Trixie the Witch's Cat by Nick Butterworth (Picture Puffin)

This book was a rather lovely surprise. Charlotte pulled it out of the library stack and from its cover, I hadn't really expected it to be more than a "witchy story" but it very much is. In fact it's a rather sweet tale of a cat who thinks different is bad. Born with one white paw, Trixie is a witch's cat with a difference. She knows that all witch's cats should be jet black all over, so she frets and worries about her single white paw - to the point where she even tries to hide it when her friends come round to play.

Trixie gets angry and has tantrums because of her paw if she thinks about it too much - so she comes up with a cunning plan to do something about it once and for all.

Not washing is one solution, but all that seems to do is make her paw pong! Phew! Paint works for a little while but wears off. But Trixie is a witch's cat, and if there's one thing a witch's cat ought to be able to use - it's magic!

We won't spoil the rest of the tale for you. There are so many books that shout "Vive la difference" in many different ways, sometimes in a way that children can identify with and instantly pick up on, sometimes (like here) with a message that's so subtly and sensitively handled, that you almost feel like shouting "Hooray!" at the end. Marvellous little hidden gem this one, don't miss it!


Charlotte's best bit: Trixie's ingenious plan to hide her paw when friends come round to play.

Daddy's Favourite bit: A fantastic book that shouts "Different is cool!" - And so say all of us!