The Tales of Mrs Mancini (Natalie Jane Prior, illus by Cheryl Orsini, ABC Books)

Mrs Mancini is a marmalade cat who, along with her human friend Filippina, runs a cake shop. They know everyone’s business—as well as their favourite baked treats. This book is broken up into little tales that showcase Mrs Mancini’s civic-minded spirit. When valued customer Claudette loses her brother’s green cap (and stops eating chocolate éclairs in sadness), Mrs Mancini does her best to retrieve the cap from its hiding spot on a roof antenna—engaging in a rather strenuous bit of exercise for a cat that likes eating cream. In another story, Mrs Mancini finds out that the young boy Jack is being bullied and decides to intervene. With the help of her magic tail (that can type on the computer), she orders a special cream-dispensing gizmo to deal with the bullies. She even comes up with a cunning plan to stop the squabbles of twins Daisy and Rose (a picnic and a cake are involved). Cat fans who think their pets are pretty amazing (even when they’re just lounging around doing nothing) will appreciate Natalie Jane Prior’s resourceful moggy, while Cheryl Orsini’s pictures are lovely to look at: dainty, retro-inspired and full of whimsy and colour.

Thuy On is a freelance arts journalist and reviewer and the books editor of the Big Issue

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

Category: Reviews