Ratty's Big Adventure

Ratty's Big Adventure, a beautifully illustrated picture book by Lara Hawthorne, invites readers to join a mysterious creature as he explores the outside world for the very first time. However, the world is not what he expects it to be! Will his adventure teach him there is no place like home?

Ratty is an ENORMOUS woolly, vegetarian rat who resides deep within the crater of an ancient volcano nestled in the rainforest. One day, he spots a particularly delicious-looking fruit high in the treetops and decides to venture out to reach it. From this vantage point, a spectacular view of the world outside his mountain crater stretches before him. Ratty imagines that in this big outside world, the fruit must be much sweeter, the bird songs more beautiful, and the other animals far more interesting and sophisticated. Driven by curiosity, he sets off in search of better things. However, when a crocodile—who seems just a bit too friendly—invites him to a dinner party, Ratty realises that perhaps there is no place like home after all.

Inspired by the recent scientific breakthroughs at Mount Bosavi, where over 40 new species of animals and plants were identified, Lara Hawthorne seamlessly combines story and fact in this picture book. Ratty's Big Adventure celebrates the diversity of life and the importance of being thankful for what you have!