Owl Or Pussycat?

This is a stunner of a book bringing together story-teller par excellence, Michael Morpurgo and illustrator Polly Dunbar whose scenes of the drama are totally enchanting, capturing to perfection the author’s tale. A tale showing how even as a young child, he found delight in poetry, especially recited aloud and how too, he seemed to have storytelling in his bones.

Herein we share some of Michael’s own childhood memories of performing in his school’s Christmas production of Edward Lear’s poem The Owl and the Pussycat, a favourite of his for which he was given the role of the Owl. Imagine his further excitement when he discovers that his (secret) first love and best friend, Belinda is to play the Pussycat. He can hardly wait to serenade her with that love song.

But then his enthusiasm starts to pale a little as the rehearsals progress and come the afternoon of the play, things very nearly turn completely calamitous; but instead both leads give a show-stoppingly dramatic and unexpectedly brilliant performance.

A beautiful telling with tinges of nostalgia as well as humour and joyfulness, all of which infuse Polly’s superb illustrations at just the right moment. Pitch perfect this.

A story to share with individuals or classes in the run-up to Christmas and at all other times too.