Sunday, April 15, 2018

The Infamous Ratsos by Kara Lareau Illustrated by Matt Meyers


The Infamous Ratsos is Penelope’s April book club pick for the Bookworms Book Club at the Kewaunee Public Library for children from 1st grade through 3rd grade.  Penelope loves going to book club and also loves selecting new books to read afterwards.  My mother-in-law Gert takes Penelope to book club at 3:30 PM after school since I’m still working.  Penelope loves to come home with a pile of books afterwards.  We read her official book right away this time as last month we waited until the last minute!

The Infamous Ratsos is about two brothers, Ralphie and Louie Ratso, who want to be tough just like their Dad.  They go through a series of escapades where they try to do naughty things that they think will make them look tough, to only end up accidentally doing good deeds instead.   The book was pretty funny and had great pictures.

The part Penelope and I liked the best was at the end of the book when their father, Big Lou, learns about all of their good deeds and they talk about how they want to be “tough” like their Dad.  He talks about how they should not be like him, but that he should be trying to be more like them, able to take care of themselves and find the time for good deeds.  He says it’s been tough trying to make it after their Mom has been gone.  “Being tough all of the time is so. . . so. . . tough, “says their father.  
 
This book made me laugh and I’ll admit slightly emotional at the end.  It was a fun read for Penelope, but I loved that it had a message.

Overall, The Infamous Ratsos is a fun book with a big heart.

Book Source:  The Kewaunee Public Library

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