Mr Pusskins, Best in Show

Emily loves her cat, Mr Pusskins, and thinking he’s such a handsome chap, takes him along to the Pet Show. He’s not that keen himself; that is, not until he sees the Best Looking Pet trophy: ‘It was the most fabulous thing Mr Pusskins had ever seen. He simply had to have it!’

So he sets about preening himself and we’re shown him slicking and buffing and fluffing his fur in a super sequence of illustrations. This title has an old-fashioned look to it that is very appealing. It’s in the illustrative style and colours used as well as in the textual and typographic choices. Mr Pusskins engages us throughout with his hilarious expressions and fabulous transformations. What marks this book out for me is the wonderful, rich choice of language; it carries the reader right into Mr Pusskins’ experience at the Pet Show. We feel for him as he misses out on the Best Looking Pet trophy due to a dastardly misdirection by that double-crossing poodle, Madame Fifi Fou Fou (the names are great). And we cheer wholeheartedly as he scoops the Top Talent trophy for zipping through the obstacle course in his attempt to return to the judging before it’s too late. Best of all, there is the reassurance at the end that ‘though the trophy is in pride of place… Emily doesn’t need it to prove how wonderful Mr Pusskins is… because she’s always known!’