The Rat in the Sock Hat

3 a s a f e e r . c o m

Author: Sayida Ibrahim

Illustrator: Hanan Al-Karaji

The original work of this book was made possible through the generous support of the All Children Reading: A Grand Challenge for Development (ACR GCD) Partners (the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), World Vision, and the Australian Government). It was prepared by Asafeer Education Technologies FZ LLC and does not necessarily reflect the views of the ACR GCD Partners. Any adaptation or translation of this work should not be considered an official ACR GCD translation and ACR GCD shall not be liable for any content or error in this translation.

Professor Rocca was a botanist. He was preparing his farm for a visit from his two grandchildren, Apricot and Mandarin, who were coming in two weeks. They were going to spend their summer vacation with him.

But at the end of the day, a strange rat appeared. He wandered around the the Professor’s house with a sock hat on his head. “How odd,” Professor Rocca said. “I’ll get rid of him quickly before my grandchildren arrive.”

So he got a fat cat with long whiskers to chase the rat out of the house.

But the cat just took cat naps and the rat stayed right where he was. He showed up at the house every day to steal more socks for his hat collection. Professor Rocca didn’t know what to do. Now he was really worried about that rat bothering his grandchildren.

The day finally came and his grandchildren arrived. When they saw him, they ran to hug him, their arms opened wide.

Late that night, Mandarin heard a noise under her bed. She was so scared and said, “Apricot, will you look under the bed for me? That noise really scared me!” When Apricot looked, there was the rat in the sock hat but he quickly ran out of sight.

The next morning, Professor Rocca got a trap and said, “What do you think of this?” “But you put nuts in instead of cheese,” noticed Mandarin. “It’s because that’s how mice are really pleased!” said Grandpa.

The rat smelled the nuts but before he ate, he thought, “This could be a trap” and he quickly escaped.

He knew it was a trick so he put one of Professor Rocca’s socks onto a stick and put it in the trap instead!

The next morning, the Professor found his sock but not that rat. He promised the children he would take care of that.

Professor Rocca decided to declare plant war. He couldn’t take the situation any more. He prepared for battle, grabbing a peppermint plant and some black peppercorns.

Professor Rocca said, “Rodents hate the smell of peppermint oil and with these black peppercorn bombs, we’ll be sure to drive him out.” Apricot yelled, “Let’s get him!”

But that clever rat pullled a mask out of his hat and then went about stealing another one of Apricot’s socks.

Professor Rocca decided to activate his big weapons. He said, “I have a trick, it’s quick and effective.” Mandarin asked, “Could it have something to do with these strange plants?”

“But of course!” the professor cried, “These plants are called Venus flytraps. They mainly feed on flies, but they can also eat rats, frogs and lizards. He won’t get away this time.”

Over the next few days, the two grandchildren couldn’t keep their eyes off the Venus flytraps. The flytraps caught plenty of bugs, but not a single rat wearing a sock hat.

One night they heard a shout. They were sure they had caught the rat!

When they went to see where the sound came from, they found the fat cat’s tail was stuck in the jaws of a venus flytrap.

While that rat in the sock hat was laughing at the fat cat, Professor Rocca’s net came down just like that!

THE END