The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents (Discworld, #28)

English language

Published Feb. 13, 2004

ISBN:
978-0-552-55202-8
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5 stars (2 reviews)

The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents is a children's fantasy novel by British writer Terry Pratchett, published by Doubleday in 2001. It is the 28th novel in the Discworld series and the first written for children. The story is a new take on the German fairy tale about the Pied Piper of Hamelin and a parody of the folk tale genre.Pratchett won the annual Carnegie Medal from the British librarians, recognising the year's best children's book published in the U.K. It was his first major award.

6 editions

Sardines and Dangerous Beans

5 stars

Soon after "The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents" was first published, I read it to my daughter. She so much enjoyed the characters that she dressed up as Sardines (one of the ensemble cast of rats) for her school's World Book Day celebration. She emailed Terry Pratchett to tell him how much she had enjoyed the book and was thrilled to get a lovely reply.

Re-reading "The Amazing Maurice", I'm surprised by just how dark a book it is, given the nine-year-old plus demographic. For example, there are no holds barred when it comes to the short and uncomfortable lives that rodents sometimes lead, and a couple of plot points rely on how cruel humans can be to their squeaky neighbours.

The book includes a thought-provoking exploration of different kinds of consciousness and self-awareness, and there is much pleasure to be gained from the large cast of characters - …

Review of 'The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

Maurice is a talking cat that has his own group of rats following him, as well as a boy. Together they get rich by pretending to save towns from rats. But their last job goes very wrong. There's something else in the shadows of their new town...

I listened to the new Audible version that isn't available in Goodreads yet. I wasn't expecting the book to be scary, but it is made for Halloween! Peter Seratinowicz does a very good narration job (the rat king whispers are scary good, but not good in noisy transports - be warned!). A brilliant story about stories. The short note from Rob Wilkins at the end is also worth it.