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41st out of 228 books
—
117 voters
Rotten Ralph (Rotten Ralph)
Ralph, a very, very nasty cat, finally sees the error of his ways -- or does he?
Paperback, 48 pages
Published
February 19th 1980
by Sandpiper
(first published 1976)
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Dec 03, 2012
Dolly
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
parents reading with their children
This is the first story in the Rotten Ralph series by Jack Gantos and Nicole Rubel. It explains how Rotten Ralph becomes only slightly less rotten.
I didn't really like this book, but our youngest loved it, so I suppose there's something about it that appeals to young children. The narrative was irritating and depicts deplorable behavior. The fact that he is just dumped off is sad, and I know that I've emphasized to our girls that a pet is adopted for life, not until they are inconvenient.
The i...more
I didn't really like this book, but our youngest loved it, so I suppose there's something about it that appeals to young children. The narrative was irritating and depicts deplorable behavior. The fact that he is just dumped off is sad, and I know that I've emphasized to our girls that a pet is adopted for life, not until they are inconvenient.
The i...more
Apr 30, 2011
Candice
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Sophie - when she's older
Shelves:
picture-books
I decided to read Rotten Ralph today because of my Aunt Lois. Today would be her birthday. On one of her visits, we had this book checked out from the library, and she found it absolutely hilarious! I can still hear her saying, "You are rotten, Ralph!" So in memory of Aunt Lois, the kindest and most wonderful of aunts, here goes.
Aunt Lois was right - this is hilarious. Ralph is the rottenest cat you can imagine. Before you read a word of the story, you can see in the cover illustration that he h...more
Aunt Lois was right - this is hilarious. Ralph is the rottenest cat you can imagine. Before you read a word of the story, you can see in the cover illustration that he h...more
2 likes · like · see review
Rotten Ralph is simply one of those books that just appealed to me. Ralph is rotten, just plain rotten and he exhibits this in all of his evil actions and behaviors. However, deep down, I don't really believe Ralph is that rotten. He has fun and it is misinterpreted often times such as when he makes fun of Sarah when she practices ballet or when he sits in his father's chair to be cruel. One day, Ralph, Sarah and the family go to the circus. Ralph seems to fit in quite well at the circus where h...more
This text introduces Rotten Ralph and Sarah to the early-primary-grades reader. It explains in very simple terms that Ralph is "Sarah's rotten cat, but Sarah loves him anyway." When she practices ballet, he makes fun of her. When she's swinging, he saws the branch off the tree that her swing is tied to. He ruins her party by taking a bite out of every one of her cookies. Ralph sits in her father's chair and blows bubbles out of his pipe. During dinner he rides his bike into the dining room and c...more
Ralph is a rotten cat who makes his family very angry. His family (human family) tells him to behave, and he doesn't listen. They decide to leave him at a circus because he caused such a ruckus. The story has a happy ending when Ralph sneaks away from the circus where the animals made him suffer.
This book has a good lesson, because in the end, Ralph realizes how much he took for granted and how much he truly loves his family. However, I didn't enjoy the illustrations. I probably wouldn't recomme...more
This book has a good lesson, because in the end, Ralph realizes how much he took for granted and how much he truly loves his family. However, I didn't enjoy the illustrations. I probably wouldn't recomme...more
Rotten Ralph was first published in 1976, and continued to be published until 2005. Jack Gantos is a master with the pen. He has had plenty of time to sit and think and write brillent work. This particlular book is a micheveous red cat who enjoys playing pranks on his family. Jack Gantos wrote these books to be fun and emotionaly engaging. He wants a young reader to have a good laugh while taking a look at Ralph’s world of rotten behavior and Sarah’s uncondional love and then reflect on the read...more
What a great book! This could be used in the class for the students to infer the story from looking at the pictures. The students could create their own story of rotten ralph just by looking at the pictures. After finishing creating the class's own story, we could read the book and see if their are any similiarities or differences between our story and the author's original story. Great pictures (and story!)
I found this book at my library and it reminded me of how much I loved it as a child. The story of Ralph, a cat who is just rotten to the family that owns him, espcially the little girl who loves him. On a trip to the circus, he goes too far with his mean actions, and is left behind. It is when he is left alone and on his own, that he realizes not only how terrible he was, but how lucky he had been.
This book would be good for talking about behavior and treating people well. The students can see as they read how bad behavior effects them and others around them. This book can emphasize how much we take things for granted and make people around them feel unappreciated. As a class we can go over alternatives to behaving badly and what makes our friends and family feel good about being around us.
rediscovered this, reading to E, my childhood copy. I love it just as much now. So does E, she picks it regularly and has a little banter with Ralph and the characters and notices lots of fun details in the pictures. "You are a very hard cat to love, Ralph" is a great line. Dad, are you sure you didn't write this? The story, characters and even the illustrations make me think you did.
1 like · like · see review
I love Jack Gantos's books but this is the first picture book of his that I have read. It was pretty predictable but still you have to take pity on Rotten Ralph who is left at the circus after being so bad. Ralph quickly learns how good he had it with Sarah and her family, but he doesn't know how he'll ever get back to the good life he had.
I enjoyed the book. It shows that everyone should be appriciative for what they have and enjoy having loved ones and not taking them for granted. There is no need to take advantage of your loved ones by being spoiled and rotten. The book also shows that your family and friends love you no matter what. Good book for learning lessons.
This is a great book to teach children what happens if you are selfish and misbehave. It also shows that you are responsible for you behavior, and you will have to suffer the consequences for you bad behavior. It also teaches that someone still loves you when you misbehave, and you can always change your selfish behavior.
Rotten Ralph is really rotten and is drawn very well (and rotten). I loved the first part, but I didn't like the way the story progressed. Ralph is abused at the circus and the left to live on the streets where he's afraid and starving. Redemption story, I guess, but a weird choice for a book aimed at kids.
falls in the category of scary 1970s-ish entertainment for children like the dark crystal. the illustrations are headache-inducing acid art kind of like r. crumb. the kind of book you'd read to your kid if you were the type to threaten them with abandonment at the orphanage when they're naughty.
A story of a cat named Ralph that finds himself in constant mischief. When his family left him at the circus, he realized how much he missed them. The funny situations Ralph gets himself in will make the children laugh. This book also teaches children that sometimes home is the best place to be.
This is defiantly NOT politically correct. Ralph is incredibly rotten and the family abandons him), but it is a wonderful story about loving the rotten cat, even when he is completely unlovable. Love conquers all and all that mush.
This book is alright for older children, 5th grade or so. I wouldn't recommend it for younger kids because the cat is so mischievous and naughty. The illustrations are decent but overall I wouldn't say it was my favorite.
Ah Rotten Ralph...A truly rotten lovable cat. I liked the other Rotten Ralph and 9 lives better..it was really funny and this one wasn't bad. I do not care for the illustrations but I do like the story so I will deal!
Her father thinks that Ralph belongs at the circus and leaves him there. But it was a lot of work sweeping the popcorn and watering the camels, so he runs away. The family is happy to see him again.
found on a list of great picture books for kids, the story of redemtion of a cat who does many things wrong and finds that there is no place like home
Apr 08, 2013
Allison Burke
added it
Teaches children how others feel when you are mean to them. Discussion about bullies and how people change. Grades 1-5
On the suggested summer reading list for students...and one of my students fav books to read :)
oh my god haha i read this so many times when i was little..
One of my faves as a kid. Poor Ralph, why is he so rotten?
Great kid's book series about a terrible cat.
Aug 13, 2012
Elise
added it
We love Rotten Ralph!
The cover involves an evil looking kitty sitting on the bed with a decapitated doll in his hands. OF COURSE my daughter wanted to read it. Sinister cat misbehaves, pays for it, and regrets his misdeeds. I guess it's a subliminal way of warning one's child to shape up. Here's hoping it works. She said she thought the book was "Really great." The nurturing adult in me is a little disturbed, but the sinister kid in me...Yeah, what can I say, I like Rotten Ralph.
Hilarious. I loved the trippy illustrations by Nicole Rubel. Think about that time period between Yellow Submarine and disco. As one reviewer points out, despite the demonic expressions on Ralph's face, he doesn't actually seem to mean much harm - he's just exuberantly playful (usually) and self-centered. Um, like toddlers, maybe? ;) I'm definitely looking for more stories about Ralph.
"Rotten Ralph" is a very different kind of children's book, but that is what makes it a great story. It very much a prediction book in my opinion, it will be fun asking the children questions like "What do you think Ralph will do next?" The illustrations are very beautiful and it is a very enjoyable book with a touching lesson in the end.
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Jack Gantos is an American author of children's books renowned for his portrayal of fictional Joey Pigza, a boy with ADHD. Gantos has won a number of awards, including the Newbery Honor, the Printz Honor, and the Sibert Honor from the American Library Association, and he has been a finalist for the National Book Award. His newest book, The Love Curse of the Rumbaughs (2006), deals with twins, euge...more
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Apr 30, 2011 06:12pm