Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat

Title: Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat

Author: Lynne Jonell

Location: J Jonell

Reading Level: juvenile

Guys don't let the title and cover fool you. This book has a boy character, Joe, who plays a big role also. It's the class rat that brings Emmy and Joe together to try and figure out just what is going on at the strange shop Emmy sees her nanny go into and why Emmy's nanny, Miss Barmy, has someone bring a chinchilla to step in the dough for the cookies she makes for Emmy's parents. How does a rat bring people together? Well this rat talks! Emmy thought she was the only one who could hear him until the day she hears Joe talking back to the rat.

Bottom Line: This was an enjoyable and relatively fast read. Good characters, with a nanny who seems sinister, but isn't too scary. You wouldn't want her in your house, but probably wouldn't run from her if you saw her in the street either. Everything comes together in the end. However, for those really paying attention, there is a hint about a possible second Emmy book in the future and I can't wait to read it!