Hawthorne, Lara. Ratty’s Big Adventure. Lara Hawthorne, Illus. Big Picture/Candlewick, 11/2022. [40]pp. Picture Book. GRADES Preschool – 2. ADDITIONAL. $17.99. 978-1-5362-2670-6.
Ratty is a cat-sized Bosavi Woolly Rat living in the rain forests of an inactive volcano on Mount Bosavi, Papua New Guinea. One day Ratty climbs to the top of a tree and discovers that there’s a forest beyond the volcano, and he’s determined to explore it. After a series of slightly harrowing encounters with creatures beyond his home, he is no longer so sure that a better place is right around the corner, and returns to his friends declaring, “Everything I want is right here in this volcano.” Charming illustrations of the flora and fauna, done in digitally-enhanced watercolor-and-gouache, pack the pages with birds, plants, insects, and other animals of the rain forest. A detailed description of this special ecosystem follows the story. The informational back matter and beautiful illustrations elevate this otherwise average “home is best” story.
Cindy Gullikson—Joaquin Miller School, Oakland Unified School District