ABANDONED. 1980's book about a bunch of bandit rats climbing rigging in a sailing ship.

[Ratman]

Hello . This has been plaguing me for years! A forgotten kids book, read in 1985 or so, but is probably from the late 70's or early 80's. It's about Rats (or had them in it). They looked like bandits, climbing rigging in a big ship/schooner. Not sure what the plot was, but do remember the rats looked very naughty. Some may have been dressed with striped shirts. One was smoking a cigarette (I think). The ship was a big deal, and I want to say the rats were evil and wanted to kill a mouse or something. Any help would be awesome!NOT RATS OF NYMH!
Thanks in advance!

[Holly]

Redwall?

[Kathy]

Could this be William Steig's Dominic? The gentle dog of the title battles an army of nasty cats, rats, and weasels. All the animals are clothed. I don't remember a sailing ship, but it would fit into what little I remember of the plot.

[Patnel]

Scuttle the Stowaway Mouse

If you actually mean a kid's book, as in a picture book, then this might be it. I can't find an image of the pirate rats in google, but they are in the book.

[Ratman]

MAN you guys are so close! Can't believe the answers, but no cigar. I want to say it was indeed a childrens picture book. The rats weren't as realistic as the books above, but were made to look like pirates or villains. It's also possible that these rats were only in a page or 2 of illustration. But climbing the shrouds (or net-like rigging on the side of the ship) was a big part of my memory.

[Tab]

Mystery on the Docks by Thacher Hurd sounds like it.

This blog has a few of the illustrations.
There's a pic with a rat with a striped jacket and cigar. Also, bandit rats with mask and striped clothing

http://excellentkidsbooks.blogspot.co...

[Abby]

How about The Wind in the Willows. There are tens of different editions, and many have illustrations. The picture you describe sounds a lot like a scene where "Ratty" almost goes voyaging. That particular story within the book is called "Wayfarers All." I remember vivid descriptions of travel as well as illustrations of rat sailors climbing rigging, though my personal experience was related to a movie adaption.

[Adele]

This is a stretch, but could it be

Another possibility since you say the rats may only have been in a page or 2 of illustration is one of Richard Scarry's anthologies, such as which contains the page spread shown here: http://librarymice.com/focus-on-fifty...

[Angela]

OOOO I think I remember these rats! It was a series.... and I loved the pictures of the rats. They looked liked a cross between pirates and gangsters.

Unfortunately... I don't remember any HELPFUL information....

Unless it is not my precious book and it is Pie Rats instead?

[Adele]

I found another possibility - maybe it is Angela's if not Ratman's.

Anton B. Stanton and the Pirats You can see the cover picture here: https://www.amazon.com/Anton-B-Stanto...

There is a sequel: The Rat Race: The Amazing Adventures of Anton B. Stanton
Cover of the sequel: https://www.amazon.com/rat-race-amazi... The amazon link for the sequel also has some interior pictures, so you can see if the illustration style and the rats themselves look familiar even though they are not being pirates in this one.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Ratman, are you still looking for this or did you find it?

[Kris]

No response, moving to Abandoned folder.

Ratman (OP) was last active on the site in August 2018.