Rotten+Ralph

Written by Jack Gantos Illustrated by Nicole Rubel

Summary: The Rotten Ralph series includes 9 books about this character. Ralph tends to act up in many ways.

Alliteration: Ralph’s name includes an alliterative adjective that describes him. Students can identify other book characters and alliterative adjectives that describe them: Curious Clementine Goofy Gooney Bird Greene Courageous Clifford Then have readers think of an adjective that describes them that begins with the same letter as their first or last name.

Emotion Badge: Readers can make a Rotten Ralph Badge to wear when they are in a rotten mood. First they draw a picture of Ralph’s head on red construction paper. They trace around a cup for the head, add triangles for ears, and glues pieces of yarn for his whiskers. They can then add eyes and nose details with construction paper. The goal is for the reader to lose their rotten feelings, so limit the number of wearings, such as one rotten day per month. Or when they want to wear it, have them write down how they can get out of their “Rotten Ralph” mood.

Describing Ralph: After reading the book(s), have students find other words to describe Ralph’s actions. What else could we call Rotten Ralph. Is he always Rotten?

Rating Behavior: Read several of the Rotten Ralph books and then have kids get in small groups to rate Ralph's behavior--1 being the least rotten and 5 being most. What types of behaviors are really rotten and what can be tolerated?