Best in Show for Rotten Ralph: A Rotten Ralph Rotten Reader (Rotten Ralph Rotten Readers)
Grade 1-3–Rotten Ralph has his eye on the prize: the coveted Best in Show cup at the cat show, but his cousin has entered the competition, too. Ralph knows his chances are next to nil against Perfect Percy, the overachieving orange tabby who even has his own cheering squad. When Sarah tries to whip the rascally red feline into shape, it's a little bitRocky, a little bitMy Fair Lady, and none of it really seems to do Ralph a bit of good. He comes to realize that he can never become the sort of cat who recites A Tale of Two Kitties by rote: One was the best of kitties./The other was the worst of kitties…. What Ralph does best is to be his own rotten self. This fourth Rotten Ralph Rotten Reader is every bit as lively and entertaining as the previous books. Rubel's wonderfully wonky and bright color illustrations add character expression and humor. Gantos gives kids everything they want in an early reader: a plotline with plenty of laughs, interesting characters, and a manageable reading experience. Divided into four short chapters, this story is perfect for beginning readers who are itching for, but not quite ready to make, the transition to lengthier chapter books.–Carol L. MacKay, Camrose Public Library, Alberta, CanadaCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.