This is the second in The Ratbridge Chronicles. However, like the first it is a stand-alone novel in its own right. It’s a tale of pirates, poison and monsters and swashbuckling adventure on the high seas as the doctor of Ratbridge and various erstwhile friends go on a crazy voyage to find the missing ingredient to a marvelous medicine that will cure everything. Illustrated throughout with hundreds of the author’s incredible black and white drawings, this irresistible novel will entrance readers of all ages and mums and dads too. Also perfect for reading aloud with children as the pages are chock full of illustrations. There is also a fantastic website – www.ratbridgechronicles.co.uk – where kids will find downloadable posters and wallpapers and much much more.
Worse Things Happen at Sea: The Ratbridge Chronicles Vol 2 Synopsis
A mysterious doctor has arrived in Ratbridge touting 'Black Jollop'; a wonder cure for all ills. As the townsfolk flock to the doc, Arthur's grandfather is one of the first to take the medicine, but disaster strikes when supplies run out. Meanwhile, the Nautical Laundry has money troubles. Without drastic action the band of rats and pirates who live on the ship won't stay afloat. So when the doctor offers a princely sum for a far away voyage to gather ingredients for his cure, the crew jumps at the chance to save their ship. Accompanying them are Marjorie the inventor and Willbury Nibble. Unbeknown to them, Arthur has stowed away with his friend Fish, the boxtroll. And a good job too, because a nasty surprise is afoot when the new captain is revealed as an old enemy, along with the truth about the disastrous side effect of the medicine ...and it all comes down to one thing: CHEESE! It's up to Arthur and Fish to save the crew and find the antidote. But first they have to get past the monster guarding the island ...
Alan Snow is an award-winning children’s book illustrator and designer who has worked on more than 160 books. His novel, Here Be Monsters (OUP, 2005), was made into an animated film, The Boxtrolls, which spent several weeks at the top of the UK box office in 2015. Fascinated with ‘how things work’, Alan turned his attentions towards the kitchen, acquiring sophisticated equipment such as vacuum machine, centrifuge, freeze dryer and shock chiller, and has developed his own culinary ‘lab’. He has since consulted for The Ethicurian restaurant. Alan now runs workshops and courses for professional chefs and cooks. His gastronomic experiments are due to be filmed for a documentary. Alan has won numerous awards for his work as a children’s book illustrator as well as for design and computer animation.
