Cat Michaels, Writer
  • Welcome!
  • Cat's Books
    • Sweet T and the Turtle Team >
      • Just Between Sam and Me
    • Finding Fuzzy: A You-Decide Tale of a Lost Friend
    • Sweet T and the North Wind
    • The Magical Aquarium
  • Cat's Corner: Blogging About Books, Writing, and More
  • Meet Cat
  • Author Visits
  • FREE STUFF in the Kids' Zone
  • Contact Cat

Cat's Corner

Blogging About Books, Writing, Travel, Film & More

Travel, Trash & Rodents Teach MG Kids Acceptance in Adventures of Wilhelm, a Rat's Tale

3/11/2019

4 Comments

 
Never thought a rat could be sweet, but I changed my mind after meeting Maria Ritter's Wilhelm.

That's why I'm pleased to partner with iRead Book tour to introduce to you Wilhelm,  who's featured in Ritter's new tale (tail -:D!) for middle graders, The Adventures of Wilhem, a Rat's Tale
.

Read on to learn more about the book, meet the author, read my review, and enter by 5 April for a chance to win a print or digital copy of this book (open to US residents only).  

​Good luck and happy tales/tails!





Book Details:

Book Title: The Adventures of Wilhelm: A Rat’s Tale by Maria Ritter
Illustrator: Teri Rider
Category: Middle-grade Fiction, 210 pages
Genre: Children's Fantasy
Publisher: PartnerPress
Release date: August 2018
Tour dates: March 11 to 29, 2019
Content Rating: G (This is a clean children's book with no expletives, violence, sex or drugs.)

Book Description:

Young Wilhelm leaves home and travels the world. He not only discovers the value of different cultures and the importance of family and friendship, but he also overcomes obstacles with courage and cleverness. He returns home with deep respect for all creatures on this earth and a new sense of rat identity and purpose.

To follow the tour and read reviews, please visit Maria Ritter's page on iRead Book Tours.

Buy the Book:

Amazon
Add to Goodreads


About the Author:




Maria Ritter is a clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst in La Jolla, California. She is the author of Return to Dresden (2004), an autobiographical reflection on her childhood in Germany during and after World War II. It is a healing memoir that confronts national guilt for the Nazi past and weaves the broken pieces of loss and grief into a healing tapestry.

Connect with the author: Website

MY REVIEW
Maria Ritter’s adventure for middle-graders, The Adventures of Wilhelm, a Rat’s Tale, is a travelogue that follows young Wilhelm as he leaves home to explore the world rodent-style.  On his way, he encounters characters ranging from scientists and gnomes in Sweden to opera rats singing at Oktoberfest in Germany and church mice on a tour bus meeting the Pope in Italy. Wow!

These and more comprise the ratly world Ritter brings to life, where garbage is good and trash is nice. Wilhelm gets into unique rodent predicaments at every stop on his journey.  As a service rat in a Swedish hospital, he stuns doctors by diagnosing sick children by sniffing out sources of their ailments with his nose.  

Wilhelm’s antics expand with every diverse culture he meets.  Tongue-in-cheek travelogue snippets are a hoot, though not all kids might catch them. I couldn’t stop chuckling over Wilhelm’s grandmother, who is introduced as the ratriarch of his German rodent family.

The author provides a glossary after each chapter to explain vocabulary.  She also adds discussion questions at the end of the book, so kids can reflect on what they’ve read.

Subtle themes help children rethink the meaning of “despised” creatures, who are symbols of society’s marginalized people.  This is especially prominent as the Pope addresses Wil and other “despised and hated animals” visiting him in Rome: 

​"We are connected as creatures to live together on this planet,
and I will continue to help you all by preaching
​... that we must share our gifts fairly among us all.
This way, you will not have to live in fea
r."
​
Some middle-graders may not make the cognitive leap from this cute fable to its real-life implications, yet children are still exposed to positive moral lessons.  As an adult, I appreciate Ritter’s book as an allegorical novella about prejudice and the journey to acceptance.  

Weighing in at 210 pages, I recommend The Adventures of Wilhelm to upper-elementary graders, who are strong readers interested in world culture. Wilhelm also appeals to adults who want a short travelogue that nudges assumptions about social inequities with humor and wisdom.
​

Disclosure: I was given an advance review digital copy of this book and wish to share an honest, unbiased opinion of my reading experience.  


Enter the Giveaway!
Ends April 5, 2019


a Rafflecopter giveaway



Picture
Subscribe

Picture

Join cat's tribe of readers

   Twitter   Facebook   Pinterest   Goodreads   Amazon   Instagram

4 Comments
carol baldwin
3/12/2019 07:50:01 pm

My granddaughter would like this book, I think. Thanks for the review and opportunity to win a copy.

Reply
Cat Michaels link
3/13/2019 11:31:54 am

Good luck with the giveaway, Carol!. Both you and your grand would enjoy traveling, chuckling, dining, and learning with Wilhem -:DD

Reply
Rosie Russell link
3/13/2019 11:41:22 am

I enjoyed hearing about this MG book. Nice review Cat.
An adorable cover. Looking forward to reading this book by author Maria Ritter.
Thanks!
Rosie

Reply
Cat Michaels link
3/17/2019 12:11:08 pm

That cover is so eye-catching and colorful, Rosie. Thanks for journeying along with Wilhem!

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Cat Michaels

    Blogging about books, writing, family life,  travel and  more good stuff.


    Meet Cat
    ​INSIDE the pages

    a newsletter for bibliophiles on writing, books and cool stuff readers love
    Be an Insider. Download your FREE e-short story about love and new beginnings today!
    Picture
    I'M IN! Snag my free e-short story HERE
    P.S. We hate spam and keep your email safe.. 

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Archives

    July 2022
    April 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    October 2021
    September 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Welcome!
  • Cat's Books
    • Sweet T and the Turtle Team >
      • Just Between Sam and Me
    • Finding Fuzzy: A You-Decide Tale of a Lost Friend
    • Sweet T and the North Wind
    • The Magical Aquarium
  • Cat's Corner: Blogging About Books, Writing, and More
  • Meet Cat
  • Author Visits
  • FREE STUFF in the Kids' Zone
  • Contact Cat