Sadie and Ratz

Award-winning Sonya Hartnett spins a tale for younger readers about mischief, siblings, and taking matters into your own hands. Sadie and Ratz are the names of Hannah's hands. They aren't animals, but they behave like wild beasts, says Dad. For one thing, they're always after four-year-old Baby Boy (whom Sadie wishes were a dog). They jump onto his head and try to rub his ears off. Baby Boy knows how to turn the tables, though, and when he spills milk on the carpet, he tells Grandma that Sadie and Ratz pushed him. But when Baby Boy goes too far, Hannah may have to send Sadie and Ratz on vacation to prove their innocence. Multi-award-winning author Sonya Hartnett brings her original sensibility, wry humor, and engaging characters to a younger audience, aided by Ann James's inviting illustrations.

Sonya Hartnett is the winner of the 2008 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, the world’s largest award for lifetime achievement in children’s and youth literature. She is also the author of many acclaimed young adult novels, including Surrender, The Ghost’s Child, The Silver Donkey, Stripes of the Sidestep Wolf, What the Birds See, and Thursday’s Child. Sonya Hartnett lives in Australia.

Ann James is the award-winning illustrator of more than sixty books for children, including The Midnight Babies, Little Humpty, and Lucy Goosey, written by Margaret Wild, and The Way I Love You, by David Bedford. Ann James lives in Australia.