The Highway Rat By Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler

Hello there. Welcome to Albert's Bookshelf. I'm Albert's Dad. Now Albert loves listening to a story. Would you like me to read one of his favourite books? Okay, well, get yourself comfy, and I'll begin. The Highway Rat by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.

The highway rat was a baddie. The highway rat was a beast. He took what he wanted and ate what he took. His life was one long feast. His teeth were sharp and yellow. His manners were rough and rude. And the highway rat went riding, riding, riding, riding along the highway, and stealing the traveller's food. A rabbit came hopping along the road, then stopped with her paws in the air.

For blocking her way was the highway rat who cried out Who goes there? Give me your pastries and puddings Give me your chocolate and cakes. For I am the rat of the highway. The highway, the highway, yes, I am the rat of the highway. And whatever I want, I take. I have no cakes, the rabbit replied. I just have a bunch of clover. The highway rat gave a scornful look, but he ordered, HAND OVER!

This clover is bound to be tasteless. This clover is dull as can be. But I am the rat of the highway, and this clover belongs to me. A squirrel came bounding along the road, then stopped with a shake and a shiver. For reigning his horse was the highway rat, who thundered Stand and Deliver Give me your buns and your biscuits. Give me your chocolate declares, for I am the rat of the highway. The highway, the highway, yes, I am the rat of the highway, and the rat thief never shares.

I have no buns, the squirrel replied. I just have a sack of nuts. The robber snatched the sack and snarled. I'll have no ifs or buts. These nuts are probably rotten. These nuts are hard as can be. But I am the rat of the highway, and these nuts belong to me. Some ants came crawling along the road, then stopped with a somersault. For being his teeth was the highway rat who bellowed a deafening HALT Give me your sweets and your lollies.

Give me your toffees and chews, for I am the rat of the highway. The highway, the highway, yes, I am the rat of the highway, and nobody dares to refuse. We have no sweets, the ants replied. We just have this nice green leaf. Oh no you don't. Not anymore. declared the highway thief, This leaf is nasty and bitter. This leaf is as thin as can be, but I am the rat of the highway, and this leaf belongs to me.

With never a please or a thank you, the rat carried on in this way. Flies from a spider, milk from a cat. He once stole his own horse's hay. The creatures who travelled the highway grew thinner and thinner and thinner.

while the highway rat grew horribly fat from eating up everyone's dinner. A duck came waddling down the road, then stopped with a HOW do you do? I see you have nothing, the rat complained. In that case I'll have to eat You 'I doubt if you're terribly juicy. Most likely you're tough as can be. But I am the rat of the highway. The highway, the highway, yes, I am the rat of the highway. And I fancy a duck for tea.

Hang on, quacked the duck, for I have a sister with goodies you might prefer. I know that she'd love to meet you, and I'm certain that you'd like her. For in her cave, her deep, dark cave, right at the top of the hill, are biscuits and buns of plenty, and there you might eat your fill. Lead on cried the rat, and they took to the road, which seemed it would never end. Onwards they rode and upwards, bend after bend after bend. At last they came to a lonely cave, and the duck began to quack.

She quacked. Good evening, sister, sister, sister and sister sister, sister. A voice from the cave came back. Do you have cakes and chocolates? the Highway Robber cried. And Chocolates, chocolates, chocolates The voice from the cave replied. I'm coming to take them, the rat thief yelled. His greedy eyes grew round, and take them, take them, take them came back the welcome sound.

The highway rat leapt off his horse into the cave he strode. The duck took hold of the horse's reins and galloped down the road. Faster and ever faster, following all the bends, the plucky young duck went riding, riding, riding, galloping down the highway, back to her hungry friend. Then they shared out the food from the saddlebags and feasted all night long. Bright were the flames of the bonfire, loud was the music and song. Wild was the moonlight dancing, merry the cheer and the chat.

For now they could live in freedom, safe from the highway rats. And as for the rat in the echoey cave, he shouted and wandered till. He found his way out of the darkness on the other side of the hill. A thinner and greyer and meeker rat, he robs on the road no more, for he landed a job in a cake shop, a cake shop, a cake shop, and they say he still works in the cake shop, sweeping the cake shop floor.

I hope you enjoyed another one of Albert's favourite books. There's plenty more to listen to. If not now, maybe another time.