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The Infamous Ratsos #4
The Infamous Ratsos Camp Out
Louie and Ralphie discover that camping is not easy -- especially since Scoutmaster Grandpa Ratso doesn't think they should ask for help -- in the latest adventure in the Infamous Ratsos series.
Ralphie and Louie Ratso and the rest of the Big City Scouts are leaving the city to go camping for the first time. And they have a special guide: Grandpa Ratso! He was Scoutmaster when Ralphie and Louie's dad, Big Lou, was a kid. Grandpa teaches everyone the Scouts motto he still remembers, which says that Big City Scouts are always able to solve problems without asking for help. But the Scouts soon find that figuring out how to pitch a tent, make a fire, and find their way through the woods is tough to do by themselves. In fact, not asking for help isn't working at all! Luckily for the Scouts, someone unexpected comes along to set them all straight about what the motto really says: Scouts have the courage to ask for help and work together. Kara LaReau and Matt Myers team up again to combine witty text and humorous illustrations for the fourth book in the Infamous Ratsos series.
Ralphie and Louie Ratso and the rest of the Big City Scouts are leaving the city to go camping for the first time. And they have a special guide: Grandpa Ratso! He was Scoutmaster when Ralphie and Louie's dad, Big Lou, was a kid. Grandpa teaches everyone the Scouts motto he still remembers, which says that Big City Scouts are always able to solve problems without asking for help. But the Scouts soon find that figuring out how to pitch a tent, make a fire, and find their way through the woods is tough to do by themselves. In fact, not asking for help isn't working at all! Luckily for the Scouts, someone unexpected comes along to set them all straight about what the motto really says: Scouts have the courage to ask for help and work together. Kara LaReau and Matt Myers team up again to combine witty text and humorous illustrations for the fourth book in the Infamous Ratsos series.
80 pages, Hardcover
Published May 12, 2020
5 people are currently reading
41 people want to read
About the author
Kara LaReau
46 books102 followersKara LaReau was born and raised in Connecticut. She received her Masters in Fine Arts in Writing, Literature, and Publishing from Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts and later worked as an editor at Candlewick Press and at Scholastic Press. Among other celebrated titles, she edited Kate DiCamillo’s Because of Winn-Dixie, The Tale of Despereaux, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, and the Mercy Watson series. She is the author of picture books such as UGLY FISH, illustrated by Scott Magoon, Baby Clown, illustrated by Matthew Cordell, and Goodnight Little Monsters, illustrated by Brian Won; chapter book series Witchycakes, illustrated by Ariane Moreira and The Infamous Ratsos, illustrated by Matt Myers; and middle-grade trilogies The ZomBert Chronicles, illustrated by Ryan Andrews, and The Unintentional Adventures of the Bland Sisters, illustrated by Jen Hill. Kara lives in Providence, Rhode Island with her husband and daughter and their cats.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
April 6, 2020
I read the first Infamous Ratsos book last fall (it seems like years ago!) for my stepson's Battle of the Books, and was charmed by the Ratsos brothers and their father, Big Lou. In this fourth installment, Ralphie, Louie, and Big Lou head out on a camping trip with their Big City Scouts troop. The wilderness isn't anything like what Louie and Ralphie expect, and they discover the importance of asking for help.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC!
May 25, 2020
There is a life lesson to be learned in these Infamous Ratsos stories by Kara Lareau and this one is learned after a long and tiring day of camping by the Big City Scouts, not directly by them, but by their leader, Grandpa Ratso. He believes that the real motto is that every Scout should be able to solve problems without asking for help. After raising the tents, attempting a fire, and finding their way on a hike, they realize it's tough without advice. One person, toward the end, comes to the rescue, and a lesson is learned by all, including Grandpa. This too will be a great read-aloud for discussing. When is it time to ask for help? When should one try and try again? Another adventure by the Ratsos includes some humor, too, helped by the fun illustrations by Matt Myers.
Thanks to Candlewick Press for the copy!
Thanks to Candlewick Press for the copy!
March 28, 2020
I received an electronic ARC from Candlewick Press through NetGalley.
The Ratsos clan is back and excited to head out for a camping weekend to earn more Big City Scout badges. Readers get to see Grandpa and then Grandma join the "fun." The Ratsos learn that it's okay to reach for help and to support each other no matter how old they are.
Plenty of humor and action for younger to middle grade readers. LaReau continues to entertain with this family of rats. The illustrations draw readers in and also allow them to use their own imagination to enhance the story.
The Ratsos clan is back and excited to head out for a camping weekend to earn more Big City Scout badges. Readers get to see Grandpa and then Grandma join the "fun." The Ratsos learn that it's okay to reach for help and to support each other no matter how old they are.
Plenty of humor and action for younger to middle grade readers. LaReau continues to entertain with this family of rats. The illustrations draw readers in and also allow them to use their own imagination to enhance the story.
March 19, 2020
Still Has A Good Light Touch
This is the fourth book in the "Infamous Ratsos" series. In each book we follow the adventures of brothers Louie and Ralph as they, (and often their Dad), learn some important life lessons. In the first book the guys learned the difference between being "tough" guys and good guys. That was a tricky premise, and the author pulled it off exceptionally well.
This time out the boys are camping with Dad, Grandpa Ratso, and some other scouts. Grandpa's a hard case who thinks self-reliance means never ever asking for help. You know where that's going to go. The first half of the book demonstrates the down side of going it alone and the second half is an upbeat tale of cooperation and helpfulness.
The big appeal here is that the Ratsos are good kids, the scouts are all solid kids, and the grownups are willing to learn and adjust. While all of that is going on the kids have fun and amusing adventures, which keeps this from being dreary and heavyhanded. I eventually drifted away from books like the "Berenstain Bears" when they became, to me, preachy and humorless. These Ratso books certainly have a message, but they are lighter, more forgiving, and more cheerfully upbeat. This is a camping adventure first and a "problem" novel second, which is fine by me.
That also matters because this book seemed to read a little younger than did the first book. Short, direct sentences and brisk, fast paced scenes zip the reader right along. That seemed to suit the tale and the message, so it all worked. (I've seen K to 3rd grade recommendations on this and I'm definitely no expert, but that felt right.)
(Please note that I received a free advance will-self-destruct-in-x-days Adobe Digital copy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
This is the fourth book in the "Infamous Ratsos" series. In each book we follow the adventures of brothers Louie and Ralph as they, (and often their Dad), learn some important life lessons. In the first book the guys learned the difference between being "tough" guys and good guys. That was a tricky premise, and the author pulled it off exceptionally well.
This time out the boys are camping with Dad, Grandpa Ratso, and some other scouts. Grandpa's a hard case who thinks self-reliance means never ever asking for help. You know where that's going to go. The first half of the book demonstrates the down side of going it alone and the second half is an upbeat tale of cooperation and helpfulness.
The big appeal here is that the Ratsos are good kids, the scouts are all solid kids, and the grownups are willing to learn and adjust. While all of that is going on the kids have fun and amusing adventures, which keeps this from being dreary and heavyhanded. I eventually drifted away from books like the "Berenstain Bears" when they became, to me, preachy and humorless. These Ratso books certainly have a message, but they are lighter, more forgiving, and more cheerfully upbeat. This is a camping adventure first and a "problem" novel second, which is fine by me.
That also matters because this book seemed to read a little younger than did the first book. Short, direct sentences and brisk, fast paced scenes zip the reader right along. That seemed to suit the tale and the message, so it all worked. (I've seen K to 3rd grade recommendations on this and I'm definitely no expert, but that felt right.)
(Please note that I received a free advance will-self-destruct-in-x-days Adobe Digital copy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
May 11, 2020
I have barely a handful of "auto-buy" authors, but Kara LaReau is one of them. Introduced to her fiction for young readers by one of the books in her Bland Sisters middle-grade series - which was an homage to Agatha Christie, my all-time favorite writer, no less - after falling for those two strange little girls, it was a no-brainer to try her chapter-book series featuring the famous (or in this case, infamous) Ratsos Brothers. Have read them all, the latest (and fourth) in the series, The Infamous Ratsos Camp Out, finding our siblings Louie and Ralphie taking a break from city life by teaming up with their friends for their first-ever camping trip. Their dad, Big Lou, is leading the Big City Scouts expedition, although when they arrive at the Friendly Woods Campground a surprise awaits in the form of Grandpa Ratso, who was Big Lou's scoutmaster when he was a little camper, who will co-lead (actually, sort of take over) things from Big Lou. But Grandpa Ratso, the young scouts soon learn, is a bit rusty in his scouting skills, leading the troop into a spot of trouble that will require each member of the troop to not only rely on his or her self - but also to help each other, or ask for help when it's needed. In both her terrific series, LaReau's skills at combining a dry sense of humor with positive messages about self and family (that won't hit young readers over the head) are razor-sharp, but what makes her truly stand out is her ability to create larger-than-life characters - even in talking animals - that ring 100% true on the page. Combine this with the hugely-talented Matt Myers's (as always) equally warm and upbeat art, and volume four of the Ratsos Brothers continuing story is another standout in kid-lit - perfect for young readers, or maybe even better for adults reading to the kids; sharing these adventures aloud that emphasize the core values of friendship and family. Either way, this is another winner in the series kids should read - and re-read - with smiles on. (Available 5/12) 4.5/5 stars
NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.
NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.
July 9, 2020
The latest sequel, The Infamous Ratsos Camp Out does not disappoint! For readers who have a bit of knowledge of scouting, they'll quickly pickup the hierarchy of the Big City Scouts. Little brother Ralphie is still a "Street Scout" and big brother Louie has graduated to an "Avenue Scout." They leave the big city welcoming an expedition to the wilderness on their scout camping trip with dad, Big Lou driving the bus, full of the happy Ratso brothers and friends, as they make their way to the Friendly Woods camp grounds. As soon as they arrive they have to put up their tents with NO supervision from Big Lou, and Grandpa Ratsos. It does not go well. Then they take a nature walk before dinner, before long big brother Louie gets stuck very high up in a tree, and then of course he puts his paws in poison ivy, yet they persevere. In this sequel their father Big Lou, and Grandpa Ratso are the funniest. Modeling the role of experienced scout leaders, they tell the little campers to figure everything out for themselves, from lighting fires to foraging for dinner. To the horror of the Ratsos brothers their father doesn't bring ANY food supplies. The girls Millicent, and Velma are the wise ones, readers will have to read to find out which relative saves the day. Hilarious and clever, this books will fly off the shelves. A perfect summer read, for kids who love funny chapter books!
Read
January 3, 2021As this year of years winds down, there are stacks of books to still be highlighted and one very large stack to be read before the 2021 releases are embraced. Books in a series are beloved by many a reader. We crave a return to characters we love. We desire to visit settings where we wish we could walk. We laugh at the silliness, we thrill at the adventures, and we sigh at the touching sweetness.
This year there was an abundance of series continuations and some promising new series beginnings (and one single title).
When the children's literature world met brothers Ralphie and Louie, they knew this was going to be no ordinary sibling duo. The first book, The Infamous Ratsos, garnered a coveted Theodore Seuss Geisel Honor Book Award in 2017. Book two, The Infamous Ratsos Are Not Afraid, and book three, The Infamous Ratsos Project Fluffy, continued to entertain and engage readers. In the fourth book, The Infamous Ratsos Camp Out (Candlewick Press, May 12, 2020) written by Karen LaReau with illustrations by Matt Myers, readers will rejoice in all the perks and problems of being in the outdoors.
My full recommendation: https://librariansquest.blogspot.com/...
This year there was an abundance of series continuations and some promising new series beginnings (and one single title).
When the children's literature world met brothers Ralphie and Louie, they knew this was going to be no ordinary sibling duo. The first book, The Infamous Ratsos, garnered a coveted Theodore Seuss Geisel Honor Book Award in 2017. Book two, The Infamous Ratsos Are Not Afraid, and book three, The Infamous Ratsos Project Fluffy, continued to entertain and engage readers. In the fourth book, The Infamous Ratsos Camp Out (Candlewick Press, May 12, 2020) written by Karen LaReau with illustrations by Matt Myers, readers will rejoice in all the perks and problems of being in the outdoors.
My full recommendation: https://librariansquest.blogspot.com/...
May 23, 2021
Louie and Ralphie and the rest of the Big City Scouts are super excited to be going camping. When they arrive at the campsite, Grandpa Ratso surprises them by also being there to help lead the camping adventure. Grandpa teaches them the Big City Scout oath and the scouts are excited about following it to the letter, especially the part about solving problems all by themselves. After one disaster after the other, though, do they maybe need to rethink things?
I like the message in this about how we all need each other and it is totally ok to reach out for help when we need it. There's also a little message about how older/higher rank in the Scout order doesn't necessarily mean any better. The Scouts have a humorously awful start to their camping trip, but thanks to a very key reinforcement Scout and a straightening out of Grandpa's memory of the oath, things end on a much happier note. I like how this celebrates both to woes and joys of camping trips (because anyone who has gone camping numerous times has undoubtedly experienced both). The only thing I think they left out is strange encounters on the way to the bathroom in the dark at night.
No content issues.
I like the message in this about how we all need each other and it is totally ok to reach out for help when we need it. There's also a little message about how older/higher rank in the Scout order doesn't necessarily mean any better. The Scouts have a humorously awful start to their camping trip, but thanks to a very key reinforcement Scout and a straightening out of Grandpa's memory of the oath, things end on a much happier note. I like how this celebrates both to woes and joys of camping trips (because anyone who has gone camping numerous times has undoubtedly experienced both). The only thing I think they left out is strange encounters on the way to the bathroom in the dark at night.
No content issues.
February 3, 2021
The Big City Scouts are excited to be going on their first camp out and earn more badges. Scoutmaster Grandpa Ratso reminds them of the scout oath "No matter the problem we'll solve it ourselves; we know we can fix it without any help." And just like that, any offer from the younger scouts to help the others is met with definite "no ways". They don't need to have read the handbook and they don't need to work together. A rainy night, dinner of one small fish change their minds, and an itchy case of poison ivy may cause second thoughts. A fun read with plenty of black and white illustrations to show the frustrations and achievements of the Scouts. This may bring back your own camping memories.
April 1, 2020
The fifth book in the Infamous Ratsos series Ralphie and Louie Ratso going on a camping trip with the Big City Scouts, with Grandpa Ratso as their guide. Even with Grandpa's guidance and experience as a Scoutmaster, the Scouts learn that camping isn't as easy as they think it is: pitching a tent, making a fire, and finding their way through the woods is hard! They have to learn to work together, and they have to learn that asking for help is the most important skill a Scout - or anyone - can have. With fun scout-meets-urban living references to badges like City Smarts and Cleanup, and scouting levels like Streets and Avenues instead of Cub and Weeblo, this is a cute addition to the series. Black and white cartoony illustrations of the Ratsos throughout the book really engage the reader. Enjoy a chapter sample from Candlewick's page and consider adding this series to your intermediate collection if you haven't yet.
May 1, 2020
“Life is much easier when we admit we can’t do everything ourselves.”
But as Big City Scouts, aren’t they supposed to do everything themselves. Scouts don’t ask for help, do they? Grandpa Ratso says that the oath is clear ... solve your own problems, don’t ask for help. This might be why the scouts are hungry, cold, into the poison ivy and lost. Good thing Velma, the young “nerdy” scout, reads her handbook. And good thing Louie and Ralphie realizes when they need to call in reinforcements.
A cute story for early readers.
But as Big City Scouts, aren’t they supposed to do everything themselves. Scouts don’t ask for help, do they? Grandpa Ratso says that the oath is clear ... solve your own problems, don’t ask for help. This might be why the scouts are hungry, cold, into the poison ivy and lost. Good thing Velma, the young “nerdy” scout, reads her handbook. And good thing Louie and Ralphie realizes when they need to call in reinforcements.
A cute story for early readers.
February 9, 2020
Thank you to Candlewick Press for sharing a copy of this ARC with #collabookation. As a first grade teacher, my students have loved the previous 3 books in this series so I was really excited to read the fourth edition. Publication date May, 2020. It's time to go on a camping trip with the Big City Scouts. Together, Ralphie, Louie, and Grandpa Ratso learn that is is important to ask for help when needed. Young readers will love this new edition to the series.
May 30, 2020
Smores, rain showers, getting lost, and much more in this book will make you smile as the Infamous Ratsos head out on a camping trip in the forest. Readers will totally relate to this book if they have ever been camping. If they haven't, it is a great guide for planning a successful trip. Great illustrations and short chapters make this nice for readers starting chapter books. Scouting fans will also love this book to!
December 30, 2019
“Asking for help is as admirable as offering it.” I love the Ratso brothers and this time they are camping and trying to earn badges for their efforts. Grandpa Ratso says that a good scout never asks for help, but luckily someone comes along and sets them straight. “Life is much easier when we admit we can’t do everything ourselves.” I will be recommending this to all my young reader friends.
July 7, 2025
This was an enjoyable read, had a valuable lesson, and had a good amount of humor. Grandpa Ratso comes to help the scouts on their camping trips. But Grandpa says they can't ever ask for help. He is a grumpy old man, which is very funny. I loved the ending and the kids learning that it's important to work together and ask for help when you need it.
April 11, 2020
Kara LaReau and the Ratsos do it again! I love this crazy crew and the adventures they go on. Camping was just the right thing for this group. Grandpa playing a part was absolutely hilarious. Loved this Ratsos adventure and sad it is the end.
April 15, 2020
A big thank you to NetGalley and Candlewick Press for the ARC. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. This is a children's book. I enjoyed this book. It was cute, and I liked that not everyone was perfect. Everyone had a good time on the campout and learned something. 3.5 stars
December 8, 2020
The infamous Ratsos have quite a rough time camping when they try to do everything on their own without help. They learn that it is much better to reach out for help and to help others.
September 22, 2021
Darling book for early chapter readers about helping each other. I especially enjoyed the scouts and camping elements. Sarcasm and mean words are in included, but all works out in the end.
March 25, 2023
When I read this book, I started wanting to do boy scouts.
March 7, 2021
Review copy provided by NetGalley
This story of a group going camping and the grandfather offering up the wrong advice before learning the error of his ways will fit nicely with the continuing story of the Ratsos. I like that the cast has expanded to offer more perspectives on the camping experiences, but the story can get a tad muddled with the many different characters to differentiate as they try to survive the camping trip and the many mistakes of the campers and Grandpa Ratso. Still, readers of the Infamous Ratsos stories up this point will get what they want from this new story.
This story of a group going camping and the grandfather offering up the wrong advice before learning the error of his ways will fit nicely with the continuing story of the Ratsos. I like that the cast has expanded to offer more perspectives on the camping experiences, but the story can get a tad muddled with the many different characters to differentiate as they try to survive the camping trip and the many mistakes of the campers and Grandpa Ratso. Still, readers of the Infamous Ratsos stories up this point will get what they want from this new story.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews