[How to Save Your Tail*: If You Are a Rat Nabbed by Cats Who Really Like Stories about Magic Spoons, Wolves with Snout-Warts, Big, Hairy Chimney Trolls... and Cookies, Too.] (By: Mary Hanson) [published: October, 2008]

by Mary Hanson

How does a cookie-baking Rat named Bob save his tail from being gobbled by two hungry cats? By serving them cookies and telling themfantastic fairy tales about his family, of course. There's the story about great-grand uncle Mustard who upgrades his family to a lovely three-bedroom brick house. (All's well until some wolves with snout-warts show up.) And there's the one about how starving Grandma Lois was forced to take a job spinning straw into gold. (Impossible to do . . . until a hairy chimney troll comes along.)With allusions to classic fairy tales, plus a storytelling rat to rival Scheherazade, this book—which also includes black-and-white illustrations, a family tree, and a map of Bob's neighborhood—is sure to hold both cats and kids captive.

Genres: Fantasy, Childrens, Animals, Juvenile, Fiction, Chapter Books, Humor

Paperback

First published April 10, 2007

Reviews

[Kest Schwartzman · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is really cute. Sherazade as a rat, telling his own ratty versions of familiar european fairytales to save himself from being eaten by some cats.

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book talk: Meet Bob. Bob loves reading and baking. Bob is also a rat, and he is about to become dinner. When Bob is surprised by two cats it's his cookies that distract them at first, but what really saves his tail are his tales. It all starts with his great-great grandfather Sherman who climbed a beanstalk and saved a magic goose from a giant. Bob is a good story teller and as each story ends he leaves a tantalizing hook for the next and the cats decide to put off killing him for just a little longer. But what will happen to Bob when he runs out of stories? Will there be a happily ever after for the storyteller as well?

Rocks my socks: Bob may be telling stories to save his life, but Mary Hanson is clearly just having some fun. The short chapters, frequent illustrations, and easy reading level make it a good for children transitioning into chapter books. Kids familiar with the classic fairy tales will enjoy seeing them re-cast with rats in the lead. It would make a good quick read aloud for a fairy tale unit.

Rocks in my socks: The twists on the fairy tales aren't particularly original and the story would probably bit a bit simplistic for older children to enjoy.

Every book its reader: I'd give this to 2nd or 3rd graders transitioning into chapter books who want a humorous tale or something with a fairy tale twist.

Read more of my reviews at http://auldschoollibrarian.blogspot.com/

[Michelle Skinner · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a cute book! Bob is a mouse who is trying to stop two cats from eating him. To waste time, Bob starts telling tales of his great great ancestor's adventures. Interestingly enough, his ancestor's adventures sound an awful lot like some common fairy tales. One of Bob's ancestors climbs a bean stalk in search of his magic spoon. He ends up bringing back a magic goose, Blue Sue, which he gives to poor, hungry Jack. Three others of his ancestors, had a run in with their neighbor, the Big Bad Wolf. More tales abound! But, once Bob runs out of tales, he must come up with a plan for escape. He whips up a spell and Blue Sue flies in to carry him away to a happily ever after ending.

I chose this book because the title was intriguing and it looked funny. I love funny books. A teacher could use this book to compare and contrast Bob's ancestors adventures with other versions of the same popular fairy tales. One could also use this book to discuss personification. How to Save Your Tail falls under fiction and comedy. Lexile rates this book at a 760L. When I looked at the Lexile chart, 760 can be up to 6th grade. I believe this book is a much lower level. The cover says this book would interest children ages 6-10. This would be kindergarten to fourth grade.

[eRin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bob is a charming, smart, handsome, book-loving rat who is about to be eaten by two large and hungry cats. In order to (literally) save his tail, Bob starts telling stories about his ancestors. All of the stories are variations of famous fairy tales--but with a rat in the starring role, of course. Bob has to keep telling stories to entertain the cats, otherwise he'll be a pre-bedtime snack!

So cute, funny and entertaining. Very original and well-written. The fairy tales are changed to make them more entertaining, but still easily identifiable. Bob is a great storyteller and Hanson does a great job of breaking up the stories with real-time interaction between Bob and the cats. Highly recommended!

[Nancy Kotkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Children's chapter book comprised of five related but separate short stories, held together by chapters in between that weave a continuous story. A rat is caught by two cats and spins tales of his family members, all based on popular fairy tales, in order to avoid being eaten. The protagonist is a clever, talented rat who loves to read and bake cookies (much like a book-loving Ratatouille). The short stories are fairy tale mash-ups, with a number of different fairy tales threaded into each story. Accomplished black-and-white drawings occasionally complement the text, the rat's family tree appears in the beginning, and the endpapers contain a fictional map of the story locations.

[Sarah W · Rating 4 out of 5]

A rat, tells stories of his family to postpone Brutus and Muffin's attempt to eat him. Bob's situation as storyteller is reminiscent of Shahrazad. The stories that Bob tells will be familiar to children, though his rat family's versions have twists and combinations not often seen elsewhere.

This book was a fast read for me - taking 30 minutes to read the 90 pages. It'd be a great read aloud for younger children.

[Shelby · Rating 4 out of 5]

iam 9.i read it in libraey and it was awesome.it is a really good book for children to read .it has fairy tailes tht kids love.except it has been made into even funnier tales.any age would love it. my mom would love it. if you havent read it, you should start reading it right now.
11
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[Bill Prosser · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great fun for younger readers. Actually, all kids would enjoy this to figure out which familiar fairy tales are being parodied by story teller, Bob the Rat. The end papers are fun too, the front being Bob's rat and frog family tree, and the back a map of where he lives. Quick and funny.

[Sq.Hill Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

With the popularity of Disney's Rattatouille, lovable rats should be all the rage. The author cleverly combines familiar fariy tales like 1001 Arabian Nights, with Jack and the Beanstalk, and The Three Little Pigs - all with a twist, of course - to create a fun tale.

[Autumn Thetford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for text to text connections!!!! Charlie May Simon list and it's laugh out loud funny, fantasy book filled with fairy tales. All 4th graders have heard it, and Mrs. Starnes too! What did ya'll think of it?

[Lisa Huninghake · Rating 5 out of 5]

A funny twist on fairy tales that K -1 students will enjoy. Think 1001 Arabian Nights, but Scheherazade in this book is actually a rat named Bob. Hear Jack and the Beanstalk, The Three Pigs, Rumpelstiltskin, The Wood Fairy and Cinderella in a whole new way!

[Shantrice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would recommend this book as a fun quick-read. Bits and pieces of different fairy tales are blended well together.

[Whitney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a fun fairytale with a twist. If you like reading about books, cookies, and carnivorous cats, then you will love "How to Save Your Tail".

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grade 1 - 3

[Stacey Bitar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short read - references to popular fairytales.

[Simone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this with Zach. It's whimsical and fun, with lots of little innuendos and references to other fairy tales and literary works. Even the little ones can catch on!

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a clever revisit of classic fairy tales. A fun chapter book version of the new twisted tale.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and quick read aloud. Every other chapter features a fractured fairytale.

[Susanne Davison · Rating 5 out of 5]

My second set of 2nd graders enjoyed this book this year! They had fun figuring out the connections with the "real" fairy tales.

[Shawn Thrasher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute!

[Sharan Thind · Rating 5 out of 5]

These stories are great!

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

We loved it. Nice mix of fairy tales.

[Naomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love reading stories that go back to the traditional fairy tales and tell a bit more of the story, or the other side of the story or whatever!

[PJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

A rat-positive book of fractured fairy tales! I love it!

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very clever book with a twist on fairytales.

[Sara]

I'm actually re-reading this today 2/9/13. I remember that it is a very funny little book. :)
Finished it last week and still love it!

[Shannon D'Arpino · Rating 4 out of 5]

what an amazing tale. my son recommended it so we could talk about it and I am glad I read it!

[Rebecca Laidlaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was great and funny. I read t to my 5yr old and she had fun guessing which fairy tales were being mentioned.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a cute little book that went over fairy tales from the perspective of a rat. Overall, I felt like it completed the goal it was trying to complete and was an enjoyable quick read. I do, however, believe that more could have been done with the stories and in that manner I felt like it fell slightly flat. Not enough to avoid reading it but enough that it won't become a favorite.

[Cstrand · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kids Jr Book Club summer 2018