Crazy Adventures With a Mouse and Robot in the Ricky Ricotta book series #RickyRicotta

Disclosure:  I received the products below to review in exchange for sharing my honest opinion.

My boys are not big readers but some books definitely draw their attention.  The Ricky Ricotta series is one that even I as a female adult wanted to read.  It is a comic book, a chapter book, and an adventure all rolled into one.  It is a series that my boys could not resist looking at, of course when I left them laying around rather than asking them to look at them.  My boys like to find their own books to read and if I push them to look at a certain one they no longer want to practice reading.  Luckily the Ricky Ricotta series is one that has four books (so far) and will keep my boys busy for awhile!

Who is the author behind the Ricky Ricotta series?

None other than Dave Pilkey himself, creator of Captain Underpants.  Dave along with Dan Santat, the illustrator behind several bestselling children’s books, have created an out-of-the-world friendship adventure with brand new full color illustrations and mini-comics throughout.

Who exactly is Ricky Ricotta?

Ricky Ricotta is a little mouse with BIG problems! Every day he is picked on by the neighborhood bullies. He lives in Squeakyville with his mother and father, and being an only mouse, he is often lonely. That is until SOMETHING BIG HAPPENS! A giant flying robot enters Ricky’s life and an unlikely friendship is born! Together, Ricky and his Robot must save the planet from a galaxy bursting with bad guys!

BOOK ONE: RICKY RICOTTA’S MIGHTY ROBOT

• Little Ricky Ricotta has a problem: the bullies at school pick on him all the time. Until one day, he saves the life of a mighty robot. Together, Ricky and his Robot face the bullies, and save Squeakyville from a giant evil lizard monster. That’s what friends are for!

ABOUT BOOK TWO: RICKY RICOTTA’S MIGHTY ROBOT VS MUTANT MOSQUITOS FROM MERCURY

• Mr. Mosquito hates Mercury. The days are so hot, they melt his flip-flops, and the nights are so cold, his toothpaste freezes solid! He’s decided to take over Earth instead. Ricky and his Robot must stop his army of massive Mutant Mosquitoes!

ABOUT BOOK THREE: RICKY RICOTTA’S MIGHTY ROBOT VS VOODOO VULTURES FROM VENUS

• Victor Von Vulture hates Venus. His toasted cheese sandwiches are always way too gooey, and ice cream melts in a second! So he and his army of Voodoo Vultures try to cast a spell on the Earth. It’s up to Ricky and his Robot to stop them!

ABOUT BOOK FOUR: RICKY RICOTTA’S MIGHTY ROBOT VS THE MECHA-MONKEYS FROM MARS

• Little Ricky Ricotta has a problem: the bullies at school pick on him all the time. Until one day, he saves the life of a mighty robot. Together, Ricky and his Robot face the bullies, and save Squeakyville from a giant evil lizard monster. That’s what friends are for!

I would recommend this book series for any kids ages 6 and up.  My boys are 6 and 7 years old and while they cannot read these books on their own they love the illustrations and practicing reading it with me.  It is suggested for grades kindergarten to 3rd grade, obviously better readers would be able to fly through the series on their own.  Oh and in case you think you heard of Ricky Ricotta before, you are not crazy.  This Ricky Ricotta series is not new (it was originally published in 2000) but rather it has been re-illustrated so kids of a new generation can enjoy it and so new installments can be added.

What I love about the books is that they have positive messages in a way kids will understand.  The story is about a small mouse who is bullied until he becomes friends with a robot. I don’t know about other boys, but my boys were sold when they heard there was a robot in the book.  The two unlikely friends have adventures and the awesome illustrations inside help bring it together.  There are even flip pages inside to break up the reading and show off silly scenes.  The book screams kids with names like “Dr. Stinky McNasty” and “mutant mosquitoes.”  I find my boys laying on the floor flipping through this books often and it has definitely sparking an interest in reading in them, finally!

Stay Connected:

Ricky Ricotta WEBSITE | Learn about the author Dave Pilkey | Scholastic TWITTER | Scholastic Parents FACEBOOK

Check out more about the book:

And some additional Ricky Ricotta fun:

• Check out the Classroom  Guide
• View the Book Trailer
• Play the Make Your Own Robot Game
• Read Chapter Excerpts & a Mini-Comic Excerpt
• Download the Character Cards
• Check out Ricky Ricotta Printables

BUY IT:  You can find the Ricky Ricotta series on Amazon for a suggested retail of $5.99 or wherever books are sold.

WIN IT:  (1) US winner will receive a “CONQUER THE PLANETS: BEAT RICKY & THE ROBOT’S VILLAINS” Prize Pack

Prizing includes:

• 3-D Glow-in-the-Dark Solar System
• Ricky Ricotta’s Mighty Robot
• Ricky Ricotta’s Mighty Robot vs Mutant Mosquitos from Mercury
• Ricky Ricotta’s Mighty Robot vs the Voodoo Vultures from Venus
• Ricky Ricotta’s Mighty Robot vs The Mecha-Monkeys from Mars.

Need help entering a giveaway?  Check out my blog post for some help!

GIVEAWAY ENTRY:

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This Giveaway Ends October 3, 2014.