School Library Journal Review
Gr 1-3 Sarah and her sociopathic Best Beloved pet cat have begun making their way through the holidays (see Rotten Ralph's Rotten Christmas Houghton, 1984); here they are invited to a Halloween costume party, and Sarah decides that they will go as each other. When Ralph does his usual numberseizing all the candy, pouring goldfish into the punch, decorating the bathroom walls with gooey candy appleseveryone blames Sarah, and they are both ejected. As before, the illustrations are flat, stylized scenes with simple color and detail, dominated by the huge red cat. Since the two main characters are in disguise, readers will enjoy paying close attention to figure out who's who at any given moment. However, Ralph's nastiness used to have minor entertainment value, and in previous stories he has shown at least a hint of remorse. Not so this time; the humor has worn too thin, and Ralph has no redeeming qualities. John Peters, New York Public Library (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
This Halloween story, one of a series of Rotten Ralph books, continues the exploits of the truly terrible cat belonging to a little girl, Sarah, who has the patience of a saint. Dressed as each other, the pair go to a costume party where everyone is convinced that it is Sarah, not Ralph, who pours the goldfish into the punch bowl and takes the lid off the popcorn popper. Sarah is humiliated, but Ralph is delighted when their hostess asks Sarah (and that nice cat of hers) to leave. Though Ralph does almost nothing to redeem himself, Sarah forgives him, saying, ``Oh, Ralph, you're still my best friend.'' Ralph's unpenitent devilry has great appeal for children, and this story's use of role reversal provides a thought-provoking twist. (4-8) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
