Ginger and the Mystery Visitor

Ginger and the Mystery Visitor is the third title ‘in this family’. And family (Ginger, the kitten and the little girl) is exactly what these books are about. This time their unit is disrupted by visits from a fine-looking cat that is keen to clear out any leavings in their bowls, and occasionally takes a nap on the bed, although he never stays very long. Is he a stray? Puzzled, the little girl ties a ribbon and a note around the mystery cat’s neck. Soon he returns with a different note saying he has a good home, two meals a day and a plea not to feed him as he’s getting fat – and his name is Tiddles. Anyone who has ever had a cat or been visited by a cat will identify at once with this story.

Voake’s exquisitely flowing line captures the essence of felineness. Lightly limned and filled with loosely applied wash, her illustrations epitomise the way cats look and behave. And just like cats, Voake hints rather than defines. But, while, like Tiddles, most cats never really belong to humans, do make sure that a copy of this masterly, understated and very entertaining book belongs to you.