That Pesky Rat
| Industry | Publishing |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
| Products | Books |
That Pesky Rat is a British children's picture book authored and illustrated by Lauren Child, first published by Orchard UK in 2002. It received the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize in the 6–8 years category and was honored as a commended runner-up for the Kate Greenaway Medal, an award presented by professional librarians recognizing the finest illustrated British children's book of the year.
The same year, Candlewick Press issued a US edition.
In 2008, a special edition endorsed by UNESCO was released in the UK, with all proceeds from the author and publisher donated to support UNESCO initiatives worldwide.
Plot
The narrative is delivered from the perspective of a rat who desires to become an ideal pet. He visits several animals such as a chinchilla and a cat, but finds none of their lifestyles appealing. Eventually, he puts up notices searching for someone interested in having a rat as a companion and visits a pet shop. An elderly man with impaired vision mistakes him for a cat and takes him home. Content with his new existence, the rat happily assumes the role of a cat as a pet.
External links
- —first US edition