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Martha B. Rabbit
Those Wicked Rats Again
Those wicked rats are back!
This time they are planning to rob Martha B. Rabbit on her way home from Mr Gnome's Guesthouse.
But Tabitha Cat has some plans of her own ...
Illustrated by the author.
This time they are planning to rob Martha B. Rabbit on her way home from Mr Gnome's Guesthouse.
But Tabitha Cat has some plans of her own ...
Illustrated by the author.
- GenresChildrensPicture Books
Hardcover
First published January 1, 1991
About the author
Shirley Barber
148 books115 followersShirley Barber grew up in the Channel Islands, where she gained her lifelong love of nature and painting. A third generation artist, she always dreamed of writing and illustrating children's books. But this dream did not come true until she had moved to Australia and her children had grown up.
Her first picture book Martha B. Rabbit - The Fairies' Cook was published by The Five Mile Press in 1988, and became an instant success. The following year it won first prize in the prestigious Critica Erba awards at the Bologna Children's Fair - an extraordinary achievemnt for a first book.
To date, Shirely Barber books have sold in ecess of 10 million copies. They have been published in over 70 international editions in North America, Europe and Asia. Shirley's best-selling fairy title in Australia is The Tooth Fairy closely followed by The Enchanted Woods and Rainbow Magic. Shirley lives quiety in rural Victoria and continues to write and illustrate delightful storybooks enjoyed by children and adults alike.
Her first picture book Martha B. Rabbit - The Fairies' Cook was published by The Five Mile Press in 1988, and became an instant success. The following year it won first prize in the prestigious Critica Erba awards at the Bologna Children's Fair - an extraordinary achievemnt for a first book.
To date, Shirely Barber books have sold in ecess of 10 million copies. They have been published in over 70 international editions in North America, Europe and Asia. Shirley's best-selling fairy title in Australia is The Tooth Fairy closely followed by The Enchanted Woods and Rainbow Magic. Shirley lives quiety in rural Victoria and continues to write and illustrate delightful storybooks enjoyed by children and adults alike.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 22, 2014
Blackie, Brownie and Spotto are three wicked rats who live in the forest near to the apple tree house of Martha B. Rabbit, her friend Tabitha Cat and a cuckoo, who, unsurprisingly, lives in a clock.
The cuckoo usually woke the household each morning but on one particular snowy morning she did not do so. Consequently Martha B Rabbit was late in going over to Mr Gnome's Guesthouse where she went every week to prepare food for Mr Gnome to serve at the fairies' party he hosted.
When Martha had left, Tabitha asks cuckoo why she didn't wake them up to which the reply was that she was unhappy at not being allowed out to fly around the forest and get some fresh air. Tabitha agreed to remedy this provided her and Martha were woken each morning.
Cuckoo duly began flying around the forest and always picked up the latest news and gossip. In doing so she discovered that the three rats were preparing to steal the food that Martha took home on her return.
Cuckoo reported the matter to Tabitha who in turn devised a plan to prevent the well-planned robbery taking place. The rats were like a corporate organisation with flip charts and diagrams of how they were going to complete the job and every detail was carefully planned.
Needless to say Tabitha was successful, not once but on three occasions when the rats tried to rob Martha when she returned in the snow; she ingeniously foiled each attempt with disastrous results for the rats. After the final attempt Martha questioned the bedraggled rats and a happy compromise was reached.
Brownie and Spotto were pleased with the compromise and were annoyed with Blackie for attempting the robberies and getting them into trouble when a kind word would have sufficed. But naughty Blackie would not accept this and replied, 'I know, but that wouldn't have been nearly as exiting, would it?'
The wicked rats, Tabitha and the cuckoo are all delightfully illustrated by the author, who has presented her readers with an enchanting book both to read and admire.
The cuckoo usually woke the household each morning but on one particular snowy morning she did not do so. Consequently Martha B Rabbit was late in going over to Mr Gnome's Guesthouse where she went every week to prepare food for Mr Gnome to serve at the fairies' party he hosted.
When Martha had left, Tabitha asks cuckoo why she didn't wake them up to which the reply was that she was unhappy at not being allowed out to fly around the forest and get some fresh air. Tabitha agreed to remedy this provided her and Martha were woken each morning.
Cuckoo duly began flying around the forest and always picked up the latest news and gossip. In doing so she discovered that the three rats were preparing to steal the food that Martha took home on her return.
Cuckoo reported the matter to Tabitha who in turn devised a plan to prevent the well-planned robbery taking place. The rats were like a corporate organisation with flip charts and diagrams of how they were going to complete the job and every detail was carefully planned.
Needless to say Tabitha was successful, not once but on three occasions when the rats tried to rob Martha when she returned in the snow; she ingeniously foiled each attempt with disastrous results for the rats. After the final attempt Martha questioned the bedraggled rats and a happy compromise was reached.
Brownie and Spotto were pleased with the compromise and were annoyed with Blackie for attempting the robberies and getting them into trouble when a kind word would have sufficed. But naughty Blackie would not accept this and replied, 'I know, but that wouldn't have been nearly as exiting, would it?'
The wicked rats, Tabitha and the cuckoo are all delightfully illustrated by the author, who has presented her readers with an enchanting book both to read and admire.
November 2, 2013
This story story looks at the Wicked Rats, and their endeavors to cause mischief, with regards to robbing Martha's food bag on her way home from Mr Gnome's Guesthouse. The three rats, Blackie, Brownie and Spotto use their imagination to plot and scheme the ways in which they can successfully rob Martha. They try three different attempts but all fail as Martha and are foiled, of course, by the goodness and cleverness of Martha and her friends.
I really liked this book as I found the tricks that the rats conjured up, attempted and failed at to be very entertaining and funny. I loved the illustrations in this book as they were simple and subtle yet hugely effective. I felt that they displayed a convincing and believable imaginary animal world. I read this story as a child and never forgot it since due to its imaginative story-line and beautiful illustrations.
I think that this book would be suitable for reception, Key Stage 1 years 1 and 2 and also Key Stage 2 year 3. I think it could be used to teach children the lesson of having and displaying good morals in the sense that if you treat people nicely (generally),they will be nice in return. Thus, if you want something or a favour off someone you should always ask nicely first and never take things without asking.
I really liked this book as I found the tricks that the rats conjured up, attempted and failed at to be very entertaining and funny. I loved the illustrations in this book as they were simple and subtle yet hugely effective. I felt that they displayed a convincing and believable imaginary animal world. I read this story as a child and never forgot it since due to its imaginative story-line and beautiful illustrations.
I think that this book would be suitable for reception, Key Stage 1 years 1 and 2 and also Key Stage 2 year 3. I think it could be used to teach children the lesson of having and displaying good morals in the sense that if you treat people nicely (generally),they will be nice in return. Thus, if you want something or a favour off someone you should always ask nicely first and never take things without asking.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews