Rufus M. [Hardcover]

Eleanor Estes (Author), Louis Slobodkin (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

You've never met anyone quite like Rufus Moffat. He gets things done, but he gets them done his way.
When he wants to check out library books, Rufus teaches himself to write...even though he doesn't yet know how to read. When food is scarce, he plants some special "Rufus beans" that actually grow...despite his digging them up every day to check on them. And Rufus has friends that other people don't even know exist! He discovers the only invisible piano player in town, has his own personal flying horse for a day, and tours town with the Cardboard Boy, his dearest friend-and enemy.
Rufus isn't just the youngest Moffat, he's also the cleverest, the funniest, and the most unforgettable.
Eleanor Estes's beloved Moffats stories are being published in new editions as Odyssey/Harcourt Young Classics. The original interior illustrations have been retained, but handsome new cover art by Tricia Tusa gives the books a fresh, timeless appeal for today's readers.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Grade 1-3–The youthful tones in narrator Christina Moore's voice bring new life to the Eleanor Estes' Newbery-honored tales of family life during World War I and the goofy antics of seven-year-old Rufus Moffat and his siblings. Although originally published in 1943, as the last of four titles in the Moffat series, the family's adventures are timeless. Moore wisely lets the amusing stories speak for themselves, keeping her narration understated. Listeners should be prepared to fast forward a bit to the ends of tapes, as the producer chose not to break up chapters across sides A and B or across cassettes. Pop this recording into your car's tape deck for a long family road trip and everyone will be entertained–Jennifer Iserman, Dakota County Library, Burnhaven Branch, Burnsville, MN (School Library Journal )

About the Author

ELEANOR ESTES (1906-1988), a children's librarian for many years, launched her writing career with the publication of The Moffats in 1941.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books (April 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152025715
• ISBN-13: 978-0152025717
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #686,793 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

ELEANOR ESTES (1906-1988), a children's librarian for many years, launched her writing career with the publication of The Moffats in 1941. Two of her books about the Moffats are Newbery Honor books, as is The Hundred Dresses. She won the Newbery Medal for Ginger Pye in 1952.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An old man writes ..., July 6, 2003

By 

Sean Jones "Sean Jones" (London) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rufus M. (Paperback)

I was given this book to read when I was 7 years old. I was ill at home and my mother dropped it on the bed as I had been pestering her for something to read. It looked unpromising. I liked books about war and dinosaurs and soccer. None of these seemed likely to feature in Rufus M.

Though I would not have used the word then, I was enchanted. Estes sketched out a world I wanted to leap straight into.

This is such good a book that it has stuck in my memory as a happy thought about a distant time. I found myself thinking about it as I sat at my desk this evening and googled my way here. I'm 37 tomorrow. 30 years on and it's still with me.

Sean

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A second grader says please read this book, June 16, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Rufus M. (Paperback)

The story Rufus M. by Eleanor Estes is about a kid named Rufus Moffat. Rufus has some trouble sometimes, but he practices until he gets it right. Rufus writes his name like this: Rufus M. Sometimes Rufus gets trapped, but he finds his way out. Sometimes Rufus can get rough. Rufus M. is also clever. He also makes up imaginary friends. One time he makes up the invisible piano player. Rufus is almost unbeatable.

Rufus acts like a seven year old. That's why I think he's a seven year old. Rufus writes his name sloppy at first. Then he practices and practices and he gets better and better. He gets better at doing tasks that use to be hard. Rufus is a great kid, unlike any other (no offense). This is the story how Rufus became unbeatable.

The characters are Rufus, Sylvie, Jane, and Joe. Rufus has messy hair, he is seven, and he is rough. Sylvie is nice. She is also clever, and she is about nine. Janie is a girl who is clever, but not exactly as clever as Sylvie. She has a crush on a friend of hers. She is eight years old. Joey is Rufus's brother and he is nine years old. He likes to play with Rufus and he is rough like Rufus. I believe in the chacracters of the story and I am interested to find more about them. I can picture the individuals in my mind. They get on with one another by playing with each other. I like Rufus best because he is funny.

The author is a good writer. She uses words like "urge" and "dozing." Her writing would make me imagine the story even if there were no pictures. The author treats me like a big kid. It is like it is written by an expert. I think the book is great. The cover also looks great. It makes me want to read the book right away. It urges me to talk about it to my friends. The pictures are interesting and they make the story better. The printing is pretty small, but the words are easy to read.

The book is great in my opinion. I would suggest boys ages seven to nine and girls eight to eleven would enjoy it. I give this book five stars.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Rufus M., January 2, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Rufus M. (Paperback)

I liked "Rufus M." a lot it was probably the most adventurous books I have ever read. In a way that Eleanor Estes compares this book to her "The Moffats" book you can tell that Rufus Moffat is a completely different 7-year-old boy you would've thought he would be compared to athis book all about him and "The Moffats" which introduces our lively and fascinating family to begin with. I thought this book really made me so buried into it's pages because of the way the writer took the time to create more and more adventurous tale for Rufus to live through and be a part of. It really made this book something special. But I'd have to say his adventures would take you through some times that you would just not believe! One thing for sure, you would say his characteristics drive him into the pit of emotions and feeling.