Right on Your Tail (Ratnip #3)

3.8

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Author(s)

Cam Higgins

Publisher

Little Simon

Genre(s)

Age Range

Release Date

May 27, 2025

ISBN

978-1665963527

Buy This Book

Ratnip goes for the gold in a citywide race in this third book of the chapter book series from the author of Good Dog.

Ratnip is entering the City Race, where critters race through the streets by climbing up poles, scurrying along telephone wires, and jumping across fences. Ratnip has his eye on the prize, but his competition is tough—especially the REAL gym rat! Can Ratnip prove himself fastest critter in the city?

With easy-to-read language and illustrations on almost every page, the Ratnip chapter books are perfect for emerging readers.

Editor review

1 review

Welcome to the ACTUAL Rat Race!

July 13, 2025 (Updated: July 01, 2026)

Overall rating

3.8

Plot

3.0

Characters

4.0

Writing Style

4.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

4.0

While engaging in a rousing game of Dodge the Trash on a windy day in the city with his brothers, Pepperoni and Veggie, Ratnip finds that he has some skill in running. Buoyed by confidence in his skills and the thought of magnificent prizes (that might look like keychains to humans), he decides to enter the City Race... the next day. He spends some time at a gym with trainer Flex and his daughter Pex, and is astonished at how hard they work. He is exhausted, but wakes up to do some agility training with a sibling. The race includes all manner of animals, but Ratnip does surprisingly well, keeping up with Pex, who is in the lead. Every time he thinks he might pull ahead, however, one of the other racers needs help, and Ratnip always stops to help. In the end, he doesn't win, but his parents give him a special medal for being the Most Valuable Ratnip.

Good Points

Good sportsmanship is something that takes a long time to develop in young children, so seeing examples like this is very helpful. Of course, Ratnip thinks he can win, even though he hasn't been putting in the preparation that Pex has, but he is kindhearted enough to stop and help without really thinking through the consequences. Pex isn't portrayed as being especially mean, but she is very focused on the race, which is okay, too. Ratnip's one day of training hasn't really put him in a good position to win, no matter how keen his Dodge the Trash skills are.

This is an early chapter book with larger print and fewer words on the page, somewhat similar to the format of Green's Sophie Mouse books. There are black and white illustrations on most pages, which will make this appealing to students who want to read more novels but struggling with the transition from graphic novels.

Ratnip is an energetic character, and readers who enjoy series will be glad to look for his further adventures. Higgins' Good Dog series, the Holms' Baby mouse books, and Fergus and Zeke have the same sort of good natured animal stories with easiest text and plentiful illustrations.