Tibbles the Cat - by Michal Sanda (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Featuring quirky, vintage-inspired illustrations, this charming story tells the tale of a cat moving to a new island home, where things take an unexpected turn.

When a curious cat named Tibbles and her owner move across the world from England to a new home on a small island off the coast of New Zealand in 1894, everything seems idyllic at first. Then things go horribly wrong. In this charming little story, the oblivious, amusing hero, Tibbles, discovers a rare species of flightless bird that had never previously been described - the Stephens Island wren. Unfortunately, Tibbles also becomes the cause of the bird's extinction by preying on them.

Beneath the surface of this whimsically told story is a sophisticated tragicomic plot with a foundation in Greek tragedy. Tibbles's killing of the Stephens Island wrens led to the eventual extinction of the entire species, and the tragedy is heightened by the fact that Tibbles was not a malicious or malevolent creature, but rather a normal cat behaving according to its instincts. To add insult to injury, Tibbles is not only innocent and ignorant about the effects of her actions; she is also silly, care-free, and wildly unconcerned. This book presents a true story in a subtly comedic light, but the underlying tragedy is still present, emphasizing the unintended consequences of human actions on the environment.

Ultimately, the tale of Tibbles the cat had a silver lining - it brought global awareness to the dangers of introducing non-native animal species to other continents. Beautifully illustrated in a vintage style, with heavy graphic novel elements, this quirky, captivating tale will take readers on an emotional, darkly funny journey of discovery and consequence, all while teaching valuable lessons about the environment and the human impact on it. The book also includes interesting facts about the Stephens Island wren and its discovery.

Tibbles is perfect for children aged 6-9 inclined towards funny stories and deep lessons. Through this unique, engaging, and darkly comedic story, kids will be entertained as they learn about history and conservation, with humor being the sugar that helps the environmentalist medicine go down. Laughing one moment and considering serious issues the next, children will learn about the impact of humans on animal species and the importance of protecting wildlife.

AWARDS:

• 2021 Muriel Award - Best Comics for Children


• 2022 Bologna Ragazzi Award - The BRAW Amazing Bookshelf

Review Quotes

Listed as honor title for PopCulture Classroom Excellence in Graphic Literature 2024

Selected as one of the Best Children's Books of the Year 2024 by the Bank Street College of Education Center for Children's Literature

Selected for the CBC's 2023 December Hot Off The Press Reading List

Received the Bologna Ragazzi Award - The BRAW Amazing Bookshelf in 2022

Received the Muriel Award for Best Comics for Children in 2021

"Tibbles the Cat follows a cat's move to the other side of the world, from his London home to his guardian's new job as a lighthouse keeper. As he explores Stephens Island in New Zealand and discovers its diverse plants and animals, so young followers of the cat's adventures receive an inviting natural history of the country which is delightful in its presentation and solid in its real information about the country. Young feline fans thus will enjoy a lesson couched in a travelogue adventure." --Midwest Book Review-Children's Bookwatch

"The vintage-inspired illustrations are truly mesmerizing! Cute vintage-style art and an important story. This book reminds readers how non-native species can impact an environment--a severe subject presented lightly. It is a great non-fiction book for young readers." --Jan Farnworth, YA Books Central

"This would be a good book to read aloud to a class when discussing extinction and the introduction of non-native animals to an area." --Katrina Yurenka, Youth Services Book Review

"A great story that mixes the story of discoveries and of a cat in New Zealand in XIX I liked the drawings and think it deals with an important issue like introducing new species in an enviroment Highly recommended." --Anna Maria Giacomasso, NetGalley-Librarian

"A charming and fun story about a cat and his owner that discover a rare species of bird and accidentally leads to the extinction of said rare bird. This was a neat story that was both funny and has a deep lesson. The artwork is giving a cozy and fun tone and the story itself was unique." --Ashley D., NetGalley

"Cute vintage-style art and an important story. This book reminds readers of the impact that non-native species can have on an environment. A serious subject, presented in a light manner. A great non-fiction book for young readers." --Erica B., NetGalley

"I loved learning about the different scientists and their contributions to history! The illustrations are delightful. I love the unique art style with bold lines and deep colors." --Luminous Libro

About the Author

Michal Sanda is a Czech writer who worked several manual labor jobs during the Communist era and has worked at the Czech Theatre Institute since 1991. He has written poetry collections, prose, children's books, and plays. In recent years, he has focused mainly on writing books for children. His hobby is researching in archives and discovering forgotten stories. He was born in 1965 in Prague.

David Dolensky studied Interactive Graphic Design and subsequently Illustration and Graphic Design at the Academy of Arts, Architecture, and Design in Prague, Czech Republic. He did a traineeship at the Berlin University of the Arts in Germany led by Henning Wagenbreth and a traineeship in Birmingham, UK. He creates posters, illustrations for magazines, free drawings, graphic designs, and original books. Hailing from a picturesque mountain area in the Northwest of the Czech Republic, he currently resides and works in Prague.