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Summary
Summary
Little Rat can't wait to ride a horse, just like her daddy did when he was young. But when it's time for her first lesson, she almost changes her mind. No one said her horse, Pee Wee, would be so . . . giant! But with a bit of encouragement from Daddy Rat--and lots of help from Pee Wee--her dream of becoming a fancy rider might just come true.
Author Notes
MONIKA BANG-CAMPBELL is the author of Little Rat Sets Sail , the acclaimed first book in the Little Rat series. She lives on Cape Cod, in Massachusetts.
MOLLY BANG has written and illustrated more than twenty books, including three Caldecott Honor winners: When Sophie Gets Angry--Really, Really Angry . . . ; Ten, Nine, Eight ; and The Grey Lady and the Strawberry Snatcher . She lives close to the ocean in Massachusetts.
Reviews (5)
Publisher's Weekly Review
After conquering the high seas in Little Rat Sets Sail, the ever-ambitious hero saddles up in Little Rat Rides by Monika Bang-Campbell, illus. by Molly Bang. Little Rat hopes to ride horseback in the big Fourth of July parade, just like her father-despite the sneering Chrissy Goat and a bevy of "bumps and bruises." (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Horn Book Review
(Primary) Little Rat rides again--or rather, rides for the very first time. The skittish heroine has made progress since her last easy-reader outing (Little Rat Sets Sail, rev. 7/02), when her parents dragged her to sailing lessons; this time, horseback-riding lessons are her own idea. Little Rat's bravery is short-lived, though, once she gets a look at Pee Wee, the gigantic horse she's to ride. Bang's illustrations are, again, gorgeous and saturated with color. Here they convey not so much the joy of the sport (as in the first book) but rather the strong appeal of horses themselves, with handsome pictures of the sweet-natured Pee Wee, giant-sized (especially with tiny Little Rat on his back) yet gentle. Details in the art extend the text: Daddy Rat used to ride, and his chair has legs shaped like a horse's, hooves and all; as in Sets Sail, readers will spot several possums playing possum, one even while riding. The writing is solid, not stellar, this time around, with a less tightly constructed text, but the voice is still funny and original: when Pee Wee accidentally stands on Little Rat's foot, she tries to push him off, ""but Pee Wee was a giant horse, / and Little Rat was a little rat. / You do the math."" Fans of the first book will be pleased to see Little Rat again overcoming her fear and, this time, confident enough to laugh when she and Pee Wee win a fifth-place ribbon, for a performance memorable only for Pee Wee's spectacular mid-show sneeze. Little Rat's second outing should earn her a whole new stable of fans. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
Booklist Review
Gr. 2-4, younger for reading aloud. After conquering her fear of boating in Little Rat Sets Sail 0 (2002), the plucky young rodent tackles horseback riding. Yearning to be a "fancy rider like her dad," Little Rat decides to take lessons, but her first experiences in the ring are rocky. She is afraid of her huge horse and of Chrissy, the menacing barnyard "bully goat." After bravely enduring a fall, an injury, and confrontations with Chrissy, Little Rat competes in her first horse show. Even though it doesn't turn out as she had hoped, she is proud of her accomplishments. Bang-Campbell, illustrator Molly Bang's daughter, tells a simple story about conquering fears in lively words and smooth language that's well paced for beginning chapter-book readers. Bang's charming, action-filled art includes oddly proportioned scenes of tiny Little Rat riding a huge horse--images that may reflect many children's view of a world in which they, too, are surrounded by people and things much larger than themselves. --Gillian Engberg Copyright 2004 Booklist
School Library Journal Review
Gr 1-3-Inspired by a boyhood photo of her father on horseback, Little Rat decides to take up riding, but quickly discovers that new skills do not come easily. She must overcome her initial fear of her mount ("This was not a horse. This was a mountain on four legs"), but soon learns to appreciate Pee Wee's mild nature. Frustrated and frightened after suffering a fall, she is coaxed back into the saddle by her teacher. When Pee Wee accidentally steps on Little Rat's foot and it puffs up "like a blowfish," she takes it in stride and works hard to prepare for an upcoming horse show. Her newfound confidence comes in handy during an encounter with a bully who had been bothering her from the get-go. Finally, although the show isn't a perfect experience, Little Rat has a great day and looks forward to continuing her lessons. Presented in eight brief chapters, the simple text flows smoothly; the language is clear but never dull. Bang-Campbell skillfully captures a young child's perspective, honestly describing her heroine's ups and downs as she takes on a new challenge, and highlighting the self-assurance that comes with success. Done in pencil, gouache, and watercolor, the vibrant illustrations add detail to the narrative and reflect its emotional content. There is a lot of humor in the pictures, as the tiny rat interacts with her giant yellow horse, but also a lot of genuine affection.-Joy Fleishhacker, School Library Journal (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
The endearing star of Little Rat Sets Sail returns for a second sporty adventure, this time learning to ride a horse in a riding-academy setting. Bang-Campbell again demonstrates her insightful understanding of a child's feelings as Little Rat conquers her fears step by step, learning new skills and recovering from minor mishaps. She learns not only how to ride but also how to clean a stall, groom her horse, and stand up to a cranky resident goat, with help from a more experienced rider and from her understanding teacher. Understated humor pops up in both the text and the illustrations, with surprising insights into Little Rat's thoughts and amusing additions in the art for sharp-eyed readers to discover. Bang's talent for animal expressions is at her blue-ribbon best in the watercolor-and-ink illustrations interspersed throughout the text, and she skillfully handles the difficult perspective issues inherent with a little rat and a huge horse. Although the text is intended as an upper-level easy reader for children transitioning into chapter books, this quiet, satisfying story will also work as a read-aloud for younger children. (Easy reader. 4-8) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
