Cinderella's Rat

Books, you can never have too many books. Especially in a school setting. School, classroom and home.....the more the better

Yes, there are some similarities in plot between this book and the Wilson book, both of which I own and have read. (Because they're both based on the same folktale, perhaps?) But the whole tone of the books can't be more dissimilar. The Wilson book includes murder, riots,death by incineration, death by the plague, death by being eaten alive by thousands of rats...it's a dark fantasy not intended for children under 16, a satiric look at human society, demagoguery,how revolutions go awry (many echoes of the French and Russian revolutions)loyalty and love.The Meddaugh book is intended for young children of 6 or so. It is a lighthearted fantasy about brother and sister rats, who get caught up in Cinderella's big night. Only one rat is transformed into a human, and when he tries to protect his sister from another boy by admitting their relationship, things get confused. The two end up at a wizard's cottage, where the boy, thinking his change is permanent,tries to see his sister turned into a girl. The wizard succeeds (sort of),but then at midnight, he's a rat again, while she stays a girl. All ends happily for the two, and the rest of their family, and none of the rats ever fear cats again. The moral of this children's book is summed up on the last page:"Life is full of surprises, so you may as well get used to it".

This book is a very good way to discuss and illustrate point of view and how everybody feels different about different situations. I enjoyed this book and thought it was a lot of fun for students. After reading several versions of Cinderella, this book was a refreshingly different take on the situation. The children liked it and wanted to read it again. It is funny. The illustrations are cute and the story is just as clever as can be. I think it is just a fun book for children to enjoy. I do know that I enjoyed it.

I bought this book as a gift for the man who played the part of the rat/footman in our production of Cinderella. It was a perfect gift. I thought the story was interesting but not really a good children's story since the rat's sister ends up as a human girl with a dog's bark. I found that a bit odd and disturbing for little girls who might read the book.

This is a great "what-if" tale. It tells the tale of a lowly rat that is transformed into one of Cinderella's coachman. But there is more. This story is very innovative and amusing and you get a rodent's perspective on this classic fairytale episode with a few twists thrown in for good measure.

Not bad, but not blow your socks off awesome. Ending could be tightened up a bit for young ones. I'd love to see something like this updated

An interesting take on the Cinderella story but focusing on the rat instead of on the actual heroine of the normal tail. The story searches what happens when change comes all of a sudden and sometimes how it can end up benefitting those who are caught by its actions. The illustrations aren't the kind that I would have chosen from the book although they did fit to a certain degree. All in all if you like to hear Cinderella from a rat's point-of-view and you are old enough to handle gruesome chapter books then I would strongly suggest "The Coachman Rat".

Thought I was getting a brand new book but turned out it was used.

Really big hit with my class of 6 year olds. Funny and a perfect key into writing in character.