ReadItDaddy's Book of the Week - Week ending 18th October 2013 - "The Adventures of the Owl and the Pussycat" by Coral Rumble and Charlotte Cooke (Parragon Books)

The Adventures of the Owl and the Pussycat

Written by Coral Rumble

Illustrated by Charlotte Cooke

Published by
Parragon Books

Parents often wonder how children can extract hour after hour of enjoyment from something as simple as a cardboard box. Children's toys become more sophisticated year after year, children's games become more complex and demanding of their time but there's no substitute for a bit of old school imagination and adventure.

That's definitely at the heart of why we love this wonderful version of "The Owl and the Pussycat" by Coral Rumble and Charlotte Cooke. Rather than drawing directly from Edward Lear's poem, it taps into the way children play, the way they can create a whole colourful world and embark on a fantastic journey through play and imagination.

Charlotte was won over by Charlotte Cooke's cool name, wonderful attention to detail and sense of fun (and also this rather fetching fellow who graced the beautiful envelope that the book was mailed in)...

Charlotte Cooke's naughty seagull. No pair of specs is safe!

This laces itself beautifully through the book as she shows the two children's journey in the fabulous pea green boat (with a brilliantly apt name we'll let you discover for yourself). Dressed as Owl and Pussycat, the children meet many fantastic characters on their voyage, including that naughty seagull, a snatchy crab, and a rather splendid globetrotting / moon-jumping Puffin too (loved her passport!)

Setting sail for adventure! Owl and Pussycat!

Charlotte's best bit: Pussycat rather cheekily writing and drawing on a passing shark! Eeks!

Daddy's Favourite bit: A lovely dreamlike celebration of the infinite and wondrous imaginations of children at play. So many beautiful little details, such a lyrical and sing-song read, just the ticket!

(Kindly sent to us for review by Charlotte Cooke)