Feeding Malachi — Abigail Hilton

Eve is an inquisitive baby rat who regularly escapes from her cage. One night she meets a strange creature in a glass tank across the room -- a boa constrictor named Malachi. The snake is amused by Eve's questions, and he awes her with stories of the wilds where he was caught. What will happen to their fragile friendship when Eve discovers what Malachi eats? Can they devise a solution that will save both Malachi and Eve's family of rats?

Feeding Malachi is a chapter book, illustrated with beautiful ink drawings. The story has a few scary moments, but also a happy ending. This is the first book in the Eve and Malachi series.