Thankfully, one day, Misty is homed--a surprise Christmas present--hurrah! But things don't go too well. Misty eats the crackling and the budgie is dead.
'That cat has to go!'
And Misty is unceremoniously dumped.
Thankfully, another family--the Kafoopses--collect Misty from the sadness of the streets, and rename her Lara.
Happiness reigns supreme. Especially with a family who loves her, and a stack of warm, fluffed-up towels to sleep on. Dear Lara doesn't need much more.
This is both a tender and kooky tale, with a charming first-person voice and a cat you want to claim as your own. As with all of McKimmie's books, illustrations by children (as young as two years old), mingle with textures, colours, line drawings, cut-outs and upended typeface, using both digital and hand-rendered fonts.
Visual detail will keep little eyes entranced, and the storyline will touch anyone's heart--with a powerfully-imparted, important topic (without a hint of schmaltz) that even very young children should learn about early.
Title: Lara of Newtown
Author/Illustrator: Chris McKimmie
Publisher: Allen and Unwin, $29.99 RRP
Publication Date: 1 July 2015
Format: Hard cover
ISBN: 9781760112325
For ages: 4 - 8
Type: Picture Book
