RATSMAGIC

by LOGUE

The evil witch steals Bluebird for the contents of the egg she is about to lay. The animals of the Valley of Peace count on Rat to save her.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1976

Reviews

[John · Rating 1 out of 5]

Outstanding children’s book, if permanent scarring and lifelong nightmares are your ideas of formative childhood experiences. I really must track down the relative that gave this to me at a tender age, and appropriately thank them.

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

This rather surreal picture-book, first published in Britain in 1976, and here in the USA in 1979, seems like more of a vehicle for Wayne Anderson's artwork (he alone is credited on the front cover, although he is not the author), rather than an actual storybook. The tale itself - all about Bluebird and her long-looked-for egg, which all the residents of the Valley of Peace expect to be "the most marvellous Egg ever laid;" her kidnapping by the evil Witch Dole, who lived inside The Dragon of Tears, underneath The Lake of Sadness, deep in The Forest of Gloom; and her rescue (along with the Queen of Midnight) by Rat, with his magic stick - felt rather convoluted to me, and more than a little bit loopy, in that distinctly 1970s way.

Still, the illustrations themselves are quite interesting, particularly for those Wayne Anderson fans (like myself) who have enjoyed his work in other volumes, from Peter Dickinson's The Flight of Dragons , to Philippa Pearce's The Squirrel Wife (the newer edition). Full-page plates, in sepia-tone colors, and smaller black-and-white inset illustrations, all add to the magic. I think my favorite "portrait" was of Witch Dole, poised on her broomstick, with her snake-encircled hat on, and her black cat perched on her shoulder. Definitely one I would recommend primarily for the artwork!

[Janne Uusitalo · Rating 5 out of 5]

The five stars are not because of the plot but for the illustration. This book used to scare me as a kid and fascinate all at the same time. Didn't like the storyline as a child either, but rather looked at the pictures only and tried to duplicate the pictures, which are fantastic indeed and rather "gothic".

[Kirsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books as a child, the illustrations are amazing!

[Evelyn Tan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book harboured great potential as the illustrations were so beautiful and poetic. A few pages into the story, my three kids and I were pretty lost. There was a story, but also a huge disconnect. The sentences were not cohesive and my son mentioned that he didn't understand a page of it. It is a little dark and the fact that one of the fairies had nipples (pointed out by my daughter, haha). It's like you get the story, but maybe, maybe not.

[Zach · Rating 5 out of 5]

I still have the copy of this I received for a birthday some 40-mumble years ago. It's stunningly beautiful though the story is pretty dark for a children's book. Very unique art style.