HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROTTEN RALPH

[Editor's Note: The following is a combined review with NOT SO ROTTEN RALPH.]--Jack Gantos's books have an anarchic streak, and these Rotten Ralph stories are no different. Ralph is not a good cat, but he gets away with it because his owner, Sarah, loves him just the way he is. Gantos reads with just the right mischievous tone, so that despite Ralph's rotten behavior, you can't help but feel sorry for him when he thinks his birthday party's been cancelled, or root for him to return to his rotten old ways after being reformed by Mr. Fred's Feline Finishing School. Touches like playful and ever-so-slightly devilish Klezmer-inspired back-ground music, cat's meow page-turn signals, and sound effects that punctuate Ralph's antics add to the charm. And Nicole Rubel's colorful illustrations beg to be scrutinized for all their funny details. J.M.D. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/JUL 01]