Ruffleclaw

by Cornelia Funke, Oliver Latsch (Translator)

Overview

The beloved and bestselling author of Inkheart returns with a chapter book full of mischief, heart, hilarious illustrations, and pet monsters!
 
Goodbye, earthworms. Hello, chocolate cake!
 
Ruffleclaw is a furry red monster who lives under a toolshed, and he’s sick of eating bugs. When he decides to move in with a family of humans, he climbs right into bed with a boy named Tommy. Tommy wants to keep Ruffleclaw as a pet, but it won’t be easy. Ruffleclaw makes huge messes—he spits, he drinks shampoo, and he eats everything in the fridge . . . along with the plates! Can Tommy teach his monster to behave?
 
Cornelia Funke’s signature touch of imagination and humor delights young readers in her chapter books—Emma and the Blue Genie, The Pirate Pig, and Ruffleclaw.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780385375498
Publisher:	Random House Children's Books
Publication date:	07/12/2016
Pages:	112
Product dimensions:	5.10(w) x 7.50(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	500L (what's this?)
Age Range:	7 - 10 Years

About the Author

CORNELIA FUNKE is the New York Times bestselling author of many magical books for children, including The Thief Lord, Dragon Rider, and Inkheart. Once named one of the 100 most influential people by Time magazine, Cornelia was born in Germany and lives with her family in California.

Hometown:

Los Angeles, CA

Date of Birth:

December 10, 1958

Place of Birth:

Dorsten, Germany

Education:

University of Hamburg

Editorial Reviews

11/01/2015
Gr 2–4—Ruffleclaw is a shaggy, red earth monster who lives in a burrow under an old tool shed, but unlike his friends Shaggystink and Wormtooth, who think humans are disgusting, Ruffleclaw is inexplicably drawn to the bright lights and jingly music of the human house. So one night when his friends are off digging up woodlice for dinner, Ruffleclaw decides to sneak off to live with the humans. Tommy, the young boy, soon decides he'd like to keep Ruffleclaw, but convincing his mother that the spitting, shampoo-eating, smelly monster would make a good pet is another matter altogether. Spot illustrations by the author add to the humor of Funke's text. VERDICT This is a winningly unique chapter book starring a lovable monster with whom young readers will empathize.—Jessica Marie, Salem Public Library, OR

School Library Journal

Cornelia Funke’s passion for children’s fantasy shines in this audiobook filled with wondrous and otherworldly charm. Ruffleclaw, an earth monster, decides to move in with a human family. He befriends the boy, Tommy, first. Funke provides a raspy, endearing voice for Ruffleclaw’s colorful exclamations—just two examples: “totally creepy-crawladocious!” when he listens to jingly music and “mouse poop!” when he’s lectured for drinking all the shampoo. Ruffleclaw’s first encounter with Tommy’s mother is a hoot, with her frantic shrieks and Ruffleclaw’s growling and hissing monster threats. Ruffleclaw’s hilarious play date with monster friends Shaggystink and Wormtooth, who come to visit, will have children laughing out loud. M.F.T. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine

JANUARY 2016 - AudioFile

Cornelia Funke’s passion for children’s fantasy shines in this audiobook filled with wondrous and otherworldly charm. Ruffleclaw, an earth monster, decides to move in with a human family. He befriends the boy, Tommy, first. Funke provides a raspy, endearing voice for Ruffleclaw’s colorful exclamations—just two examples: “totally creepy-crawladocious!” when he listens to jingly music and “mouse poop!” when he’s lectured for drinking all the shampoo. Ruffleclaw’s first encounter with Tommy’s mother is a hoot, with her frantic shrieks and Ruffleclaw’s growling and hissing monster threats. Ruffleclaw’s hilarious play date with monster friends Shaggystink and Wormtooth, who come to visit, will have children laughing out loud. M.F.T. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine

JANUARY 2016 - AudioFile

2015-08-12
Ruffleclaw, an "earth monster," is obsessed with human things—which will cause some problems. Ruffleclaw's tired of living under a shed and eating only bugs. He's also tired of his earth monster neighbors, Shaggystink and Wormtooth, and their disdain for all things human. At night, Ruffleclaw picks the locks of human houses (easy with a claw) and gapes at all the wonders within. He's especially fond of the "ice-cold box" where they keep the best food. He decides to go live with a human family, choosing a house where he's heard the most delightful, "creepy-crawlicious" music. When Tommy wakes next to a hairy, red, four-armed, smelly monster, he tries throwing Ruffleclaw out, but the earth monster is nothing if not persistent. Tommy decides to keep Ruffleclaw as a pet—after all, he's always wanted a dog, and the monster actually talks. When keeping the hairy beast a secret from mom falls through, the duo have to get creative convincing her to let Ruffleclaw stay…and then there's Tommy's dad's allergy to anything with fur. Funke's playful monster tale, published in Germany in 2005, is a piece with such other outings as Emma and the Blue Genie (2014). While it's not as inventive or engaging as her longer works, those new to chapters who need a good, funny monster tale to alleviate fears or who like a small dose of gross will find it here. A sweet, light fantasy for readers just cutting their literary teeth. (Fantasy. 7-10)

Kirkus Reviews