Rude Ramsay and the Roaring Radishes

by Margaret Atwood

In Rude Ramsay and the Roaring Radishes, bestselling author Margaret Atwood offers a delightfully ridiculous tale about the virtues of resisting restrictions. With tongue-twisting phrases heavily peppered with words beginning with R, the story follows Ramsay as he travels with his friend Ralph, the red-nosed rat, from his home full of revolting relatives to a field of roaring radishes. There he meets a girl named Rillah, who needs a bit of adventure herself. Atwood's rollicking text is accompanied by devilish and Dušan Petricic's insightful illustrations.

Genres: Picture Books, Fiction, Childrens, Humor, Canada, School

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Margaret Atwood was born in 1939 in Ottawa and grew up in northern Ontario, Quebec, and Toronto. She received her undergraduate degree from Victoria College at the University of Toronto and her master's degree from Radcliffe College.

Throughout her writing career, Margaret Atwood has received numerous awards and honourary degrees. She is the author of more than thirty-five volumes of poetry, children’s literature, fiction, and non-fiction and is perhaps best known for her novels, which include The Edible Woman (1970), The Handmaid's Tale (1983), The Robber Bride (1994), Alias Grace (1996), and The Blind Assassin, which won the prestigious Booker Prize in 2000. Atwood's dystopic novel, Oryx and Crake, was published in 2003. The Tent (mini-fictions) and Moral Disorder (short stories) both appeared in 2006. Her most recent volume of poetry, The Door, was published in 2007. Her non-fiction book, Payback: Debt and the Shadow Side of Wealth ­ in the Massey series, appeared in 2008, and her most recent novel, The Year of the Flood, in the autumn of 2009. Ms. Atwood's work has been published in more than forty languages, including Farsi, Japanese, Turkish, Finnish, Korean, Icelandic and Estonian. In 2004 she co-invented the Long Pen TM.

Margaret Atwood currently lives in Toronto with writer Graeme Gibson.

Associations: Margaret Atwood was President of the Writers' Union of Canada from May 1981 to May 1982, and was President of International P.E.N., Canadian Centre (English Speaking) from 1984-1986. She and Graeme Gibson are the Joint Honourary Presidents of the Rare Bird Society within BirdLife International. Ms. Atwood is also a current Vice-President of PEN International.

Reviews

[Amy]

As someone who rolls their R’s, boy was this an alliteration nightmare. Even so, if I don’t read it aloud, ✨so magical✨so fun✨

[Loraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Both story-teller and illustrator have the most puckish humor! Leave it to Margaret Atwood to have loads of fun with a story about class, friendship, and the search for real communication amongst those friends. I especially love Ralph the red-nosed rat! How to learn your R words, especially those preceded by a silent double ewe (ha ha!): Rillah to her friend Rude Ramsay, "Until recently I was rolling in rupees, but they have become rather scare. My situation . . . is the reverse of yours. Your are rude, but at least you have relatives, however revolting. I am refined, but my relatives, although outwardly respectable and refulgently attired, are lacking in rectitude." What's not to like?

[Superclev · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the tongue twisters. Am having to look up some of the words myself! I think my 3 y o is getting frustrated w the story I have to rephrase everything after reading so she understands but good way to teach her vocabulary. I think my 8 y o son will get more enjoyment out if this book.

[Lacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another alliterative adventure by Atwood. Lots of new vocab for emerging readers.

[Suezette Given · Rating 1 out of 5]

the concept is interesting but taken too far, makes it unreadable

[Katie Imogen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book to be read aloud!!!

This story follows Ramsey and his quest to collect some radishes from the nearby garden, accompanied by Ralph the red-nosed rat, his trusty companion. The alliteration and use of the letter R is consistent throughout the story.

Honestly doesn't strike a specific use in a classroom, other than pure joy from the brilliant choice of words. Would be a great story for older side of KS2 to develop vocabulary and understand alliteration in a humoured manner. Would be perfect for a Friday afternoon book before the end of school bell.

[kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was published 21 years ago! I had no idea that Margaret Atwood had written a children’s book. Cleverly done with the letter R and mostly words that start with an R or sound like an R.

The illustrator had a lot of fun with this. It was very fun to look at the illustrations as well as read the story. The illustrator dedicated this book to his granddaughter, which I thought was very sweet. This is a children’s book.

[Stacey Bookerworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I have said many times before Margaret Atwood is my favourite author so when I found out she had also written children’s books I knew I had to read it someday.

Read more of our review here: http://www.bookerworm.com/reviews/466...

[Catherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Came across this while looking for Flight of the Dodo - the title caught my eye & didn't know Margaret Atwood wrote children's books so decided to check it out. Felt the alliteration overrode the story & the illustrations were nothing to get excited about. Might be better if read aloud

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love alliteration!

[Stu Alsford · Rating 2 out of 5]

Neat idea, but taken too far. It seemed as though the author ignored readability to try and shoe horn as many words beginning with R in to a tiresome read.

[Bradoicich · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun book for teaching alliteration. It is just as suited to an older audience as a younger one.

[KaitandMaddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are like a book-length tongue twister, which was super fun to read aloud.

[Robert Zimmermann · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a fun children's story that uses words starting with "R" very often. It's not just in the title, it's in the text itself. I think that's what I enjoyed the most. Also the vocabulary that was used in order to keep with the usage of R was impressive. I think younger readers will need to grab a dictionary for some words, which will encourage learning. That's something a children's book should be doing.

[Yvonne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really, this book should be required reading for all your regular readers, and the irregular ones too. Margaret Atwood writes for all the reproductions of your righteous selves, and royally well. In radical reality your rug rats will not be at all repulsed when you read this fun R book aroud - er - aloud. Be advised, do not try to eat raisins or radishes as they will ruin your attempts to articulate all the rigorous R words.

[Megan Geissler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful children's book by one of lit's best. Atwood uses lots of R alliteration and managed to stump me with a few words but it's a darling tale of friendship and connections despite differences that is accompanied by whimsical illustrations. If I had a kid, this would be on its bookshelf.

[Joanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I expected more from a picturebook by Margaret Atwood. Cleverness is only found in the constant (and clever) alliteration.

[BiblioBrandie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like Princess Prunella better..

[Tammy Bosom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Difficult vocabulary but what a great way to introduce alliterations in the upper grades.

[Erika]

As a non-native English speaker this book taught me many new words... children would only gain if they go through the same process as early as possible.

[Ena Weverink · Rating 5 out of 5]

great children's book. wonderful book to share with a friend.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish I knew this series of books existed when I was teaching my son to read, what a literarylicious way to learn your letters, and such fun to read aloud. I can't wait to read all the others.

[Sue Berg · Rating 5 out of 5]

what a fun book to read aloud! delightful too.

[Lucas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Word play on full display, a really aural performance heightened if you have the CD of Atwood reading it.

[Mar · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books are very very very fun