Dirty Rats?    by Darrin Lunde & Adam Gustavson Order:  USA  Can Charlesbridge, 2015 (2015) Hardcover, e-Book     Reviewed by Bob Walch Granted rats are not too high up on the list of cuddly pets for most folks, but Darrin Lunde tries to show that the rather unsavory critters don't totally deserve the bad rap they have received. Rats do serve a purpose, from consuming garbage in various locations to serving as subjects of experiments in labs. And since they live throughout the planet, not all rats look quite the same with their beady eyes and naked, long tails. There's a fish eating rat in Ecuador you'll meet as well as a cute kangaroo rat that resides in Mexico and a bushy-tailed variety that calls the Philippines home too. This latter variety can grow as large as a house cat! Still, a rat is a rat, so it remains to be seen if this picture book will do a lot to change the rodent's mostly negative reputation, but it well might. Interesting and informative with excellent illustrations, I would think every school library will want a copy of this book and many parents might consider a purchase too! Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Kids books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews