Rude Ramsay and the Roaring Radishes    by Margaret Atwood & Dusan Petricic Order:  USA  Can Key Porter, 2003 (2003) Hardcover      Reviewed by Hilary Williamson Margaret Atwood - author of The Blind Assassin, The Robber Bride and Alias Grace, and winner of the 1996 Giller Prize - brings us an energetic, even frenetic (I tried to think up an adjective beginning with "R", but I think she's used them all up) picture book that's a masterpiece of its kind. Keeping up with the author's roaring rapids of a pace is a challenge for any illustrator, but Dusan Petricic meets it brilliantly (I love his depiction of the repulsive repast). It's a story of a friendship that develops across a great divide in lifestyles. Rude Ramsay resides in a 'ramshackle residence' with 'revolting relatives' who are riled with him on a regular basis. This causes him to race away, along with his friend 'Ralph, the red-nosed rat, a rubicund rodent.' One day they discover a 'resplendent realm', which is where they encounter the roaring radishes of the title, and also meet a small refined girl named Rillah. She would relish a rumpus, so Ramsay obliges. A fast friendship results, and Rillah, Ramsay and Ralph romp rapturously together 'under the radiant rainbow.' Though Rude Ramsay and the Roaring Radishes is a picture book, it seems most suitable to me for older kids, or younger ones who love deciphering new words. I enjoyed it very much myself, and recommend it to logophiles of all ages. 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