Space Station Rat

2008-10-04T06:12:00.000-07:00

GROWN-UP RAT FAN SAYS:

I have been looking for some good science fiction books for my precocious 5
year old reader, and had been having no luck. I happened across your book
in the library; it looked a little long, but I thought I would read it and
see if it would be the sort of thing he could read. I have to say, it was
pretty terrific. When I finished, my first thought was: "What happens next?
I hope there is a sequel!"

There is precious little science fiction for
this age group, and what there is is either old (1970's-80's) or poorly
written. What a great surprise to find your book. I love your attention to
scientific detail without being overwhelming with vocabulary. I also love
rats. Not very many people realize what pleasant creatures they are (I
tried out Despereaux before your book, which was also good, but the rats
were terribly mean!). Ever since reading MRS FRISBY AND THE RATS OF NIMH
I have been enamored of the idea of intelligent rats.

Another thing I loved about your book was that Rat was female. Often,
sci-fi is aimed at boys, and has very few female characters. I know she was
a rat, but she was smart, resourceful, and independent.

Mom being the main scientist was also great. Nothing wrong with male scientists, of course,
it's just usually taken for granted, so it's great for boys to see women in
science. One of the main drawbacks for women in scientific fields is having
to break into the boys' club and being treated like an outsider. Books like
yours help boys realize that everyone can belong in science (while being
inspiring to girls as well) without hitting the reader over the head with
it.

I enjoyed your book very much, and if I can find them in the bookstore, I
will definitely buy both for my son - and hopefully more of your books in
the future. Best of luck with your writing career.

{note: RAT books are available in your local bookstores and online! And, of course, there are more Rat & Jeff adventures now in RAT TRAP}

2008-01-17T11:20:00.000-08:00

The Sequel is Coming!

Yes, fans, Rat & Jeff are back with a new adventure.
Here is the prologue:

Nanny

Alone
In the dark
And the dust
Emergency power running low
Remember
A boy
A rat
The smell of liverwurst.
Remember...

And the story goes on---

2008-01-10T09:37:00.000-08:00

RAT now in paperback!
Ever wanted to own your own RAT, cheap? Now is your chance. Space Station Rat has just been put into a paperback edition by Holiday House. Ask for your copy at your local bookseller or online and be sure to tell your school or town library to get a copy for everyone.

Thanks to all of RAT's fans who took her home between those expensive hard covers. You have made sales strong enough to keep the book alive and move it into this more affordable version.

2007-11-01T14:17:00.000-07:00

New Book by the author of Space Station Rat

If you liked the fast pace and amazing world of RAT, be sure to look into this new space adventure by Michael J. Daley.

Learn more at http://michaeljdaley.com --- chapter excerpt, reviews, school visits, more!

2007-11-01T14:09:00.000-07:00

RAT glimpsed on DVD!

Catch a glimpse of Space Station Rat author, Michael J. Daley, on a brief DVD clip at the link below. The three minute segment is part of a promotional DVD featuring all the authors and their books nominated for the 2008 Sequoyah Award. If you are in Oklahoma, you can obtain copies of the DVD at this same link. Go to http://www.sequoyahdvd.com/

2007-10-18T11:40:00.000-07:00

GET LOST WITH RAT!
New FUN Rat Maze Game
download and play at: http://www.holidayhouse.com/HH/docs/Space%20Station%20Rat%20-%20The%20Maze.PDF

2007-03-31T08:08:00.000-07:00

RAT SIGHTING IN MISSOURI
In early March, nearly 3,000 people caught a glimpse of RAT in the book exhibit hall at the 39th Children's Literature Festival in Warrensburg, Missouri. Over 250 kids got a personal introduction to RAT by attending a presentation by author Michael J. Daley. He read from the first chapter and other highlights of Space Station Rat. The kids got to meet RAT and JEFF and NANNY. They really liked hearing some of the emails between Rat and Jeff!

Did you attend the festival and hear RAT? Any comments to share with others?
Other fans, why not tell us some of your favorite parts in Space Station Rat?

2007-03-31T08:05:00.000-07:00

MORE HONORS FOR RAT
Space Station Rat has been named to another state award: Oklahoma's 2008 Sequoyah Children's Masterlist.

Are you a reader from Oklahoma? Let us know what you think about Rat!

2007-01-08T11:03:00.000-08:00

FANS ASK: Why did you want to be an author?
One reason is so that I could use my imagination all the time! Another is so that I could share what's in my head with other people. Rat is a wonderful creature, isn't she? And Nanny? And Jeff is a neat boy, too. Aren't you glad you got to meet them? I'm sure glad they came to life in my imagination and that I found the words to share them with you.

2006-12-07T14:51:00.000-08:00

RAVES FOR RAT

"...this far out animal fantasy is light years ahead of the competition." ---The Bulletin, July 2005

"A thoughtful and satisfying adventure..." ---School Library Journal, Aug 2005

"Short, snappy sentences...create a fast-paced story sure to please sf buffs." ---Booklist, July 2005
full review SLJ & Booklist:http://www.amazon.com/Space-Station-Rat-Michael-Daley/dp/0823418669/sr=8-1/qid=1165531263/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-0211481-0561767?ie=UTF8&s=books

"There's excitement, there's suspense, there's mystery. And best of all, there's some unanswered questions that mean we're in for a sequel!"
---Thunder Child Reviews, Dec. 2005
full reveiw at:http://thethunderchild.com/Reviews/Books/Childrens/SpaceStationRat.html

2006-12-04T13:16:00.000-08:00

Scritch-rip! Scritch-rip!
Tsk tsk tsk tsk
Pffsss-ssit!
Zizz-zizz

Some of the Noises of Space Station Rat. Journalist Jennifer De Paul , writing for the Keene Sentinel, asked the author about those noises in a July 17, 2005 interview---

KS: There are many strange noises in the book, constantly reminding the reader of noises the characters make. Why did you include these?
Daley: Sounds are fun. They come naturally to me. It's often a challenge to put sounds in [to words]. I spent a long time pulling Velcro apart to hear what it sounds like. Hopefully it's accurate so readers become familiar with the sound to tell them something is moving in the story.

Can you identify what or who made the sounds listed at the beginning of this post?

2006-11-16T11:03:00.000-08:00

RAT SIGHTING IN SOUTH DAKOTA
Space Station Rat has been nominated to the 2007-2008 South Dakota Children's Book Award list!
Are you a reader from South Dakota? We'd love to hear from you.
The full list of nominees:
http://www.sdstatelibrary.com/forkids/prairie/SDLABookAwards0708.pdf

2006-10-22T13:44:00.000-07:00

FANS ASK: What inspired you to write about a rat in space?
Look on page 3 of Space Station Rat and you will read: "A space station was a serious place. It was a clean place. It was no place for Rat." Almost those exact words came into my head about nine years ago. They were the inspiration for RAT.

2006-10-12T08:09:00.000-07:00

RAT Sighting in New Hampshire
Kids in Dover, NH are reading Space Station Rat. Rat is on the Dover Public Library's list for the Cochecho Award along with 22 other children's titles chosen from notable books published in the past three years. Learn more at

http://www.dover.lib.nh.us/Childrens'Room/childrenpages/Cochecho.htm

Are you in Dover? Have you read RAT? Let us know what you think!

2006-09-29T12:22:00.000-07:00

"Clever Boy!" --- A review about RAT

To read the full review go to:
http://farah-sf.blogspot.com/2006_02_01_farah-sf_archive.html

Do you have a review to share?

2006-09-23T07:17:00.000-07:00

FANS ASK: Do Scientists Put Robots in Space?
Yes they do, all the time. The Mars Rovers are robots. The space probes off exploring the planets of our solar system are robots. The arms on the space shuttle and the International Space Station are robots. So far, none of these robots has been as fancy--or crazy!--as Nanny.

2006-09-21T13:29:00.000-07:00

RAT SIGHTING IN RHODE ISLAND!
Space Station Rat has been nominated for the 2006 Rhode Island Summer Reading contest.
We would love to hear from anyone involved in that program.
If you want to learn more go to: http://www.lori.ri.gov/srp/ricba.php

2006-09-19T09:12:00.000-07:00

RAT'S NEST FOUND IN HOME!
A mother is reading Space Station rat to her young son a few pages at a time. Recently, she came home to find a huge pile of shredded newspaper on the bed.
"What's that?" the mother asked.
"I don't know," shrugged the young boy. "Must be Rat!"

2006-09-17T07:13:00.000-07:00

This blog has been created to present news about the book Space Station Rat; the author, and the people who want to know more about RAT---or would like to share their own news about RAT.
I am the author. I hope to add new items to this blog about once a week.