The Highway Rat

I really like this book. The story is good and the pictures are great. My only issue is with the rhyming and flow. I can make it flow well if I miss a couple of lines in the sections where it says “rat of the highway” repeatedly. I’m probably not reading it correctly, but I find it sounds better doing it my way and my daughter keeps interest more with the rhyming.Other than that slight issue, this book comes highly recommended, as do most of Julia Donaldson’s books.

The Highway Rat has been pilfering... robbing all animals attempting to use the road of their foodstuffs in a bid to find himself some tasty (and sweet!) things to eat.This tribute to Alfred Noyes' 'The Highwayman' looks pretty enough, but really doesn't have the same kind of flow to it as past Julia Donaldson efforts such as 'The Gruffalo', 'Monkey Puzzle', 'Room on the Broom' and 'Tiddler'. The slightly cumbersome metre (and parts of the rhyme scheme) are lifted from Noyes, and combined with the occasional eye rhyme make this a bit less youngster-friendly than previous books. The story itself is interesting and quite entertaining, although the ruse through which the Highway Rat is ultimately tricked by a wily duck really isn't all that different from the ploy used by the Mouse in 'The Gruffalo's Child'.Scheffler's pictures are typically appealing, with scenery and characters that generally belong to the same woodland-theme as those used in the Gruffalo stories.Overall, this is a nice story - but not a favourite.

Loved this book and can’t wait to see the cartoon mini film of it. My kids were engrossed the whole way through this book so made a change not having them constantly asking questions while I’m trying to read. I’d highly recommend

Julia Donaldson is a wonderful writer and both my children love her stories and the clever use of rhyme and rhythm which carries the young (and fully-grown!) reader along with her vividly imagined tales. This, in my opinion, is her best story to date. As someone who once had to learn the Alfred Noyes original ('The Highwayman') by heart, the way that Donaldson has updated the story - with a far more 'kid-friendly' content! - whilst still managing to echo the rhythm and cadence of Noyes' work, added to the joy of reading this with my children. As ever, this is beautifully (and wittily!) illustrated and destined to be a classic for years to come ... Worth learning off by heart in fact!

My grandson absolutely loves the books by Julia Donaldson......at the moment we have over half of the books she has written. The books were recommended to me by my sister who has four small grandchildren (my grandson is three and a half), and I am so pleased she did as I enjoy them too.The only criticism I have with this one is a line that is repeated, and I am not sure it is necessary so I usually leave it out when I am reading it at bedtime......But I would recommend these books as they are so lovely......also the picutres which tell the story at the same time. We are hoping to complete the set by Christmas.

My 1 year old son loves this book (he enjoys all the Julia Donaldson ones but this is one of his absolute favourites). You do have to read it a few times to get the hang of it, and it works best with a galloping type rhythm, but it is worthwhile persevering with as it is good fun once you get the hang of it.It can literally stop my son from crying (until the end of the book when he gets upset it is over and wants me to start again). The pictures are bright and colourful, I just wish they did a boardbook version so he could look through it by himself without the risk of torn pages.

I don't think this is quite up there with the likes of the Gruffalo, Tiddler and Stick Man but still an enjoyable story. I struggle with the scanning which is slightly irritating, which my mum found as well. We bought this to complete the collection and it did not disappoint but did not thrill either.

I love this book! I brought it to read to my reception class, the rhymes are great (some people said they didn't like them but I found that so long as you find the pace they're fab), I thought the book was going to be too sad at first, but the ending where the rat is actually happy because he gets to eat cake means it's still a great read. The illustations are great, especially the dopey looking horse.My favourite thing about this book is that a lot of the boys in my class aren't interested in books or storytime at the end of the day, but the voices I'll be able to do for the highway rat mean that I'm sure they'll love it! Also, the rhymes and repitition will be good for the children in my class that don't speak english.All round great book!