Roger the Rat Is on the Loose!

Gr 1–3—Mimi has a knack for saving animals. Even her faithful sidekick, a three-legged dog named Maty, was rescued from an animal shelter. With summer break coming up, she decides to spend her time finding lost pets. She and Maty put flyers up around town promoting their new venture: "We'll find your cat, dog, rabbit or even chameleon." The next day, Mimi's friend George calls up with a case: Roger, the rat he's been rodent-sitting, has disappeared. With some keen observation and a little research about rodent behavior, Mimi and Maty follow clues (and Maty's canine senses) around town until the wayward Roger is discovered and lured back with a piece of pie. The kid-canine partnership is given a nice spin with a focus on pet rescue and starring roles by less-conventional pets. Mimi has lots of flair, which comes through in her animated voice as well as in the bold, colorful illustrations. The lively drawings take the story beyond what is written on the page with peeks into Mimi's journal and imagination, like Roger hitchhiking to Disneyland. Kids will enjoy that the story is driven by characters their own age with minimal appearances by adults. The subject matter and sweet characters make this a pleasing addition to early chapter-book collections.—Marian McLeod, Darien Library, CT