Very Important Idea, The

It is never easy to please the boss, on your first day at work as Rat discovers when he becomes Mr Fat Cat’s new assistant. The strict daily schedule demands much in the way of servitude, but when Rat clatters noisily about and causes Mr Fat to forget his VERY IMPORTANT IDEA, trouble lies ahead. Rat is charged with finding a replacement very important idea. But impressing the boss is VERY hard, and even when he enlists the help of his friend, Dodgy Rodney, none of his plans meets with approval. Now, as readers, we know about the relationship between cats and rats, and in this story we are not disappointed. This book has much to commend it. The illustrations are large and full of amusing detail. The font varies pleasingly, Mr Fat’s bellowing fairly roaring off the page. Readers will empathise with the endearing capers of Rat as he bravely attempts to please his boss. Especially appealing is the use of the light bulb image, to express an idea. This is something with which children will be familiar, either from TV cartoons or from work at school. And the book closes with the delightful question, ‘What big ideas have you had today?’