Runaway Ralph (Hardcover)

by Beverly Cleary (Author), Tracy Dockray (Illustrator) "The small brown mouse named Ralph who was hiding under the grandfather clock did not have much longer to wait before he could ride his..." (more)
Key Phrases: missing watch, alfalfa pellets, cedar shavings, Aunt Jill, Mountain View Inn, Uncle Lester (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"Cleary again successfully combines fantasy and reality." -- -- Booklist

Review
"Cleary again successfully combines fantasy and reality."  --Booklist --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (April 1, 1970)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 068821701X
• ISBN-13: 978-0688217013
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #843,730 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ralph gets more than he bargained for on this adventure!, July 20, 2000

By	"iloveprovence" (Columbia, S.C. United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Runaway Ralph (Paperback)

Ralph S. Mouse is tired of being told what to do. He's annoyed with his younger siblings. So, what's a young mouse with a motorcycle going to do? Why, take off on an adventure of the open road. With a "Pb--pb--p--p--p" Ralph heads downhill toward Happy Acres Camp to seek the company of boys his "age" and PBJ sandwiches. But the adventure isn't what he expected. He doesn't like the smells of gasoline or the dust and wind that whips his face, and when he finally gets to the camp, he finds that things aren't quite what he anticipates. There is a cat to avoid, a problem kid who sings songs about torturing helpless animals, and he gets caught in a cage. How will Ralph get back to safety, will anyone find the motorcycle he's hidden in the shrubbery? And how will he ever get up the hill that he came down? Anybody who enjoys adventure, or has ever run away from home ( I got as far as our boat when I was 5), will love the excitement of going on this adventure with Ralph.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A mouse's marvelous adventure, December 5, 2002

By	Michael J. Mazza (Pittsburgh, PA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

This review is from: Runaway Ralph (Paperback)

"Runaway Ralph," by Beverly Cleary, tells a story about Ralph, a mouse who lives with his family in a hotel. Ralph finds himself in conflict with both the nagging older generation of mice and the annoying younger group; he longs for "a life of speed and danger and excitement." So he sets off on his mouse-sized motorcycle and has an adventure in which he encounters many new people, animals, and situations.

"Ralph" is a fun adventure story that is filled with humor and suspense. Cleary includes well-written characters and many clever details as Ralph's journey progresses. An important aspect of the novel is Ralph's ability to talk to both other animals (of various species) and certain humans. This fantasy element of the book, similar to the communication in the classic story "Charlotte's Web," is skillfully handled by Cleary.

Ralph is a great character. Despite his personal flaws, his essential courage and resourcefulness make him admirable. I see Ralph as a questing hero in the mold of such classic characters as Homer's Odysseus or Cervantes' Don Quixote. Finally, for an interesting companion text to "Ralph," try Felice Holman's powerful novel "Slake's Limbo."

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Runaway Ralph, August 15, 2005

By	Amy L. Butler - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Runaway Ralph (Paperback)

This is an absolutey adorable book to read to your little ones! Mine loved it! It has quite a bit of adventure in it for one little mouse.