• Age: 3 to 7
• Grade: 2 to 12

An inventive rat saves the day with perseverance, creativity, kindness, and some helpful hats

Louie the rat loves turning not-so-useful things into ingenious inventions, but none of the other rats in town seem to appreciate his odd, often ineffective gadgets. One day, Louie notices his fellow rats wearing some not-so-useful hats: huge hats that don’t fit through doorways, heavy hats that are difficult to walk in, and ridiculous hats that make it impossible to see. Inspired, Louie decides to make some useful hats for the town. From his never-ending supply of discarded things, he makes wool hats for warmth, wide-brimmed hats for shade, and hard hats for safety.

The other rats don’t seem to care about his hats, until a few acts of kindness from Louie grab their attention. And when a crisis strikes, Louie uses his talents to craft a hat useful enough to save the entire town!

This delightful tale of big ideas and generous acts highlights the importance of tenacity and a growth mindset. Readers and young makers will draw confidence from Louie’s resourcefulness and enjoy a visual feast of inventions to point out and ponder on each page.

Sakshi Mangal is naturally drawn toward the fascinating world of children's book illustration--- the bold colors and scribbly lines inspire her work. Drawing inspiration from her own childhood, she finds immense joy in imagining the world through children's eyes where bears are getting ready for a tea party and the squirrels are dancing to Spring. She grew up in the colorful city of Mumbai, India, and then moved to England to complete a master's degree from the Cambridge School of Art in Children's Book Illustration. Since then, she has been illustrating and developing picture books from her home studio in Vancouver, Canada, where she spends her day creating new book ideas and working on her favorite picture book projects. Every year, Sakshi spends months in her hometown, Mumbai, to seek inspiration from its rich cultural heritage, the colorful bazaars and centuries-old streets, and to explore the mouthwatering Indian cuisine.

Sakshi Mangal's profile page

"The illustrations are so clever, so many fun things to look at on every page. The huge hats were hilarious, and sweet Louie ... such a darling story. A great example of growth mindset, repurposing, conservation, and being resourceful."

Kiss the Book

[The illustrations] are amusing, and Louie is adorable."

Kirkus Reviews

"Themes of determination, resourcefulness, imagination, and kindness, will resonate with children who like to design, invent, and build their own creations. Plus, the theme of perseverance is sure to motivate readers to keep on inventing—and re-inventing!"

Children’s Literature Comprehensive Database

"This aspirational tale of a rat named Louie shows us once again that the struggle to be creative has its ups and downs."

Canadian Review of Materials