bak8382's review against another edition
4.0
Great audio production, and funny story about brothers who think being mean is "tough," but after all their "mean" acts end up being helpful they learn what being tough really means.
burstnwithbooks's review against another edition
3.0
This was cute! The concept is great and so is the lesson. However, it wasn't incredibly special. It would be fun to read with kids though.
worldlibraries's review against another edition
4.0
This book was really touching. I appreciated that it discussed something I never hear discussed - how tough are men and boys supposed to be? What is the cost of being tough? It would be a wonderful book for a father and his son between second and sixth grade to read together because it could prompt a discussion that might not come up otherwise. It also might be a great prompt for a mother and her daughters to discuss how expecting boys to be 'too tough' isn't fair to boys - look at the cost to their Dad in this book for his 'supertoughness.'
In addition to a family read, this book and its series would be a lovely addition to any library or classroom for encouraging beginning readers who like to tackle a serious topic with humor and reflection.
In addition to a family read, this book and its series would be a lovely addition to any library or classroom for encouraging beginning readers who like to tackle a serious topic with humor and reflection.
ashleyaewert's review against another edition
4.0
The Rastos brothers want to be tough just like their Dad Lou. However, every time they try doing something bad to be tough, they end up being kind and helpful instead. In the end they learn that by doing those things they are just like their mother and their dad couldn't be more proud of them.
snazel's review against another edition
5.0
Exploring the concept of what it really means to be Tough, and if you should want to, in a funny and touching way. Well done.
readingthroughtheages's review against another edition
4.0
What a fun new transitional chapter book!
The Ratso Brothers are tough and set out to prove that to everyone. But everything they do ends up accidentally helping someone. This is not helping their tough reputation!
The Ratso Brothers are tough and set out to prove that to everyone. But everything they do ends up accidentally helping someone. This is not helping their tough reputation!
limabean74's review against another edition
4.0
My son was so bored! Soooo I read him this book and he loved it. I thought it was super cute also. Everything the Ratso brothers try to do that is tough turns into helping someone else. This was a great book to read to your kids. I really enjoyed it...My son did too :)
abigailbat's review against another edition
4.0
I'm glad I saw this on Betsy Bird's list of 2016 chapter books because I never would have picked it up on my own and I'd have missed an unexpectedly touching story.
The Ratso brothers have to be tough like their dad. And being tough means you have to act tough and do things so that others will see how tough you are. Things like taking a kid's hat on the playground. But somehow their tough acts always get turned around into nice things for other people, like when they take that kid's hat they realize that that kid had swiped the hat from a smaller kid and now the Ratsos are heroes who stood up to a bully! What will the Ratsos do when their dad finds out all the "soft" nice things they've been doing around the neighborhood?
This early chapter book hit the right notes for me. It's funny how every "tough" thing they try somehow gets turned around into something kind for someone. And the book really ends on a touching note when their dad finds out what they've been doing.
This book has a lot to add on classroom discussions about citizenship and about bullying or being kind. It might be a great tool to use one on one with kids who are acting out because of situations at home.
The Ratso brothers have to be tough like their dad. And being tough means you have to act tough and do things so that others will see how tough you are. Things like taking a kid's hat on the playground. But somehow their tough acts always get turned around into nice things for other people, like when they take that kid's hat they realize that that kid had swiped the hat from a smaller kid and now the Ratsos are heroes who stood up to a bully! What will the Ratsos do when their dad finds out all the "soft" nice things they've been doing around the neighborhood?
This early chapter book hit the right notes for me. It's funny how every "tough" thing they try somehow gets turned around into something kind for someone. And the book really ends on a touching note when their dad finds out what they've been doing.
This book has a lot to add on classroom discussions about citizenship and about bullying or being kind. It might be a great tool to use one on one with kids who are acting out because of situations at home.