Illustrator: Louis Darling
Genre: Animal Fantasy
Themes: unusual friendship, sharing and trust, bravery in the face of obstacles, sacrificial love
Characters:
~Primary: Keith, Ralph
~Secondary: Ralph's mother; Ralph's aunts, uncles, cousins and siblings; the maid; Matt; Mr. and Mrs. Gridley; the terrier
Awards:
~Nene Award (Hawaii)
~ALA Notable Children's Book
~Great Stone Face Book Award (New Hampshire)
~William Allen White Children's Book Award (Kansas)
~Nene Award (Hawaii)
~ALA Notable Children's Book
~Great Stone Face Book Award (New Hampshire)
~William Allen White Children's Book Award (Kansas)
Date of Publication: 1990
Publishing Company: HarperCollins
Summary: Ralph is a young mouse longing for adventure, so when he sees a toy motorcycle he wants nothing more than to ride it. His daring escapade lands him at the bottom of a trash basket. Thankfully, he makes an unlikely friendship with the little boy who owns the motorcycle, Keith, who teaches him how to ride the motorcycle. Through a series of adventures, Keith and Ralph become close friends. When a sudden illness begins to affect Keith, Ralph must summon his courage to help find medicine that will help cure Keith.
Recommendation: I really enjoyed reading this book. The majority of the book was lighthearted and fun, but with just enough conflict to keep students interested. I think that both boys and girls will be engaged by this story, making it a great choice for a class read-aloud.
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