Kaspar, Prince of Cats

Johnny Trott, a bell-boy at the Savoy, has the task of bringing the belongings of opera-diva, the Countess Kandinsky, to her suite when she arrives in London. Most cherished is her black cat, Kaspar, and Johnny gets the job of looking after Prince Kaspar while the Countess is rehearsing and performing. When the Countess is tragically killed Johnny finds he has to take on more responsibility for Kaspar than he wants to. However, matters are alleviated when the rich American Stanton family arrive to stay in the hotel, and young Elizabeth Stanton finds Kaspar and takes a fancy to him, and to Johnny.

When the Stantons set sail for America on the Titanic with Kaspar, Johnny, at the last minute, finding he cannot bear the thought of life without the cat or his new friends, stows away on the disaster-bound liner. This is a real feel-good story, and it would be a pity to divulge what happens next; it is enough to say that the engaging Johnny’s (and Kaspar’s) adventures are not over.

As well as the story of Johnny and Kaspar, young readers will enjoy finding out about life in a grand hotel, where apart from the inquisitorial practices of head housekeeper, Mrs Blaise, life in the staff quarters is warm and supportive even if harsh by modern standards. Michael Foreman’s illustrations add feeling to this beautifully produced book about dreams that come true. In particular, the panoramic views of London at dawn and dusk that adorn the endpapers are a delightful addition to a story that will become a firm favourite with many readers.