SOURCE: Spufford, Frances. “The Rat in the Hat.” Guardian (13 July 2002): 30.

In the following review of The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents, Spufford praises the selection of this book for the Carnegie Medal.

A talking rat is fighting for his life against a terrier, inside a circle of excited men who whoop and roar and snarl. Another rat bungee-jumps down from the rafters to rescue him. In the instant of astonishment before both rats are whisked skyward, the human onlookers just have time to notice that the rescuer is wearing a tiny boater on his head. He lifts it. “Good evening!” he squeaks.

This is a scene from The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents, which has just won Terry Pratchett the Carnegie Medal, children's literature's highest award. “Maurice” is a cat; the rats are accidental beneficiaries of a magic spillage; together with a daft-looking human boy who...