Practice Makes Perfect for Rotten Ralph

Children love Rotten Ralph because he's so naughty. In this story the cat and his superior cousin, Percy, attend a fair, where Ralph discovers that although practice is boring, those who practice do better, and those who are above such trivial matters do worse. Author Gantos takes great pleasure in reading his own story, and, though his characters' voices all sound a bit similar, their zesty, telling dialogue distinguishes them quite well. Listeners will enjoy the bright cartoon illustrations of the accompanying book. An added attraction is the festive carnival music that weaves in and out of the production, along with sound effects that suggest the fun of different fairground games. J.C.G. (c) AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine

March 18, 2002
Several stars of early readers return for more adventures. Let loose at the carnival, the star of Practice Makes Perfect for Rotten Ralph by Jack Gantos, illus. by Nicole Rubel, tries to outplay Cousin Percy and impress Sarah, his owner. The hero resorts to cheating, but, by the end of this Rotten Ralph Rotten Reader, he repents, returns his ill-gotten booty and wins a prize the right way.