Poppy Cat (Sara Acton, Scholastic)

CBCA Award-winning author and illustrator Sara Acton’s work is recognisable for its elegant watercolour palette and loose lines. In her latest book Poppy Cat, Acton creates a warm atmosphere in her tale of the relationship between a girl and her cat. Simply and engagingly, Acton shows some of the girl’s daily difficulties, which are common to most children who are becoming independent, such as getting dressed, tying shoelaces and pouring milk. The major accomplishment of the story is its parallel between the girl and the cat—while they spend much of their time together, they both need time apart. The book’s plentiful white space echoes this theme. The story culminates in a satisfying cuddle on the sofa. Traces of humour make Poppy Cat a book that children aged three to five years will appreciate even more with multiple readings.

Joy Lawn is a freelance reviewer who has worked for independent bookshops in NSW and QLD

Books+Publishing pre-publication reviews are supported by the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.

Category: Reviews