LITTLE RAT RIDES

The endearing star of Little Rat Sets Sail returns for a second sporty adventure, this time learning to ride a horse in a riding-academy setting. Bang-Campbell again demonstrates her insightful understanding of a child’s feelings as Little Rat conquers her fears step by step, learning new skills and recovering from minor mishaps. She learns not only how to ride but also how to clean a stall, groom her horse, and stand up to a cranky resident goat, with help from a more experienced rider and from her understanding teacher. Understated humor pops up in both the text and the illustrations, with surprising insights into Little Rat’s thoughts and amusing additions in the art for sharp-eyed readers to discover. Bang’s talent for animal expressions is at her blue-ribbon best in the watercolor-and-ink illustrations interspersed throughout the text, and she skillfully handles the difficult perspective issues inherent with a little rat and a huge horse. Although the text is intended as an upper-level easy reader for children transitioning into chapter books, this quiet, satisfying story will also work as a read-aloud for younger children. (Easy reader. 4-8)