The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents: (Discworld Novel 28)

Amazon.co.uk Review
Terry Pratchett returns to children’s stories and to his infamous Discworld with Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents, a clever spin on the Pied Piper fairytale with a lavish sprinkling of the Practchett magic.

Maurice is a talking cat who leads a band of rather special rats from town to town to fake invasions of vermin. Keith, in cahoots with Maurice, turns up with his flute and leads the rats out of town–a hefty reward in tow. It’s a scam that works perfectly… until they arrive in the town of Bad Blintz and their ruse is sussed by the young girl Malicia. Maurice and his mice realise they are about to be caught in the middle of something rather bad.

This is a fresh and funny adventure story that allows Pratchett to make free use of his immense comic talents (the talking rats are easily some of his most hilarious creations). It’s also full of cute little ideas: the mice take their names from cans and packets lying in rubbish dumps, so we have heroes called “Big Savings” and “Best Before”.

Terry Pratchett has created a wonderful, old-fashioned tale where the subtle morals and lessons never hinder the action. Younger children may initially struggle with Mr Pratchett’s unusual style, but once they get to grips with the humour, this will be a laugh-a-minute for both kids and their parents. (Ages 8 and over) –Jon Weir –This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review
“An enticing and occasionally gory introduction to the master of flat earth… proves that the Pied Piper of Hamelin was a front for an insider-dealing scam… alongside the gags and pest-control politics, there are enough complex ideas about nature, nurture and understanding to satisfy a wide audience.”
“–Observer
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“One of Terry Pratchett’s funniest creations of recent years… It all adds up to a wonderful book… hilarious, brilliantly constructed and, especially towards its conclusion, shot through with an edginess to balance the laughs.”
–“SFX”
“A brilliant and bizarre reworking of that well-known folk tale about the Pied Piper of Hamelin.”
–“School Librarian” –This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.