Tuesday Treasure
There is so much to love about this picture book by Margaret Mahy. The satisfying story, the wonderful characters and the words - yes the words. Of course you expect a picture book to have words but Margaret Mahy takes her text to another level.
The plot: Tom, an old tabby cat with three legs lives with Mrs Gimble. She likes her cat but is happiest when he is curled up asleep. Cyril, Mrs Gimble's brother, loves to travel. Once every year or so he calls in to visit his sister and they enjoy a chat and a cup of tea. Mrs Gimble does not really approve of her brother and his lifestyle and she is sure the neighbours will gossip when he visits. Tom dreams of travel. Cyril has an old Russian hat which looks a little like Tom. There is a mix up and when Cyril leaves the house he picks up Tom instead of his hat. Everyone is happy. Tom gets to see the world! Cyril has a warm hat and a companion and Mrs Gimble has a 'cat' that likes to sleep all day and all night.
Now let's look at the words used by Margaret Mahy.
"Tom longed to prowl around the world."
Mrs Gimble lived at Number Seven, Cardamom Street. "She was a most respectable widow"
"It bothered her to see Tom come running all dot-and-go-carry-on, whenever she opened the fridge."
"she heard a familiar step on the path. Horrakapotchkin! A moulting, revolting Russian hat was coming up"
"How about a cup of tea a bit of a chin-wag?"
I adore that word 'horrakapotchkin'.
Every book by Margaret Mahy looks different because they all have different illustrators. Jonathan Allen also illustrated The Great white Man-eating shark - another firm favourite of mine and Beaten by a Balloon. Here are some Mahy books that are terrific to read aloud:
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