I Was a Rat! Or, The Scarlet Slippers cover art

I Was a Rat! Or, The Scarlet Slippers

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I Was a Rat! Or, The Scarlet Slippers

By: Philip Pullman, Peter Bailey
Narrated by: Robert Glenister
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

I was a Rat! Roger insists, and insists . . . In fact, when Bob the cobbler and his washerwoman wife, Joan, find the young boy abandoned on their doorstep, these are the only words he says. And he does have ratty behaviour, it's true.

Staying with Bob and Joan, however, Roger learns quickly to behave more like a human child. They try to find his parents, but the orphanage, police and hospital all have nothing on their records about a lost boy in the city. What is the truth? As more and more people find out about Roger the mysterious rat-boy he faces more and more danger. But sometimes help comes from the most unexpected of places . . .

© Philip Pullman 2018 (P) Penguin Audio 2021

 Animals Animals & Nature Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths Growing Up & Facts of Life Literature & Fiction Science Fiction & Fantasy

Critic reviews

[A] perfectly shaped story . . . a fairy tale, an adventure, a parody and certainly a book that shines
Fairy tale, satire, slapstick humour and suspenseful melodrama . . . a glorious tale
A comic genius of children's fiction
All stars
Most relevant
Sweet and unusual story. Engaging and entertaining. This should keep the young ones interested and laughing, and rooting for the ‘savage monster’ in the cage.

Great reading voice and impersonations.

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