Lost and Found in the City

K-Gr 4–This series debut follows the adventures of a city-dwelling rat named Extra Cheese Scratchy Paws Sniffs-a-Lot—better known as Ratnip—who, along with his siblings Marsharita, Anchovy, Pepperoni, and Veggie, lives in a pizza shop. Ratnip enjoys scavenging for “treasures” like bubble wrap and shiny objects. During one of his dumpster dives, he finds a cell phone, which he dubs “The Thing.” When the phone rings, displaying a photo of a human he recognizes, Ratnip enlists the help of some animal friends to locate the person and return the phone to its rightful owner. This leads him on an entertaining adventure that emphasizes the value of honesty and the joy of helping others. The book’s large text and frequent illustrations make it ideal for early chapter book readers. The plot, while straightforward, is engaging and well paced, with expressive artwork that depicts humorous movement and sound effects, such as “Fwomp!” or “HAHAHA.” Ratnip’s journey underscores a positive message: sometimes, helping a stranger can be just as rewarding as keeping a treasure.