THE INFAMOUS RATSOS - Kara LaReau (writer) & Matt Myers (illustrator)

A fun, funny, and beautifully illustrated (as well as written) children's book, The Infamous Ratsos is a  (deservedly) 2017 Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Book about a pair of brothers who want nothing more than to prove to their father, Big Lou, that they are just as tough - even as their ages - as he is.  To that end, when left on their own while Big Lou works, the boys contrive to get into as much trouble as possible, causing havoc and showing off to the neighbors how bad they are ... yet somehow, with every naughty deed older brother Louie comes up with, aided by younger brother Ralphie, somehow the boys end up doing quite good deeds instead, proving nothing to their neighbors but what fine, upstanding young boys they are!  Fearful that Big Lou will hear of this, Louis and Ralphie plot each scheme bigger than the last to prove their toughness ... in what, in the end, is an extremely well-done and very endearing charmer of a chapter-book, again beautifully-illustrated, that even adults can enjoy.  4.5/5 stars