Dirty Rats?

Nobody likes a rat. And we're not talking about a snitch here. We're talking about those disgusting bald-tailed rodents that scurry around alleys and in the subway. But, hold on . . . are rats really so bad? There are hundreds of rat species all around the world that defy common stereotypes. Rats help predators survive, allow plants to spread their seeds, and even contribute to medical research that helps humans stay healthy. Simple, clear text introduces many of the rats that crawl on the earth today, where they live, what they eat, and how they survive. Next time you see a rat, take a second look.

Darrin Lunde has worked as a mammalogist at the American Museum of Natural History and at the Smithsonian Institute. His work has brought him into contact with all kinds of animals, big and small, throughout the remote forests of South America, Africa, and Asia, where he camped for months at a time to survey species diversity and to discover new species. He is the author of Hello, Bumblebee Bat, a Theodor Seuss Geisel Award Honor Book, After the Kill, and other books about animals. He lives in Washington, DC. Adam Gustavson received his Bachelor's degree in illustration from Rowan University and his Master's from the School of Visual Arts in New York. Adam has illustrated several picture books, including the award-winning Good Luck, Mrs. K! (Margaret K. McElderry). He also teaches at Passaic County Community College in Paterson, New Jersey, and Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey. He lives in West Orange, New Jersey.