Ratz-Fatz Rulebook

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

• Contents of the Box
  • The 36 Game Figures
• Overview
• Game 1: Watch Out! (Pass auf!)
• Game 2: Grab It! (Greif zu!)
• Game 3: Look Closely! (Schau hin!)
• Texts for Reading Aloud
  • 1. Animal Party (Tierisches Fest)
  • 2. The Little Cloud Lisa (Die kleine Wolke Lisa)
  • 3. At Leo's Farm (Auf Leos Bauernhof)
  • 4. Feast in the Forest (Festmahl im Wald)
• Riddles and Rhymes
  • 5. It is ... (Es ist ...)
  • 6. Listen Well, Grab Quick! (Hör gut zu, fass schnell hin!)
  • 7. The Green Hen (Das grüne Huhn)
  • 8. The Animal Olympics (Die Tierolympiade)
  • 9. Has a Coat ... (Hat ein Fell ...)
  • 10. Rhyme Grabber (Reimgreifer)
  • 11. Hidden (Versteckt)
• Translation Notes

Contents of the Box

• 36 coloured wooden game figures
• 10 counters (Spielsteine)
• 1 booklet (Spielheft)

The 36 Game Figures

Car, Tree, Bench, Pear, Roof, Egg, Duck, Flag, Fish, Heart, Rooster, Hare, Hat, Hen, Dog, Cat, Cheese, Boy, Biscuit, Cherries, Clothes peg, Spoon, Mouse, Girl, Mushroom, Deer, Ring, Sheep, Star, Chair, Fir tree, Tower, Clock, Wild boar, Cloud, Goat.

(The booklet's German names are: Auto, Baum, Bank, Birne, Dach, Ei, Ente, Fahne, Fisch, Herz, Hahn, Hase, Hut, Huhn, Hund, Katze, Käse, Junge, Keks, Kirschen, Klammer, Löffel, Maus, Mädchen, Pilz, Reh, Ring, Schaf, Stern, Stuhl, Tanne, Turm, Uhr, Wildschwein, Wolke, Ziege.)

Overview

The booklet contains three game ideas (Spielideen). Each game is played with one reader, who reads a story, poem or riddle from the booklet aloud. The children listen and react to the game figures named in the text.

In all games one person must read aloud or make up their own story!

The booklet includes the following texts, which are arranged by age and difficulty:

No.	Title	Type	Age
1	Animal Party (Tierisches Fest)	Poem	from 3
2	The Little Cloud Lisa (Die kleine Wolke Lisa)	Story	from 3
3	At Leo's Farm (Auf Leos Bauernhof)	Story	from 4
4	Feast in the Forest (Festmahl im Wald)	Poem	from 4
5	It is ... (Es ist ...)	Riddle	from 4
6	Listen Well, Grab Quick! (Hör gut zu, fass schnell hin!)	Riddle	from 4

Game 1: Watch Out! (Pass auf!)

Learning game for individual children from age 3 and one reader.

Goal: Recognise the named piece, grab it and take it.

Setup: All game figures are spread out on the table. The counters are placed separately beside them.

Gameplay: A story or poem is chosen and read aloud (e.g. text no. 1, 2 or 3).

• While reading, the child listens carefully.
• Watch out: when a game figure lying on the table is named, grab the figure and take it.
• Does the child notice that a figure is named a further time? As a reward, the child may take one counter.

End of game: The game ends when the story has been read to the end. Together with the child, check whether it has recognised and taken all the figures that were named.

Variant for children from age 5: Each named figure is returned to the box. When the story has been read to the end, the child tries to list the named figures in order, as they were read aloud in the story.

Game 2: Grab It! (Greif zu!)

Action game for 2 to 6 quick children from age 4 and one reader.

Goal: Grab the named pieces as quickly as possible.

Setup: All game figures are spread out on the table. The counters are placed separately.

Gameplay: A text is chosen and read aloud (e.g. no. 4, 7 or 9).

• Is a game figure lying on the table named? Grab it quickly! Whoever first has a hand on the figure may take it.
• Is a figure named again? Whoever notices this and is first to call out "That's already gone!" receives a counter as a reward.

End of game: When the story has been read to the end, the game ends. The player with the most game figures and counters in front of them wins.

Note: Not all figures appear in every story. When the story has been read to the end, some figures are often still lying on the table and remain unused (exception: text 6).

Game 3: Look Closely! (Schau hin!)

Learning game for 2 to 6 children from age 5 with sharp eyes and one reader.

Goal: Name pieces that are hidden in the box.

Setup: Ten game figures of your choice are spread out on the table. All other figures remain in the closed box. The counters are placed ready.

Gameplay: A text is chosen and read aloud (e.g. no. 1, 2 or 9).

• Is a figure named that lies on the table? Nothing happens.
• Is a figure named that is not on the table, but lies in the closed box? Whoever notices this calls out the term very quickly. Then the box is checked:
  • Called correctly? The child who called out receives one of the figures lying on the table as a reward.
  • Called wrongly? If the figure does lie on the table after all, the child who called out must give the child who noticed the mistake one of the figures already captured.
• Is a figure named that a child already has in front of them? Whoever calls out "That's already gone!" receives a counter.

End of game: The game ends when no game figure is left on the table. Whoever has won the most figures and counters wins.

Texts for Reading Aloud

The stories, poems and riddles follow below. Each one is read aloud by the reader, following the rules of the game being played.

1. Animal Party (Tierisches Fest)

Poem for children from age 3.

At midday in Klammerstadt all the animals are rather flat. On a roof lies round as a ball a small, fat, lazy hound. On silent paws the cat creeps near and gives him a light swat with her paw. Then the clock on the tower strikes half past one and Hare Hoppel comes racing up. Pig Veronika greets them all and calls out: "Are all the animals here?" The duck waddles up in a rush, together with the goat, quickly to the spot. Susann the hen lays one more egg, the proud rooster couldn't care less. Even the deer comes to visit, wearing a fine scarf around its neck. Then the sheep bleats: "The table is missing nothing but the wet, cold fish!" The fish swims up. "Is everyone here? Then raise the flag. Tra-la!"

2. The Little Cloud Lisa (Die kleine Wolke Lisa)

Story for children from age 3.

Before the searched-for term is read aloud, a short pause may be inserted to make it easier.

Once upon a time, long ago, a white thread appeared in the blue sky. From it became a white ball of wool and finally a tiny cloud: Lisa.

Slowly she drifted over the land and looked down at the earth. It was late summer; on the fields the full ears of grain swayed in the wind, and the animals had lain down in the shade away from the hot sun's rays. Our little Lisa sank lower, to see exactly what was happening on the earth.

On the road a rooster strutted along, showing off his magnificent plumage. Under a fir tree a hare nibbled contentedly at an old pear. Lisa had grown tired from all the flying and looking and landed on a tower. But on the smooth roof she could not hold on and slid down. She became frightened.

Suddenly she was caught by something pointed and got stuck. As the cloud tried to free herself, a girl and a boy came walking by on the road below. The boy called out: "Look, what's hanging on the hand of the clock!" "I can't really make it out," answered the other child, "is it perhaps a blanket?" "I think it is more likely a mushroom!" Then Lisa called out anxiously from above: "No, I am a cloud! Can't you help me? I'm stuck here. Please."

The children talked it over. The girl thoughtfully turned her ring. Both then asked Lisa to wait a few minutes: "Soon the big hand will move. When it is half past four, it will turn downward. Then you can slide down very easily and you will be free. We will catch you then."

The cloud thanked them, and indeed a short time later she slid off the hand and straight into the arms of the girl. Lisa thanked them effusively and, exhausted, flew to the next tree.

3. At Leo's Farm (Auf Leos Bauernhof)

Story for children from age 4.

Early in the morning Leo lies awake in bed and is already waiting for the first crow of the rooster. Then he gets up, takes his trousers from the chair and gets dressed. After washing he has breakfast: a slice of bread with cheese and a pear. Whistling, he trots into the barn. Cheerfully he wishes the sheep and the goat a good morning and checks whether his hen has laid another egg.

A mouse scurries past. The cat jumps down from the roof and startles the dog. Then engine sounds can be heard, and a car drives into the yard. It is the neighbour with his two children. The girl carefully carries a small duck. It is Leo's duck, which has once again run away.

Leo thanks them. To the girl he gives a sparkling ring, and to the boy a colourful little flag.

When the visitors have gone again, Leo puts on his hat, goes to the big tower and checks the time on the large clock. He sits down on the bench by the tall tree, eats cherries and, for dessert, a biscuit. Then he goes into the forest and stands by a fir tree. He watches the deer, notices that the wild boars have had young, and watches the hares cleaning their spoons.

At the forest lake he sits down on the bank, builds a small boat and lets it float. At once it is surrounded by curious fish. Leo's heart leaps with joy.

In the early evening a few clouds appear on the horizon. Leo strolls home and enjoys the beautiful day.

4. Feast in the Forest (Festmahl im Wald)

Poem for children from age 4.

A hare sat on a bench, a girl sat down beside him. She had brought fresh cherries along, and they ate them in peace.

The clock on the tower struck two, not a single cloud was to be seen. The flag fluttered in the wind. A small sheep stopped.

"Have you brought something for me? A carrot, a mushroom, or the like?" The girl offered him cheese. "Oh yes, that would do."

The hen took a chair for herself and laid an egg for the feast. The rooster flew around crowing – then the hare ran off.

A deer peeked out from behind a tree and wished: "Enjoy your meal!" A boy came along with the cat and the dog and brought a pear.

A car stopped. A man in a hat and with a biscuit stepped out. A wild boar jumped onto the car roof and ate the biscuit. Applause!

The duck rode on a fish, the mouse swung a spoon. But alas, they came too late: the feast was already over.

Variant: The game figures (except the heart, clothes peg, ring, star, fir tree and goat) are shared out evenly among the children. Several terms are hidden in each four-line verse. When a verse has been read to the end, the children place in the middle the game figures named in that verse.

Riddles and Rhymes

5. It is ... (Es ist ...)

Riddle for children from age 4.

Each line gives two or three clues about one game figure; the answer is the figure after the dash.

• It is green. – It has leaves. → Tree
• It is purple. – It is round. – It ticks. → Clock
• It is blue. – It is oval. – It is an animal. → Fish
• It is brown. – It tastes good. – It is angular. → Biscuit
• It is brown. – It tastes good. – It is round. → Mushroom
• It is purple. – It is long. – You eat with it. → Spoon
• It is red. – It is angular. – You sit on it. → Bench
• It is white. – It is an animal. – It bleats. → Goat
• It is white. – It is an animal. – It gives wool. → Sheep
• It is light. – It is an animal. – Its name is Bambi. → Deer
• It is blue. – It is angular. – It pinches. → Clothes peg
• It is green. – It has sharp needles. → Fir tree
• It is black. – It is an animal. – It squeals. → Wild boar
• It is black. – It is an animal. – It barks. →

Which riddles come to mind for the remaining game figures?

Additional rule: Anyone who is too quick and grabs a wrong game figure must put back into the middle one figure they have already received. In a second round the order may be changed.

6. Listen Well, Grab Quick! (Hör gut zu, fass schnell hin!)

Riddle for children from age 4.

In each round about 30 of the 36 questions are selected and read aloud. The children call out the sought-after term loudly and grab at the same time.

• What floats in the air? → Cloud
• What has a beard and bleats? → Goat
• What protects the house from above? → Roof
• What holds the trousers on the line? → Clothes peg
• What tastes good and is baked crisp? → Biscuit
• What stands in the car park? → Car
• What lives in the forest and answers to the name Bambi? → Deer
• What will later become a woman? → Girl
• What adorns the finger? → Ring
• What is neither fork nor knife? → Spoon
• What is small and has a long tail? → Mouse
• What dodges and has long ears? → Hare
• What has holes and yet tastes good? → Cheese
• What is crisp, yellow and not an apple? → Pear

7. The Green Hen (Das grüne Huhn)

Colour riddle for children from age 5.

All game figures lie in the middle. The sentences are read aloud one at a time. The child who is first to call out the correct colour receives the game figure referred to.

The colour printed at the end of each sentence is the colour to call out.

1. Silver glitters on the chain: the heart. → red
2. Mother wears a golden ring. → green
3. A blue hare sits in the meadow. → brown
4. The tree hung full of green pears. → yellow
5. Are there actually green hens too? → purple
6. We have a new brown cat. → red
7. For breakfast I like brown eggs best. → white
8. We have nice cutlery with red knives, forks and spoons. → purple
9. There was only a single white cloud in the sky. → blue
10. Over there stands our black sheep. → white
11. You can sit comfortably on the yellow bench. → red
12. At Christmas we had a silver fir tree. → green
13. Our shepherd has a white dog. → black
14. The cloth is held by a red clothes peg on the line. → blue

8. The Animal Olympics (Die Tierolympiade)

Reportage for children from age 5.

"Hello and good day, ladies and gentlemen! This day of the Animal Olympics really has something in store. Let us turn first to the high jump. The flag is fluttering, so we have a lot of wind. Six athletes are in the big final. First to appear on the scoreboard by the tower is the name Hans Hare. He takes his run-up and – knocks the bar down: eliminated! Now comes Elisabeth Duck. That she has made it into the final is the surprise of the day. She runs up and – clears it. But what is this? A judge hurries over and shows her the red card. She flew, and that is not allowed. So she is out too."

"Now Klara Cat takes her run-up and clears the hurdle without any problems. Bravo. Zeta Goat is next – and does not make it! We expected that. Harry Rooster runs up and trips over his own claws! Now only Hugo Hound is at the start. Will he manage it? Fast as the wind he races at the obstacle, pushes off and jumps over! But oh, what bad luck: with his tail he brushes the bar! In slow motion it falls to the ground. The first winner today is therefore Klara. Congratulations."

"It is now the second big decision of the day: the long race. Will the race be over before the first star shows in the sky, which is almost cloudless? Only the five animals with the greatest endurance have made it into the final over this difficult course. A miracle: Freddy Fish is there too. A course laid out especially for him, filled with water, he has completed in an excellent time. He lies at the start and waits. Beside him Rosi Deer dances nervously. Walli the wild boar scrapes with his hooves. Only slight chances of winning are given to Hanna Hen. Charlotte Sheep, the last starter, is already standing in a better position.

It is exactly eight o'clock when the starting shot sounds. Walli and Rosi take the race slowly at first, Charlotte has an early small lead right away. Freddy does not seem to care about the race, he swims very evenly.

What is that? With a cramp in her feather the hen drops out. The sheep discovers a patch of grass and prefers a small snack. The other three animals fight for victory. Walli Wild Boar has already built up a large lead, whereas Rosi Deer has jumped onto the spectators' stand and prefers to be stroked. Only Freddy Fish keeps up with the rushing wild boar. But suddenly he chokes and gives up. To the roaring applause of the spectators Walli runs into the finish. Won, won! What a day! I wish you a pleasant evening and hand you back to the studio."

9. Has a Coat ... (Hat ein Fell ...)

Riddle for children from age 5.

The children may grab or call out only once the whole sentence has been read aloud.

• Is fast and loud and stinks. → Car
• Wakes everyone early in the morning and has colourful feathers. → Rooster
• You can hang laundry on it. → Clothes peg
• Lives in the forest, eats acorns and has bristles. → Wild boar
• Is blue, grey or white and floats in the sky. → Cloud
• You see it fluttering on poles at festivals. → Flag
• Many people wear it on the finger as jewellery. → Ring
• When you are afraid it beats very loudly. → Heart
• Shows you when it is time to go home. → Clock
• Has a coat, lives with people and goes for walks. → Dog
• Is hard on the outside, soft on the inside, yellow and white. → Egg
• Has a coat, a beard and bleats. → Goat
• Is round, made of leather or felt and sits on the head. → Hat
• Has a coat and does not want to be called a rabbit. →

10. Rhyme Grabber (Reimgreifer)

Riddle for children from age 6.

Read the verses aloud. The children name the game figure that rhymes with the missing last word of the verse, and then grab it.

Rhymes cannot be carried over exactly into English. In each verse the blank is the game figure whose German name completes the rhyme; that figure is given after the arrow.

1. I water with the can – the spruce and the ____ → Fir tree
2. In the circus one hops on one leg – a big, fat, round ____ → Pig (printed as Schwein; the game set has no plain pig, only the wild boar)
3. The hen calls loudly: "Oh no – where has my ____ gone?" → Egg
4. I lie awake all night – what rustles under the ____? → Roof
5. The alarm clock is stubborn – now I'm looking for my ____ → Clock
6. It has long ears and a short nose, a stub of a tail, and is called a ____ → Hare
7. In my last dream I sat on a ____ → Tree
8. It has no head and no forehead, it is simply a ____ → Pear
9. By the hand of Emperor Weng-Chau-Ping a fine, thick ____ gleams → Ring
10. The child lies in the cradle – loudly bleating, the ____ calls → Goat
11. She ran away from him. The pain almost broke his ____ → Heart
12. It shines and is yet far away – the little, beautiful ____ → Star
13. I beg and implore – do not hurt him, the ____ → Deer

Who knows more rhymes?

11. Hidden (Versteckt)

Word puzzle for experts.

This game is so hard that adults too will bite their teeth out on it. Read each sentence two or three times, slowly.

The egg is set aside beforehand, so that words containing the letter sequence "ei" have no effect.

Each sentence hides one game figure. The hidden figure is written in capitals in the booklet; the German word is given in brackets, and the figure after the arrow.

1. My grandma lives in a house built entirely of ZIEGE-lstein (brick). → Goat
2. High up on the FAHNE-nstange (flagpole) sat a small starling. → Flag
3. Christmas and O-STERN (Easter) are public holidays. → Star
4. I'm going to my friend f-UHR (drive) by bike. → Clock
5. Why do you always make such dumb Sc-HERZ-e (jokes)? → Heart
6. Watch out for vicious mutts: you should be on your HUT (guard). → Hat
7. In the U-Bahn (underground) the doors close AUTO-matically. → Car
8. My grandpa can blow smoke K-RING-el (rings). → Ring
9. On an island a strong S-TURM (storm) came up. → Tower
10. On a building site there are many BAUM-aschinen (construction machines). → Tree
11. Like foxes, DACH-se (badgers) also live in burrows. → Roof
12. Do you know the peanut, the walnut, the HASE-lnuss (hazelnut)? → Hare
13. You are not supposed to read Sc-HUND-literatur (trash literature)! → Dog

Translation Notes

• The rhymes, puzzles and wordplay in texts 6, 9, 10 and 11 depend on German words. The English renders the sense of each line and gives the figure answer; the German wording itself is not reproduced. The figure answers are the same as in the booklet.
• Texts 1 and 4 are verse; the English lines follow the German line breaks but do not rhyme.
• Where the booklet prints a German word for a figure that is not in the box, the English gives the printed word and notes the difference.
• The booklet's "Spielleiterin oder Spielleiter" (game leader) is rendered as "reader", as the booklet's own role is to read aloud.