Mister Boo!

From the moment the mischievous black moggy pops his head from the box at his new home with Rosie, there’s been nothing he likes more than to tease and surprise anything and anyone he encounters. He startles the mouse with a single pounce, flips the goldfish out of and back into their bowl with his over enthusiastic playing, and no matter the season, he finds something outdoors to enjoy.

Spring finds him at his most playful: he terrifies the fledglings as they learn to fly, sends the baby rabbits dashing this way and that and his frolicking causes the baby owls to need rescuing by their mother. Time passes until one winter the cat’s sleeps become longer and when birdsong finally wakes him from his slumbers, Boo feels lethargic and completely lacking in his usual zest for life. Eventually managing to drag himself outside through the catflap, any attempts at startling the other animals are met with little or no response until he receives an unwelcome payback from a mother owl.

Pondering the loss of his playful pounce, Boo slinks miserably home, where a joyful Rosie greets him with a surprise. Perhaps this could offer just what Boo needs to help restore his spirits: without a doubt things are going to be different henceforward …

Full of playful language, Joyce Dunbar’s text, in combination with Petr Horáček’s trademark mixed media, hugely expressive illustrations makes a captivating story that even this ailurophobic reviewer thoroughly enjoyed.