Rat Law is simple: Find some cheese and it belongs to you. Unless a bigger rat wants it. Or a quicker rat. Or a stronger rat. Scary, hairy, dirty-there's always someone higher up the rat chain waiting to take the cheese. "If a big, quick, strong, scary, hairy, dirty rat wants it, then cheese belongs to her." Unless a gang of rats comes along. Will it never end? It eventually does in this sly and funny collaboration between author Alexis Deacon and illustrator Viviane Schwarz that has the original finder of the cheese triumphant when a battle breaks out among the scores of other claimants. The marvelous art features very ratlike rats (far from cute despite the clothing, comical with an edge) in white, red, and black against a blue background, along with the coveted yellow cheese. The mayhem of the climax is a wordless page spread, but the energy of the rollicking narrative builds to that moment, which is followed by a sweetly funny conclusion that brings words and images together once again. (Ages 5-8)

Venture into the untamed world of Rat Law! Kids will laugh at this funny, frenetic look at group dynamics from an innovative picturebook team.

Rat Law says that if you’re a rat, cheese belongs to you. But there are exceptions. For example, if a big rat wants it, cheese belongs to him. Unless a bigger rat wants it, or a quicker one, or a stronger one. And if a big, quick, strong, scary, hairy, dirty rat wants it, well . . . where does it end? A tumble of cumulative adjectives and a frenzy of hungry critters build up to a final note of politeness in a book sure to satisfy kids’ appetites for zany humor.