Practice Makes Perfect for Rotten Ralph: A Rotten Ralph Rotten Reader - Hardcover

Gantos, Jack

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0374363560 ISBN 13: 9780374363567

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR), 2002

Synopsis

It's carnival time for Ralph, Sarah, and Percy, Ralph's cousin! Ralph is ready to play games and win prizes. But perfect Percy has been practicing. He keeps beating Ralph and wooing Sarah with his winnings. Fed up with losing, Ralph decides to cheat his way to victory . . . until Sarah puts a stop to it.

School Library Journal hails Rotten Ralph Helps Out, the first Rotten Ralph Rotten Reader, as a "wise choice for youngsters making the transition from picture books to chapter books." In this feisty new adventure, the world's favorite come-back cat shows Percy and Sarah that all his practice at losing can make him a winner in the end.

About this title

About the Author

Jack Gantos and Nicole Rubel published their first book, Rotten Ralph, in 1976. They launched the Rotten Ralph Readers in 2001 with Rotten Ralph Helps Out.

In addition to the Rotten Ralph books, Jack Gantos is the author of Hole in My Life, a memoir that won the Michael L. Printz and Robert F. Sibert Honors, Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key, a National Book Award Finalist, and Joey Pigza Loses Control, a Newbery Honor book. He lives with his family in Boston, Massachusetts.

Nicole Rubel's many books include Twice as Nice: What It's Like to Be a Twin and Grody's Not So Golden Rules. She lives in Aurora, Oregon.

Reviews

reSchool-Grade 2--Themes of jealousy, boasting, cheating, and getting one's comeuppance are all touched on in this second book in the easy-reader series. When the carnival comes to town, Sarah, Ralph, and his cousin Percy are excited to attend. Percy has been practicing his skills so that he can win prizes, and win he does, much to Ralph's chagrin. The feline's jealousy and frustration lead him to gather prizes through unorthodox (and unethical) means until Sarah makes him do the right thing. The four-chapter adventure is illustrated with the familiar, brightly colored pictures that Rotten Ralph's fans have enjoyed for years. Though he is a troublesome cat, readers know that somehow he will learn a lesson and that Sarah will love him no matter what. An enjoyable addition to any beginning-reader collection.
Maryann H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WI
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Several stars of early readers return for more adventures. Let loose at the carnival, the star of Practice Makes Perfect for Rotten Ralph by Jack Gantos, illus. by Nicole Rubel, tries to outplay Cousin Percy and impress Sarah, his owner. The hero resorts to cheating, but, by the end of this Rotten Ralph Rotten Reader, he repents, returns his ill-gotten booty and wins a prize the right way.

Gr. 1-3. Sarah and Rotten Ralph head to the carnival and learn lessons about honesty in this latest episode. They are joined by cousin Percy, an overachieving orange tabby, who, much to Ralph's disdain, has been practicing dart throwing and baseball tossing. When Percy wins prizes for Sarah, Ralph is jealous, and tired of losing, he gives himself "sneaky help when nobody is looking." Cheating at all the games, he wins an armload of toys for Sarah, who promptly suspects foul play. Ralph returns each prize, learns his lesson, and gets praise from Sarah: "Oh Ralphie. You don't need any practice at being my winner." Fans of the series will enjoy the story's humor, real emotions, and silly cat-inspired wordplay (cousin Percy styles his fur with "mouse mousse"). And as always, Rubel's bright, clear illustrations nicely extend all the fun. Another solid entry in the Rotten Ralph Rotten Reader chapter book series. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Edition details

• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
• Publication date: 2002
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0374363560
• ISBN 13: 9780374363567
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Rubel Nicole
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 48