Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat - by Lynne Jonell

A rat who can talk, a girl whose parents seem to have forgotten she exists, a beautiful but nasty nanny with a curious cane and an unhealthy interest in health food, and a very tiny soccer player.  These elements combine with interesting illustrations and a quick and mysterious plot to create an enjoyable adventure.  If you love rats, or brave girls, or perhaps supernatural powers, you may want to read this book.  

Emmy is a lonely girl, who nobody pays much attention to.  When she becomes friends with her classroom pet, things begin to get interesting, and before long she's in a headlong race to save her friends, her family, and herself, before it's too late.  This makes a good class read-aloud, so good in fact that it inspired me to write a song, posted below.  Enjoy! (I make no claims to be a good singer or guitar player, simply a brave one.)