Rotten Ralph's Rotten Family

After finding an old photo album, Ralph visits his family. His mother treats him well, but the other relatives heap humiliation on him. Ralph realizes the reason he is so rotten is that his own family was rotten to him. The longer early-chapter-book format serves Ralph well, allowing a more sophisticated story line to emerge. Lively tongue-in-cheek illustrations extend the action.

Ralph is one rotten cat who probably does not deserve his patient and long-suffering owner, Sarah. But why is Ralph so rotten? Perhaps it's in his genes. Ralph finds an old family photo album and bathes in nostalgia for his childhood, a time "when I didn't have to change a thing about myself." He then sets out for a visit to his family on the farm. Things are not exactly a fantasy come true, though. His mother treats him well, but the other relatives heap humiliation on our feline hero. His dad squirts Ralph with goat milk, and his siblings shear a patch of his fur while he sleeps. Even his grandparents are unkind. Poor Ralph--he realizes the reason he is so rotten is that his own family was rotten to him! Returning home to Sarah, Ralph decides to reform himself, at least for the moment. Gantos and Rubel (after a few Rotten Ralph picture books) have returned to the longer early-chapter-book format, which serves Ralph well. While his antics are still front and center, a more sophisticated story line is able to emerge. Rubel's lively tongue-in-cheek illustrations extend the action. The naughty behavior of Ralph and his family is sure to bring a chuckle to longtime fans and new friends alike. Let's hope Ralph--easy to read and easy to love--sticks around for a long time. robin l. smith