“Your meatball grinder is cold now. Do you want me to heat it up?”
The Infamous Ratsos, Project Fluffy by Kara LaReau,
“No, that’s OK,” Louis says. The grinder is cold and a little soggy, but he’s too hungry to care.
“You look tired,” says Big Lou.
“I’ve been trying to help a kid at school get a girl to notice him,” Louis says. “But Project Fluffy has been a disaster.”
“Maybe because Fluffy is a person and not a project,” Ralphie says, taking a bite of rocky road.
“Ralphie is right. Women aren’t projects or objects,” Big Lou notes. “When I first met your mom, I really wanted her to like me, so I figured out what she liked.”
illustrated by Matt Myers
The Infamous Ratsos is an adorable, hilarious series about brothers Louie and Ralph and their dad Big Lou. I’ve been straight up evangelizing this series to everyone I know. It’s become my absolute favorite. If you want an early reader series with funny pictures or a great read-aloud chapter book, this series is perfection. Added bonus, you’ll see a grown man cry with his sons, reminders that boys can be gentle and kind, lessons on respecting women, and so many other lessons. I cannot recommend this series enough.
The Infamous Ratsos are a great early reader chapter book or for introducing chapter books as a read-aloud. There’s lots of funny illustrations and large text.
For The Ratsos brothers, I made the meatball subs, or meatball grinders, that Louis eats cold after his long day. I figured they could use some extra veggies, so I simmered turkey meatballs in my hidden veggies tomato sauce and served the sandwiches on fresh French Bread. The French Bread recipe from Mel’s Kitchen Cafe is phenomenal. I’ve never had a bread turn out so beautifully.
Novel Bakery 
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