Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney

"Do something to make the world more beautiful."

Once upon a time a little girl named Alice lived in a city by the sea. Her grandfather had come to America on a large sailing ship. He found a job making figureheads for ships and carving Indians for the front of cigar stores. Alice listens to her grandfather's stories and decides she too will travel around the world one day and then eventually come home and live in a cottage by the sea. Her grandfather agrees this will be a fine thing to do but he also gives her the advice above. (Listen here)

Alice does grow up and eventually works in a library in another city but she keeps reading about faraway places. Finally Alice, now called Miss Rumphius, is able to travel. She goes to topical islands, snow covered mountains, jungles and deserts. After a small accident Miss Rumphius returns home to a cottage by the sea. She is happy and does recover but what about that promise to her grandfather? She plants a few seeds in her garden not knowing that this will lead her to the answer. The flowers are lupines and the seeds have blown across the nearby hill. Alice sends for more seeds and she scatters them everywhere.

"The next spring there were lupines everywhere. Fields and hillsides were covered with blue and purple and rose-coloured flowers. They bloomed along the highways and down the lanes. Bright patches lay around the schoolhouse and back of the church."

Miss Rumphius completed her promise.

This is one of those classic American stories that many people will be familiar with. I am sure you will easily find a copy in most libraries. Mine came from a recent charity book sale and this copy has perhaps lingered on a bookshelf in a home for many years because this 1982 picture book is in mint condition and the dust jacket in completely intact which is rare. This edition is still available for over AUS$37 (I paid AUS1.50 at the book fair). Take a look inside Miss Rumphius.

Here is the cover of the paperback which I did have in my former school library:

Bookseller blurb: When Miss Rumphius was little, she would sit on her grandfather's lap and listen to his stories of faraway places-and she would say "When I grow up, I too will go to faraway places, and when I grow old, I too will live beside the sea." However, her grandfather gives her a third charge-to do something that makes the world more beautiful. And Alice grows up to do just that. She takes a job as a librarian far away from the salt air, travels to distant locations, and moves back by the sea. However, she knows she must still do something to make the world more beautiful. After watching the Lupines grow by her house, she has a wonderful idea.

One reviewer said: A picture book full of meaning, the gorgeous paintings capture the very essence of New England by the sea and the many stops of her life along the way.

Here are some things I discovered about Miss Rumphius:

• Miss Rumphius was inspired by a real-life "Lupine Lady," Hilda Hamlin, who spread lupine seeds along the Maine coast, as well as Cooney's own experiences traveling the world.
• In 2012, it was ranked number 13 among the "Top 100 Picture Books" in a survey published by the School Library Journal.
• The book was made into a short film by Western Wood (16 minutes) in 2000.
• The Lupine Award of the Maine Library Association is named in honor of the book as is the New Jersey Center for the Book's Miss Rumphius Award given to librarians and teachers who develop creative activities to support literacy education.
• The book itself is dedicated with a small illustrated icon to Saint Nicholas, who is the patron saint of children, sailors, and maidens (or unmarried persons).
• Many of Miss Rumphius' journeys were inspired by Barbara Cooney's own experiences traveling around the world.
• The art for Miss Rumphius has a permanent home in the Bowdoin College Museum of Art.
• Barbara Coney was born in 1917 and died in 2000 aged 82. Her first book was published in 1940, and her 110th book, Basket Moon, was published in September of 1999.
• Miss Cooney twice won the prestigious Caldecott Medal given by the American Library Association for Best Illustrated Book of the Year, first for her retelling of Chaucer's Chanticleer and the Fox, and second, for Ox-cart Man, written by famed New England poet Donald Hall.
• Barbara Cooney was honored as the official United States Nominee for the Hans Christian Andersen Medal
• "Of all the books I have done," she says, "Miss Rumphius (Viking, 1982), Island Boy (Viking, 1988), and Hattie and the Wild Waves (Viking, 1990), are the closest to my heart. These three are as near as I ever will come to an autobiography."

Companion books:

The Secret Sky Garden

The girl who planted trees

Amira's Suitcase

The Book of Gold by Bob Staake

Isaac visits the New York public library with his parents:

"Isaac's parents loved books. They adored how they smelled and the way they felt in their hands, but most of all, they loved discovering the answers hidden inside."

Isaac is not interest in books but later his parents take him into a curiosity shop and the owner tells Isaac:

"There is a legend,' she explained, 'that somewhere in the world there is one very special book that's just waiting to be discovered. It will look like any other book, but it holds all the answers to every question ever asked, and when it is opened, it turns to solid gold."

This idea puts young Isaac Gutenberg, a boy who has declared he does NOT like reading, on the road to discovery. He hunts high and low looking for this promised golden treasure and along the way he finds a love of reading, develops his curiosity and finds answers to his questions. Perhaps the "book of gold" will never be found but Isaac finds an even better treasure. I hope you have guessed what this is.

Here are some of the questions Isaac asks:

• Why don't the pyramids have windows?
• How can something as heavy as a ship float?
• Who invented pizza?
• Were dinosaurs covered in fur?
• Why don't elevators also travel sideways?

and my favourite question

• How did the number eight get its name?

It is also fun to think about the name Gutenberg. 

You might like to use this book when you talk about the 2024 CBCA Book Week Slogan "Books are Magic." 

For adult readers here is something you need to know about The Book of Gold.  I picked up a copy of this book at a 50% off sale and so now I have seen under the dust jacket - it is truly special but of course difficult for libraries to cover the book and still allow the removal of the jacket:

The book has two covers. If you detach the wraparound cover with the image that everyone associates with the book, you'll find the paper-on-board cover -- which I designed to look like an artifact squirreled away in the recesses of any dusty attic. It's my hope that children will find the book years from now (minus the wrap) and realize that THEY have indeed found the elusive Book Of Gold.

Publisher blurb: Young Isaac Gutenberg isn’t a curious boy . . . that is, until he meets an old shopkeeper who tells him about The Book of Gold. This special book, hidden somewhere in the world, holds all the answers to every question and turns to solid gold when opened. Isaac is determined to find the book—it will make him rich! He opens many books in his search, but quickly closes them when they don’t turn to gold. That changes one day when he opens a book, looks at the page, and a question pops into his mind. From then on, he reads every word. Time passes and Isaac ages, but he still scours dusty attics and flea markets, crisscrossing the world, searching for The Book of Gold. This sweeping picture book asks important questions: Is searching for knowledge better than having it? How important is curiosity? And what makes a life meaningful?

Here is the author web site. You can see a few pages inside this book on the publisher web site. There are some lovely touches in this book. The sepia pages that give that olden days feel, the name Gutenberg of course and the scenes inside and outside the splendid New York city Public Library. Make sure you look for another special book by Bob Staake - a wordless treasure called Bluebird. Here is a CNN interview where Bob talks about the ideas behind Bluebird.

Twelve Days of Letters to Santa - Christmas Day

Dear Father Christmas by Alan Durant illustrated by Vanessa Cabban

Dear Father Christmas was published in 2005 and the paperback in 2013. I picked up a copy at a recent charity book sale for just 50 cents! This book is out of print but I am sure it will be in many school and local libraries and hopefully the final (vital letter) is still in the envelope on the last page.

After the children visit Santa in a big store Holly leaves him a letter above the fireplace:

Dear Father Christmas,

I hope you are well. Is it snowing in Lapland?

It is cold here. I saw a man in a shop today who said he was Father Christmas.

He was dressed like you, but was it you? Really?

He told me to leave my Christmas list by the fireplace, but I wanted to make sure it really was you.

Please answer.

love Holly

Father Christmas writes back to Holly. She finds his letter on her mantle. It is typed and has been sent from Lapland.

Dear Holly,

Thank you so much for your letter.

What a lovely Christmassy name you have!

"The Holly and the Ivy" is one of my favourite Christmas carols. 

I am also very fond of "Jingle Bells." I often sing it on Christmas Eve when I ride the sleigh

with my reindeer to deliver the presents.

Santa goes on to ask Holly to write her Christmas list. 

Holly wants something very special for Christmas, but she does not feel brave enough to ask so instead she writes back and asks about the elves. Once again Holly finds a reply on the mantle and once again she is not able to ask for her gift instead this time she asks about riding in the sleigh and Billy wants to know how Santa can fit down the chimney. The letters continue back and forth and Santa also gives Holly a decoration for her tree and a special guide explaining how to care for reindeer. On Christmas Eve Holly finally writes her Christmas list - you will never guess the one thing she wants most in the world but the envelope on the final page contains something so wonderful you are sure to sigh with happiness.

Here is a good idea - this reviewer suggests you treat Dear Father Christmas a little like an advent calendar - opening one letter each day in the lead up to Christmas. I would share this book with children aged 6+. Please don't use this with your child but if you need to see inside this book here is a video - it is read way, way too quickly. 

Meerkat Merry Christmas by Emily Gravett

Meerkat Christmas was published more recently in 2019. The paperback edition [9781509857302] from 2020 is still available. The publisher suggest this book for readers aged 3+ but to my eye this one is for an older child especially one who has enjoyed the other book from this series - Meerkat Mail (see below).

Bookseller blurb: A young meerkat travels the world looking for Christmas in this festive card-packed picture book, ...  Sunny isn't quite sure if Christmas in the desert with his meerkat family is the right sort of Christmas - there's no snow, no fir trees and no figgy pudding! So, he heads off on a journey round the world looking for the picture-perfect Christmas . . . before realizing he might have left it at home after all.

Begin with the cover - you need to stretch it right out.

Sunny reads a magazine article - How to have the Perfect Christmas. 

1. THE PERFECT WEATHER Must be snow. Crisp and deep.
2. THE PERFECT TREE Must be tastefully decorated
3. THE PERFECT PRESENTS There must be a huge pile.
4. THE PERFECT DINNER Must include well-boiled sprouts.
5. THE PERFECT MUSIC Christmas carols.

So Sunny packs his bag (which looks a little like a Santa sack) and he heads off - leaving the Kalahari - in search of a place that is more Christmasy than his desert home. 

First stop Australia and his friend Kev. But oh no they are having prawns and there is no snow and everyone is at the beach. Only one thing on his check list of five criteria receives a tick. 

Next stop Trevor's in the Philippines. Again, only one tick on the list although Sunny does enjoy eating crickets so this food be part of his Christmas dinner. He travels on to visit Robin, but it is raining and very gloomy. The birds are singing carols but there is no snow and the food on offer is worms! The weather is way better in Antarctica - snow tick, presents tick, but no trees, no dinner and no singing. Sunny travels on to the north. Snow tick, trees tick, but no presents, no dinner and no music. 

Finally "on the night before Christmas Sunny arrives somewhere perfect. The snow is falling (outside), everyone is singing, there is a beautifully decorated tree, plenty of presents and a HUGE Christmas dinner with all the trimmings (even sprouts).  It should be perfect."

It should be perfect but something is missing! Santa has the solution, and a wonderful present arrives on Christmas morning in the Kalahari. Oh, and remember Sunny had a sack - wait until you see what he has inside. And make sure you spend some time enjoying the brilliant end papers which are different front and back and contain some wonderful images to make you smile. 

Then re-read the book and find all the fun and corny Christmas cracker jokes. Here is a video of the book which is well done - good pace and full screen images but please only view this after you have enjoyed exploring the real book with your young reading companion or library group. 

This book is a joy, from Sunny’s Christmas jumper to the excitement of opening the little cards. A fitting follow-up to a popular book and a timely reminder that sometimes we have to look a little closer to home – at what matters to us – to find perfection. Book Murmurmation

By Ash, Oak and Thorn by Melissa Harrison

Ash, oak and thorn were at the world's dawn. 

Rowan and Yew will make it anew ...

Ash is where Burnet, Moss and Cumulus have made their home. They are Hidden Folk - tiny human-like beings who live in harmony with their natural environment and the wild animals that inhabit their tiny corner of England. Then one stormy night Ash (their tree) is hit by lightning and the trunk splits apart. They three friends have lost their home but there is an even more pressing danger. Cumulus, the oldest of the group, is starting to disappear. Burnet and Moss desperately want to help their friend so all three decide it is time to seek help. They hope to find others of their kind - other Hidden Folk - older Hidden Folk - who may have an answer and a solution to this terrible situation. 

The trio journey to Oak where they find Sorrel. The oak tree is in a beautiful place called Folly Brook. Meeting Sorrel is wonderful because now the three friends know they are not alone in the world but this issue of disappearing is spreading. Burnet's feet are invisible. It is now even more urgent to continue their journey to the Mortal's Hive. 

Travelling by converted rollerskate and later on the backs of three friendly pigeons they read their destination. Thorn is a space in a park in a city where mortals live. It is a dangerous place as you might expect but it is also the place where the group of four find more of their kind. These little people are slightly different from Burnet, Moss and Cumulus. They call themselves Hobs. 

"Hobs are simply another kind of Hidden Folk who prefer to live indoors. Mortals generally call them borrowers or hobgobblins, or bwbach in Wales and bauchan in Scotland."

There is a strong environmental message in this book which at first I found a little overly didactic but I now think this was necessary as a way to create the contrast between the idyllic world previously inhabited by Hidden Folk who have existed for thousands of cuckoo summers and the destruction wrought by humans. A cuckoo summer is the way the Hidden Folk measure time. One cuckoo summer is one human year. 

It is interesting to reflect on the way we select books to read or buy. I was visited Beachside Bookshop a few weeks ago and I spied this book - By Rowan and Yew. The appealing cover caught my eye.  Reading the blurb on the fly leaf I discovered this book is "an enchanting sequel to By Ash, Oak and Thorn " so I asked the bookseller, Libby, to order the first volume for me. 

You can read an extract from By Ash, Oak and Thorn here. And an extract from By Rowan and Yew here. Here is a video review of By Ash, Oak and Thorn. 

When I bought the two books home I made another discovery. These two books (the correct term is duology) are based on or inspired by or a modern re-retelling (sorry I am not sure which of these applies) of an old book called The Little Grey Men by BB.  BB is actually Denys Watkins-Pitchford and The Little Grey Men won the 1942 Carnegie Medal. I have now added The Little Grey Men to my enormous 'to read' list. 

Here is the Penguin Random House blurb for The Little Grey Men: On the banks of the Folly Brook, inside an old oak tree, live the last three gnomes in Britain: Sneezewort, Baldmoney, and Dodder. Before their fourth brother, Cloudberry, disappeared upstream seeking adventure, they lived happily and peacefully among their woodland friends. But now spring has come and the brothers start thinking about spending the summer traveling upstream to find Cloudberry. Before long they’ve built a boat and set off for unknown lands, where they find themselves involved in all kinds of adventures with new friends (wood mice, water voles, badgers) as well as with enemies (two-legged giants).

And here is the Chicken House blurb for By Ash, Oak and Thorn: Three tiny, ancient beings – Moss, Burnet and Cumulus, once revered as Guardians and caretakers of the Wild World – wake from winter hibernation in their beloved ash tree home. But when it is destroyed, they set off on an adventure to find more of their kind, a journey which takes them first into the deep countryside and then the heart of a city. Helped along the way by birds and animals, the trio search for a way to survive and thrive in a precious yet disappearing world ...

Now onto the environmental conservation messages in this book. They make sense to me after even more research because the author Melissa Harrison and, not by coincidence the original author Denys,  are both naturalists. Melissa Harrison's previous adult titles include these:

Here are a few text samples showing the environmental focus by Melissa Harrison. 

"Bright spring sunshine sparkled on the Folly Brook, which flowed merrily amid water crowfoot and flag irises and made a wonderfully soothing sound. A drake mallard swam part, the sun flashing off his beautiful green head, followed by a swan and her fluffy grey cygnets, webbed feet paddling fast underwater ... On the banks cow parsley and water forget-me-not were just coming into bloom, while a willow branch overhanging the water made a perfect perch for a pair of azure kingfishers ... "

"Every day, more butterflies tumbled and fluttered among the wild flowers, and more summer birds - chiffchaffs, whitethroats, blackcaps and willow warblers."

Her descriptions of the English countryside, birds and other animals reminded me of The Keeper of Wild Words. And the relationship between Moss, Burnet and Cumulus reminded me of the Isobel Carmody series which begins with The Red Wind. I also thought of the Poppy series by Avi. If you like books which feature small human-like creatures you could also look for the four book series by Annie O'Dowd which begins with Left Shoe and the Foundling. 

I also need to make special mention of the food in this story which is as delightful as the delicious food in the Redwall series by Brian Jacques. Foods such as elderflower cordial, beechnut flapjacks, conker bread and honey cake.  And this book contains the most delicious hugs between the three friends who have such a beautiful relationship. 

"Burnet shuffled over a bit in the magpies nest and the two friends gave each other a long hug. It was one of those hugs that has so many warm feelings in it that it actually heals both the huggers a little bit. Both of them were smiling, and had their eyes closed."

I was interested to read the wide range of reviews on Goodreads ranging from one star to five! 

Here are a few of the books I mentioned in this post:

Papa brings me the World by Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw

 

"My papa is a photojournalist. His pictures and stories are windows into magical worlds. Papa says he was born to explore. When Papa comes home, his pockets are treasure troves of silver and gold!"

Papa travels for and wide around the world and he always brings truly special things from over twenty five countries for Lu but the gift she really wants is to join him on his adventures.  Finally that day comes and they head off to Australia!

This book is based on a true story. You can read about that at the back of the book and there is a world map showing all the places Papa collected the treasures. 

The collage illustrations are scrumptious. You can see pages from this book on the publisher website. On the title page you will see a brown leather covered journal. This is the book Papa gives Lu ready for her to fill with notes about her own adventures. 

Readers in Australia are sure to especially love the illustration showing Papa and Lu walking towards Uluru. 

You can listen to an interview podcast with the author (40 minutes). Here is part of the Author Note by Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw:

"That someday eventually came when we travelled to Australia together. It was a gift from my parents. Dad and I visited the Three Sisters Rock formation in the Blue Mountains. we ran five miles in the pouring rain along Sydney Harbour and up the steps of the Sydney Opera House. .... Thank you Dad, for sharing your joy of exploring and your wonder for all the world's diversity and beauty."

I also love this book, Same Same, but Different, by Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw - it is one that should be added to all Primary school collections:

Huda and Me by H Hayek

Mum and Dad have to rush back to Lebanon, to the city of  Beirut leaving their children in the care of a family friend called Aunt Amel. This "aunt" is the babysitter from hell.  On arrival she sets the six children (the seventh child is a tiny baby named Raheed) daily tasks. 

Omar "You will drive me everywhere I need to go."

Kholoud "You have a fine eye for beauty and fashion, I would love to hire you as my personal stylist and beauty expert."

Twins Suha and Layla "You will be my personal tea-and-cookie-makers ... get me whatever I need, whenever I need it, including tea and cookies."

Akeal "You will be the butler of the house."

Huda "You will help Akeal. He'll be the butler of the house and you will be the maid."

The twins have to stay home and cook all day; Omar is worn out with all the driving; Kholoud cannot seem to get anything right but it is Akeal and Huda who have the worst jobs.  Luckily Huda is a very clever girl. The children cannot contact their parents so Huda decides she and Akeal will fly to Lebanon and tell them what is happening. 

I loved the story telling in this book. The chapters alternate between the journey across the world and the events leading up to the children's departure. The hours on the plane felt very real and H. Hayek gives her reader a delicious amount of tension plus a splendid (spoiler alert) happy ending. I also enjoyed the honest, first person storytelling by Akeal. 

Huda and Me has been discussed on a few review sites so I was curious to read this new Australian middle grade novel. I picked it up this morning and finished the whole book in one sitting - yes it is that good! BUT as an adult reader you need to be prepared to suspend disbelief. Adults could 'pick holes' in aspects of the plot especially when the children arrive at the airport in Dubai and also when they catch a taxi across Beirut to the home of their grandparents, but really I suggest you put your critical eye aside and just enjoy the romp.

Hayek’s novel is a cheeky, fun and heartfelt adventure that will have you laughing out loud. It provides a wonderful insight into the lives of a loving Lebanese-Australian family, with all its complex relationships to culture, religion, family and food, as they navigate their adventure both at home and abroad. Readings Melbourne

Funny, quirky and charming Huda and Me is an adventure that is full of cheek, mischief and daring as the two children find their way somehow safely across the world, with a lot of help from friends made on the way simply by Huda, being Huda! Blue Wolf Reviews

Companion reads:

My Heart is a Compass by Deborah Marcero

Rose has a problem. She needs something for 'show and tell' at school. Rose longs for adventure. She wants to make discoveries and travel to places that have "never been found." She decides to draw a map starting with her own town, then moving outwards to maps of the city, sky, oceans, an island and new mountainous lands but on reaching the end of her journey she has "nothing to show. Nothing to tell".

Well that's not quite true. Rose has drawn the most fabulous maps showing all her exploring and providing her with a memory of journey. She shows these to her class and they exclaim: spectacular, amazing, bravo, magic, beautiful, sublime, a fairy tale.

If you love maps this is the PERFECT book. You will find yourself pouring over the maps and noticing the tiny details many of which are sure to make you smile. Look for the Gingerbread House; Daydreaming Grasslands; the Blue Fox Farm (filled with blue foxes!); the Lake in the Clouds; and the sky zone called Unfilled Wishes. This book should be added to every Primary school library.

I especially love the end papers showing Rose's classroom filled with books!

Marcero makes excellent use of the picture book as a storytelling vehicle. Bright, open illustrations deftly capture Rose’s quest with landscapes that effortlessly dismantle the supposed opposition between the real and the imaginary. …  Lovely, lively, and enchanting for new and veteran explorers alike. Kirkus Star review

I love the quote on the first page of this book:

Imagination will often carry us to worlds that never were, but without it we go nowhere - 

Carl Sagan

Here is a video interview with the author where she talks about her process and art techniques. Here are a very detailed set of teaching notes for My Heart is a Compass.  I recently talked about another book by Deborah Marcero - In a Jar.

I love books about using your imagination and I adore books about maps SO My Heart is a compass is simply perfect. Here are some other books with maps, show and tell and imagination that are brilliant:

The Strangeworlds Travel Agency by LD Lapinski

Felicity has moved to Little Wyverns. Her parents are busy with work and care of her younger brother. Once all the unpacking is completed Felicity (Flick) is able to set off alone to explore the village. She is strangely drawn to one shop:

"a tiny, squashed-looking shop with a big bay window. It had a shiny black door and a corner porch with a stone step so worn it appeared to be melting into the pavement. Flick looked up at the sign. The Strangeworlds Travel Agency."

Inside this shop is very strange. No computers or busy staff instead she finds old dusty furniture, shelves of books and piles of old suitcases. There are clocks on the wall all ticking and running at different speeds. As she looks around, feeling that this odd place is slightly familiar, a young man comes through the doorway from the back of the shop. This is eighteen year old Jonathan Mercator - he is the owner of the shop even though he does not seem old enough. His official job title is Head Custodian.

Flick picks up a piece of glass from the floor of the shop and she holds it to her eye. The world outside the shop shimmers and she sees something very strange. To her eyes it looks like a crack but Jonathan knows it is actually a schism (a gateway to another world) and it seems Flick can see magic.  This means she can, should, and must join the Strangeworlds Society and more importantly she can help Jonathan find his lost father. The suitcases are portals to other worlds and they sound exciting but perhaps there are things Jonathan has not told Flick.

"You could travel to places you could never have imagined, see worlds on the edge of the multiverse. You could watch blue suns rise over mountains of red glass, see flowers the size of houses, hear the crunch of the ground as dragons hatch from hidden caverns, and feel the heat in the emptiness of space as a ship cruises close to a dying star."

Stories that take you to magical lands need a portal. In The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe the portal was the wardrobe which was full of winter fur coats. In The Strange Worlds travel agency suitcases are used as portals to all the different worlds.  The worlds themselves feel at times a little like the places you may have visited in The Phantom Tollbooth but they are perhaps not quite so quirky. These strange worlds feel dangerous and there is an urgency to discover why things are disintegrating.

I enjoyed meeting Flick. She is a girl who is brave and intuitive especially when she is captured by Glean who has plans to use Jonathan's suitcase for her own evil ends.

This is the first book in a series but fortunately, although there are many unanswered questions, this first installment does have a satisfying conclusion.

This is the first book by LD Lapinski. It is due for publication in May, 2020. Reviewers are listing this book for 9+ but I think it might have more appeal to an older group of 10+.  The 376 pages will require some reading stamina especially when the driving conflict (good and evil) is not explored until chapter 21. Thank you to Beachside Bookshop for my advance reader copy.

The Three-Legged Cat by Margaret Mahy illustrated by Jonathan Allen

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: