Mortimer: Rat Race to Space

$14.00

A spot on the International Space Station (ISS) has opened up, and Mortimer, the journal-keeping lab rat, is not about to miss his chance to become an intergalactic space rat. And that’s just the first step in his master scheme to prove that rats are much better suited than humans when it comes to colonizing Mars.

Mortimer sets out to expose the impracticality of human astronauts by conducting experiments and recording the evidence for YouTube. As far as he’s concerned, pellet-eating rats are much easier to feed than fussy humans, and just think of all the unwashed underthings floating around the galaxy — especially when compared to the versatile rattail!

But when Mortimer’s schemes go awry, he is forced to face new truths about dreams, friendship, and choosing the right thing to do. Maybe not everything is a rat race.

  • Shortlisted, Red Cedar Children’s Choice Book Award, British Columbia, 2024 (winner will be announced in spring 2024)
  • Listed in Best Books for Kids & Teens, Canadian Children’s Book Centre, Spring 2023
  • Toronto Public Library TD Summer Book Program recommended title, 2023

Read an excerpt.

Watch the book trailer.

See Joan’s author talk on Mortimer.

Download the Teacher’s Guide.


“An absolutely charming adventure. Fans of The Secret of NIMH will love this!” 

― Robert J. Sawyer, Hugo award-winning author of Far-Seer

“Mortimer’s adventures provide an exciting and funny story for readers to follow along. With a narrator like Mortimer, readers are never bored and are always laughing at his jokes and pranks. Galat has written a story with an extremely loveable nar-rat-tor, a character readers will remember for a long time to come.” Highly Recommended.

― Deanna Feuer ― CM Magazine

“It’s a beautiful combination of storytelling and non-fiction. Joan Marie Galat seamlessly integrates so much fascinating information about astronauts and the ISS while telling an engaging story about a determined little lab rat.”

― Storytime with Stephanie via Instagram

“A fun, fast-paced adventure, perfect for kids who love animals or outer space.”

― L.E. Carmichael, author of The Boreal Forest: A Year in the World’s Largest Biome

“Details about the space station come alive as the story unfolds. A fun read and the 27 chapters move along at a quick pace. A perfect addition to the middle grade shelves.”

― Greg Pattridge ― Always in the Middle…

Description

Product details

  • Reading Age: 9-12 years
  • Publisher: ‎DCB, an imprint of Cormorant Books Inc.
  • Release date: Sept. 24 2022
  • ISBN-10:‎ 1770866531
  • ISBN-13: ‎ 978-1770866539
  • Language: ‎ English
  • Paperback: 192 pages
  • Dimensions: 5.375” x 8”

Available anywhere books are sold. Please consider supporting your nearest independent book store. Also available on Amazon.

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JOAN MARIE GALAT