - 4.7; Lexile - 780
Standards: - focused on fourth and fifth grade
ELA4R1 The student demonstrates comprehension and shows evidence of a
warranted and responsible explanation of a variety of literary and informational
texts.
ELA4R2 The student consistently reads at least twenty-five books or book equivalents (approximately 1,000,000 words) each year. The materials should include traditional and contemporary literature (both fiction and non-fiction) as well as magazines, newspapers, textbooks, and electronic material. Such reading should represent a diverse collection of material from at least three different literary forms and from at least five different writers.
ELA4R3 The student understands and acquires new vocabulary and uses it correctly in reading and writing.
Publisher's Info: Henry Holt and Company, New York. 2007
ISBN-13: 978-0-8050-8150-3
ISBN-10: 0-8050-8150-X
Awards/Review Sources:
Wilson's Children 01/01/09 | School Library Journal starred 09/01/07 |
| Booklist starred 08/01/07 | Book Links starred 09/01/07 |
| Publishers Weekly starred 08/27/07 | Horn Book 04/01/08 |
| Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books 01/01/08 | Kirkus Review 07/01/07 |
Genre/Dewey: Fiction
Websites:
Author's website
Illustrator's website
Notes for Booktalk: There is a rat falling out of a tree when you flip the pages(fliporama.) Also available - "Emmy and the Home for Troubled Girls" and coming soon - "Emmy and the Rats in the Belfry." "The Secrets of Zoom" also looks interesting.
Vocabulary: hallucinations, chauffeur, capybara
Comments