I found this book at the Community Library of the Shenango Valley. This was an interesting book I would like my students to read one day. This book talked about a thief who stole all the food from travelers along the highway. Because of a brave duck, she was able to trick the rat into a cave so she can bring all the food back to the hungry travelers. It teaches students that good does come to those that are brave to stick up for themselves and those around them. I think all children/students should read this book. This book appealed to both my 3 yo. daughter and 10 yo. son. In fact, my daughter has been nigh-obsessed with it, and we have read it many times. In a way, I think she'd be content to end the book at the animals' celebration of the highway rat's defeat with a grand feast by firelight and moonlight. An addendum, though, shows the highway rat making his way through the cave (into which he has been lured and lost), and living the rest of his life "A thinner and grayer and meeker Rat" who gives up highway robbery for working in a cake shop, where he can finally enjoy all those cookies and cakes that he never could seem to obtain in his criminal days. I still wouldn't trust him, but as my son pointed out, the last page shows the rat being dwarfed by the other inhabitants of the village, so he's no longer the big bad guy with a horse and sword, but rather looks smaller than the village children as he crouches on the floor, gnawing on a cookie that he's swept up. Even during his days as the Highway Rat, and though described as a "baddie" and a "beast," he never looked menacing enough to me. If rats can be cute, then he was cute.
What do You think about The Highway Rat (2011)?
Loved the ending. Although I feel like they skipped a part, and it wasn't super obvious.
—minieme
Love the rhythm of the language and the scary cave....ooooohhhhhhhh!
—hayhay
A nice rhyming story with humorous illustrations.
—lizmarin
