Review: Two books about cat and one about a dog

Jiffy’s Greatest Hits by Catherine Chidgey and Astrid Matijasevich (Bateman Books, $21.99)

Here is a book that many cat lovers will relate to. As his family settles down for the night, Jiffy the cat comes to life and likes to express himself through song. The songs are laugh-out-loud funny and seem to accurately echo the kind of sentiments that, I think, a great number of cats would express if they could be this articulate and witty. Take the song Jiffy composed when his humans introduced him to their baby, Alice, who is now a schoolgirl:

It lies around all day,

it makes disgusting noises.

They kiss it and they rock it

and talk in stupid voices.

I used to be their favourite,

they used to give me treats –

but now they have a baby

that piddles on the sheets.

I also like that Catherine Chidgey is a writer of award-winning literary fiction but by telling stories about Jiffy – she says it is a true story (unfortunately) – she shows how versatile and amusing she can be. Ostensibly Jiffy’s Greatest Hits is designed to introduce telling the time to young ones and it may well do that but it will do it with more heart and humour than many picture books designed to do this. You’ll laugh at rhymes and also at Astrid Matijasevic’s lively illustrations where the expressions on the faces of Jiffy’s humans, and Jiffy’s fellow cats, echo exactly how they’re feeling about their nightly cabaret show.

Kittens of Caturn Go On Holiday written & published by Rachel Grainger-Jones ($30.00)

And meow for something completely different…  The Kittens of Caturn is the neon-bright, boldly illustrated debut by writer/artist/illustrator/musician Rachel Grainger-Jones and is for all those who love kittens and space.  It’s quite a combination but no kittens are harmed during the journey of

Meowcury, Fluffiter and Eartha and their guardian Caturn as they travel to a new planet to catch up with old friends and enjoy a holiday. But, as the kittens are soon to realise when they meet a misunderstood bear, they do things differently on this planet.  Once they know this, the kittens can see things from a new perspective. It’s all a little bit crazy – Beatrix Potter reimagined for the 21st Century of the Jetsons - but the combination of zany story and illustrations work.  Grainger-Jones plans other books in a series about Meowcury, Fluffiter and Eartha so look out for those, too.

My Real Dog by Emily Job (Beatnik, $30.00)

Some kids wish for brand new bikes,

For fancy dolls or belts with spikes

But as for me I’ve always known

I need a dog to call my own

There can’t be many kids who don’t go through a ‘can we get a dog?’ phase so Emily Job is writing about something that will be recognisable to a large number of readers.  But the unnamed and unseen protagonist in My Real Dog has come up with a way to be happy without, well, a real dog.  Their not disheartened because, thanks to a helping of imagination, it can do most of the things a real dog can without the barking, fleas and mess.  It’s not as original as Job’s debut My Cat Can See Ghosts but it’s still a charming idea with eye-catching illustrations, including the inside covers with dogs of all shapes and sizes (spot the one that features in this story), in a well-designed book with a pleasing font. 

Reviewed by Dionne Christian