About the Holiday
In 2002 Robyn Archer and James Kitlock thought people should take another look at rats and recognize them for their endearing traits. They established World Rat Day to celebrate these rodents and promote the adoption of Fancy Rats as pets. Clean, smart, and devoted, Fancy Rats are beloved by many. How can you celebrate today? Why not hold a Rat Day party, read a book or watch a movie starring a rat, or if you’re looking for a new pet, check out your local shelter for these furry friends. To learn more about World Rat Day, visit the official website!
The Reliable Rodent
Guest Post by Mike Allegra
Anyone who knows me, knows that I am pro-rodent (or, as I prefer, “prodent”).
In elementary school, I took care of two four-legged gerbils and one three-legged gerbil. (The three-legged one was much faster than the four-leggers, by the way). In the years since, I have cuddled and cared for field mice, hamsters, one fancy rat, one sewer rat posing as a fancy rat, and the world’s most ornery guinea pig. My bucket list dream is to skritch a capybara’s belly. (A capybara, in case you don’t know, is the world’s largest rodent. Fully grown capys can be 100 pounds and nearly as big as a golden retriever.)
My prodent views can be found in my fiction. One of my picture books stars a mouse with a commanding grasp of the principals of scientific inquiry. In another picture book, I feature a guinea pig the size of a mastodon.
The more I work rodents into my stories, the more I realize that a rodent is The Best Picture Book Protagonist Ever. This discovery isn’t a revelation by any means; wee rodents have been helming stories since the days of Aesop and will continue to do so as long as children’s books continue to be published.
But here’s my take:
Three Reasons why Rodents are Perfect for Picture Books
Rodents Are Teensy-Eensy Tiny
Rodents are so very vulnerable. They’re surrounded by larger, stronger, more aggressive animals. And, jeepers, the world is just so dang big!
If that doesn’t describe kid-dom, I don’t know what does.
I’m 48 years old, yet I still remember the toddlerhood ordeal of having to reach waaaay above my head to grab a doorknob. I remember having to stand of a stool to peek over the lip of the bathroom sink. I remember everything being either too bulky or heavy to lift. And I remember how Mom could thwart me by putting the object of my desire inside The Top Cabinet. God, how I hated, hated, hated The Top Cabinet.
It seemed so unfair to be so little in such a large world. Rodents—mice, rats, guinea pigs, and the rest (except capybaras)—have to live in that world for their entire lives. They can embody the same frustrations and physical limitations that children know all too well.
And yet…
Rodents Have Moxie!
I love the word “moxie” because it has so many great definitions. And every rodent adheres to every moxie definition:
Are rodents energetic? Lord, yes (except capybaras).
Intelligent? Yup.
Resourceful? My Houdini Rat escaped from her cage six times (six times!). So, yeah!
Curious? The fact that my Houdini Rat explored the entire house before choosing to cuddle in my son’s bed is a big yup.
The “moxie” definitions apply to children, too. Who but a kid would jump from the highest monkey bar? Or run a half-mile to chase down the ice cream truck? Or ask questions both innocent and profound. Or find a hundred different ways to play with an empty cardboard box? Kids tick off all the moxie boxes. Rodents are their spirit animals.
Which leads to my final reason…
Rodents are Cuuuute!
All rodents are cute (especially capybaras). Sure a naked rat might take a little getting used to, but as soon as you see one washing his widdle face in a bathroom sink, the cuteness is oh, so apparent.
We go the extra mile for cute things, don’t we? Of course we do. That’s why we all tolerate (and often chuckle fondly) at all of our kids’ nonsense. And, really, who doesn’t wanna read about a cute something? I do! And you probably do, too!
Now, if you’ll forgive me, I gotta go. I’m calling dibs on a capybara picture book.
While Mike’s off doing that, you can check out this giveaway!
Scampers Thinks Like a Scientist Giveaway
I’m giving away a signed copy of Scampers Thinks Like a Scientist, written by Mike Allegra and illustrated by Elizabeth Zechel from Dawn Publications. It’s a story of excitement and experimentation in which Scampers and her friend Nibbles (who, by the way, are teensy-eensy tiny, have moxie, and are cuuuute) reclaim their vegetable patch from a wide-eyed owl.
To enter all you have to do is:
Leave a comment here on this post about your favorite kind of rodent or favorite literary rodent
OR
Check out my Giveaway on Instagram. To enter just
- Like a giveaway post
- Follow me at celebratepicturebooks.
- Bonus: Comment with your favorite kind of rodent or your favorite literary rodent for an extra entry (each comment gives you one more entry)
This giveaway runs from April 4 through April 10 and ends at 8:00 p.m. EST
Giveaway open to U.S. addresses only
Read my reviews of
Scampers Thinks Like a Scientist
Mike Allegra is the author of Scampers Thinks Like a Scientist, Everybody’s Favorite Book, the Prince Not-So-Charming series, and Sarah Gives Thanks: How Thanksgiving Became a National Holiday.
To learn more about Mike Allegra, his books, and his other work, visit his website.
You can find Mike’s books at these booksellers:
Scampers Thinks Like a Scientist
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million | IndieBound
Everybody’s Favorite Book
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million | IndieBound
Prince Not-So-Charming: Once Upon a Prank (and the rest of the series)
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million | IndieBound
Sarah Gives Thanks: How Thanksgiving Became a National Holiday
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million | IndieBound
Picture Book Review
Phew, I made it here before the deadline. I’d have come sooner, but I was making friends with the new Capybara down the street. Her name is Priscilla and one of her endearing traits is that she loves to be read to. I chose Everybody’s Favorite Book because, hey, not knowing the kind of literature she most likes, I figured I’d be safe with Everybody’s Favorite Book. And I was right! Priscilla loved it.
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When you find out how to pet capybaras, please let me know.
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The how-to-pet-‘em isn’t the problem. It’s the where-to-find-‘em-to-pet-‘em that stumps me!
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That’s what I meant, of course.
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I know. I’m just joshin’ with you.
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I know. I was joshin’ with YOU! (Okay, no, I wasn’t.) 🙂
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Joshin’ is fun!
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Especially if your name is Josh.
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I think rodents are cute in books and movies, but I don’t want to be in the same room with one. I’m the girl stand jumps on the chair and screams. Gerbils are okay, but I prefer rabbits. But only you can make them come alive with personality and humor. Think you have to write that Prodent book. No one else has. Great post!
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Rabbits are cute – and even cuter when called bunnies! Mike does have an amazing way with words! Thanks for reading!
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I love rabbits (or bunnies or, as I prefer to call ‘em, “bunnehs”). I would have one—or several—as a pet if I wasn’t so allergic. Still, Patricia, I would recommend getting in some quality rodent time before passing judgement. Guinea pigs are perhaps the sweetest buggers known to mankind.
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OK, I do think that rodents are cute, curious, and quite underrated. And Scampers is quite the heroic figure in this book. But you’ve got your work cut out for you to make a swarming collective of them something other than chilling. Perhaps that should be the purpose of another book…..
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Hmmm… maybe it’s that word “swarming”…. What if they were dancing? or riding in the Tour de France? or going to the movies… What do you think, Mike?
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How about a rodent a capella group?
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I’m not sure I’m in favor of “swarming” anything. But if there was to be a swarm, I would vote for a swarm of capybaras. Period.
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This is a great post! One of my favorite books featuring a rodent is the chapter book, “Ralph S. Mouse,” by Beverly Cleary.
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I Love Mike’s writing! If you haven’t checked out his blog – Hey, Look! A Writer Fellow!
Beverly Cleary is wonderful – I love everything she’s written!
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He was the little fella on the motorcycle, yes?
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Yes! There are actually 3 books in the series, I believe.
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Yep – I am Team Prodent all the way!
I’ll gush over a guinea pig more than most adults will find comfortable or appropriate, but that’s OK with me.
I think the story of the world’s fastest three legged hamster is one meant for Mike to write!
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That’s a fantastic idea! How ’bout it, Mike? May 3 is National Specially-Abled Pet’s Day….
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Consider the guest post written, Kathy.
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You have proven your prodent leanings with your new PB, my friend. Sure, it says “moose” on the the cover, but there ain’t no story without that squirrel!
And I am gonna make a note of that three-legged gerbil idea…
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I feel so prodent now; thanks, Mike!
Out of curiosity, have you read Hooway for Wodney Wat? It’s become a family favorite.
I think my favorite rodent is that plump, fluffy hairball, a gerbil. I’d rather watch of of them critters wash its face in a sink instead of Monsieur Mole Rat any day. 🐁
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Awww… gerbils are cute, but can’t you imagine that mole rat stepping out of the sink and into a nice fluffy robe?
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😀 No. They’re definitely not my cup of bath.
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Ah, well…it is understandable! 🙂
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Ah, but gerbils are desert animals. They don’t go for long soaks in sinks.
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No, they do that really cute ‘washing’ their face in a drop of water.
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Oh I know! So cuuuute!
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Reblogged this on Hey, Look! A Writer Fellow! and commented:
Today is World Rat Day!To celebrate, I’m guest posting over at Celebrate Picture Books. So head on over, read my post and enter for a chance to win my new, prodent-est picture book: Scampers Thinks Like a Scientist!
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