2020 The Year of the Rat

In many children's books rats are the bad guys but there are some books where they are allowed to shine. If you are looking for a book to read a serial to a class this year featuring hero rats here are a few you might consider:

I would begin with

Walter by Barbara Wersba

Then  look for this book from New Zealand

The Road to Ratenburg by Joy Cowley 
illustrated by Gavin Bishop

If you enjoy books with an underlying political message this one is perfect. I highly recommend this for Grade 5 and 6. This book was published in 2008 but I am pleased to see it is still available.

A Rat's Tale by Tor Seidler

Of course you will want to read this classic (you might look for the sequels too)

Mrs Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C O'Brien

This one is really about a boy and a fairy tale but it is SO good I had to include it here.

I was a rat by Philip Pullman

For a younger class try to find this one from the Sprinters series.

Hector the Rat by Tony Wilkinson

I'm sure you will also want to read The Pied Piper of Hamelin.
There are plenty of versions to choose from:

My friend at Kinderbookswitheverything has a splendid Pinterest of Rat books - Picture books and novels - that is well worth investigating.

If you were born in 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008 or 2020 then you were born in the Year of the Rat.  What do we know about your personality?

Good qualities:  Honest, freedom, hard working, charming.

On the other hand: Can be selfish, ruthless, controlling, scheming.