Over the weekend, I read a new book that I enjoyed tremendously.  Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat by Lynne Jonell is one of the best books I have read this year.

The story is about a girl named Emmy who is a very good girl.  She does everything she is instructed to do by her nanny, but finds it very tiring and boring to be good all the time.  Unfortunately, Emmy's goodness is ignored by everyone she meets and knows.  Her teacher and classmates never remember her name and seem surprised when she speaks. Her parents are always away on exoctic trips for long periods of time leaving her with the most diabolical nanny, Miss Barmy, but then something extraordinary happens: the classroom rat bites Emmy.  This enables Emmy to understand and speak to him.  From this point on the story unfolds into high adventure, as Emmy and the "Rat" discover that some rats are born with special magic.  Special magic that can be used for good or evil.  Is Miss Barmy using the rat's special magic?  Is that why she forces Emmy to drink these awful shakes?  Is that why her parents are always gone?

This book is a funny caper with a mystery and will have students laughing out loud.  I know I laughed a lot while reading this book.   It should be read to students ages 7-10.  Read it to your class today.