"As seen on The Crafty Rat"

Zatoichi reading the book Walter: The Story of a Rat

by Barbara Wersba and illustrator Donna Diamond 

A Remarkable Reading Rat Named Zatoichi
    by PapaRattzie     

This is the story of a little white rat that had a long journey until he met the special people who became his family. Zat recently passed away but his story always touches me.

Zatoichi (Zat) was named after a very famous Japanese folk hero. He was

a blind samurai and a man of peace, but no one would let him be. Just like

my little Zatoichi, he was found on the streets. Zat was cornered by a cat

and his tail was hurt. Someone had thrown him in an ice chest and shut

the lid in the hot summer heat of California. He barely lived to be rescued.

But, an angel of a lady found him, managed to revive him, and brought

him to an adoption fair. It was there, while I was filming a TV story that

"Julius", (that was his name back then) got on my shoulder, and stayed for

over two hours. I think he wanted to come home with me, so he did. Now

he is "the light of my life", and I dearly love him. He lives in our bedroom so

he will not be lonely, and he gets only the best of the best of everything

including lots of play and the best care.

Well, enough of that part of the story. The most special thing about Zat is

that I noticed he would always hang out with the books I was reading. If one

was open, he would sit on the page and look at it, especially the pictures.

And sometimes, he will look up at me, as if to say, I understand daddy...

He began dragging books over to my elbow at night. He would try to open

the cover, but they were usually a little awkward, so I open the cover and he

just lights up with enthusiasm! Then, he scans the pages and looks intently

at the pictures. What is it that he sees? Can he really read? He is, after all,

not educated as far as I know. And, rats can't read can they?

Zat will look at three or four pages and then, with a contented look, put his

little head down and go to sleep. He is truly "the light of my life" 

Used with permission from The Crafty Rat, and Raleigh Adams. Original story & Photo by: Raleigh Adams, A.K.A. Paparattzie. Story & Photo was edited for content by The Crafty Rat

for the Remarkable Rat Project.