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Item Barcode | Collection | Call Number | Status | Item Holds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33607002262254 | Holiday Picture Books | GANTOS | Searching... Unknown | Searching... Unavailable |
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Summary
Summary
Rotten Ralph dreads Petunia's secret valentine party, but Sarah dresses him up as Cupid and insists that Ralph be nice. Once again Ralph wreaks havoc, and chaos reigns. Will this be the last straw for Sarah?
Author Notes
Jack Gantos was born in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania on July 2, 1951. He received a BFA and a MA from Emerson College. While in college, he and an illustrator friend, Nicole Rubel, began working on picture books. After a series of rejections, they published their first book, Rotten Ralph, in 1976. His other books include Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key, a National Book Award Finalist, Joey Pigza Loses Control, a Newbery Honor book, and Dead End in Norvelt, which won the 2012 Newbery Medal. His memoir, Hole in My Life, won the Michael L. Printz and Robert F. Sibert Honors. Jack's follow-up to Hole in My Life is The Trouble in Me He also teaches courses in children's book writing and children's literature. He dev.eloped the master's degree program in children's book writing at Emerson College and the Vermont College M.F.A. program for children's book writers.
(Bowker Author Biography)
Reviews (2)
School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 2Ralph is up to his usual rotten antics in this funny Valentine's Day story. The naughty cat's fans will not be surprised by his aversion to this holiday with its "sticky, gooey, wet, drippy kisses." Nor will they be surprised that Ralph's idea of proactive self-defense is to rub smelly garbage all over his fur. Even garbage cannot protect him from the fate he brings upon himself, however. His doting and tolerant owner dresses him as Cupid for a Valentine party. Sara warns him repeatedly that anyone he hits with his "love arrows" will want to kiss him, but Ralph cannot resist hurling them about, with the result that all of the guests embrace him, tickle him, and call him "pretty kitty." He manages to avoid kissing the hostess good-bye by rubbing dog food on his lips. Valentine's Day, with its colored hearts and decorations, lends itself well to Rubel's garishly charming illustrations. Another sure winner in the series.Anna DeWind, Milwaukee Public Library (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
In his Valentine-themed eighth adventure, misbehaving cat Rotten Ralph remains rude and remorseless. Worried that a Valentine's Day party "means sticky, gooey, wet, drippy kisses," Ralph does his best to be unappealing; to prepare for the event, he perfumes his red fur with garbage and mashes a "stink bug" in the frilly "secret valentine" card he is told to bring. Although his stalwart friend Sarah dresses him as Cupid, he refuses to act the part-until he resentfully flings his love arrows and hits all the partygoers. "Suddenly everyone wanted to kiss Ralph.... They called him cutey pie and pretty kitty and lovebug. Rotten Ralph groaned. He wanted to go home." The wildly colorful illustrations, loaded with comic details, busy with floral motifs and tiny hearts, gleefully convey the sentimentality Ralph despises and his vain attempts to avoid it. Cynics will adore Ralph's gross idea of a gift (a chocolate sampler overrun by ants) and his kiss-proof dog-food-smeared lips. Ages 4-8. (Jan.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved