Ralph, that brave mouse in a million, here returns in a further adventure that takes him into the mysterious place known as school. Now, for the first time, his full name is revealed: Ralph S. Mouse. As his friend Ryan Bramble explains in a forced introduction to teacher and classmates, the S stands for Smart.

Ralph knows he is intelligent—after all, he can ride a motorcycle with consider- able skill—but his classroom experiences are enough to shake anyone's confidence. Miss Kuckenbacker, the teacher, suggests that Ryan build a maze for Ralph to run as part of a mouse exhibit, so Ralph can show how smart he is. A local reporter comes to write up the exhibit, but her inaccurate article simply serves to launch an investigation into rodent infestation of the school.

Only Beverly Cleary could imagine in such perfect, humorous detail how the sometimes harsh human world might seem to a defenseless mouse. Despite odds, however, this endearing, vulner- able hero perseveres, and children once again will be able to cheer his triumph over adversity.
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