Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat [Paperback]

Emmy was a good girl. At least she tried very hard to be good. She did her homework without being told. She ate all her vegetables, even the slimy ones. And she never talked back to her nanny, Miss Barmy, although it was almost impossible to keep quiet, some days.

She really was a littletoogood. Which is why she liked to sit by the Rat. The Rat was not good at all . . .

Hilarious, inventive, and irresistably rodent-friendly,Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Ratis a fantastic first novel from acclaimed picture book author Lynne Jonell.

Discussion Questions

1. Rodents are also favorite characters in children's literature. If your students have read any other books that feature rodent characters (Charlotte's Web or Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, for example), discuss how the rats in those books are similar to or different from Rat. Why do your students think rats are such a popular animal in literature?

2. The names of Professor Vole, Miss Barmy, and Professor Capybara are significant in this story. When you begin discussing the book explain what a vole and capybara are and what barmy means. Ask your students what they think the characters who have those names will be like.

3. The Rat tells Emmy she should try being mean so that people respect her more. How can a person earn someone's respect without being mean?

4. Ask your students: if they could feed one person in the world a cookie imprinted with the chinchilla footprint (to reverse his/her values), who would they choose? Why?

5. Freedom has its bitter side, the Rat says at one point (pg. 61). Ask your students what they think he means, and if they've ever felt that way.

6. I wouldn't mind being ordinary, Emmy says on page 70. Ask your students what they think she means. Follow up by asking if students have ever felt under pressure because of something they're good at and how they felt about it.

Lynne Jonellis the author of thl#&