Gilbert

Colin Thompson (author)

Chris Mould (illustrator)

Lothian Books, Hachette, Australia: 2003

ISBN: 0734405162

Genres: humour, picture book

Gilbert is a scaredy cat. 'Taken from his mother before his eyes opened, he had spent most of his early childhood inside a paper bag, and because of this he had grown up being frightened of anything that wasn't made of paper or didn't make a rustling noise when he touched it.'

Everything scares Gilbert. He jumps when a butterfly lands next to him on one of his rare forays out onto the veranda. His cat medicine is scary. So is his dinner, so it's fed to him on a spoon – the problem being that the spoon is just plain terrifying. By preference Gilbert lives in a paper bag, even when the only part of him that fits inside is his head. Then one night Gilbert meets a mouse. What will Gilbert do?

Colin Thompson's stories are always worth reading but Gilbert is pure delight, especially for cat lovers. While Thompson's picture books may be text heavier many others, there is never a wasted word. Chris Mould's cartoon-style illustrations are hilarious, capturing completely Gilbert's constant startle-response and projecting the nervous tiptoe that is the cat's normal pace through life. Packed with personality and good for a belly laugh from both children and adults, Gilbert is another charming tale/tail from a gifted storyteller.

Great fun.

Same author: Barry; Free To A Good Home; Falling Angels