In this hilarious picture book — that will appeal to adults just as much as kids — we meet a cat who just can't get his human to understand what he wants, no matter how hard he tries.
It's a simple request. Kevin the cat wants custard. Right now. Kevin doesn't want chicken and gravy, sardines, beef, pig's ears or any of the other treats his stupid human wants to give him.
Kevin is very very clear that it's custard he wants. He even spells the word C-U-S-T-A-R-D using his body (brilliantly illustrated and laugh-out-loud funny!). Sadly for Kevin, his human interprets that to mean Kevin wants his tummy rubbed.
But Kevin won't be beaten. He hides in a bowl under a yellow jumper (looks just like custard). He brings his human a bottle of mustard (rhymes with custard). On it goes. Finally Kevin has no choice but to command the fridge to open with the magic command 'Meow!' Surely that will work?
Maybe not ...
I read this book at the end of a particularly long and difficult day. I love cats and I share my house with a cat so clearly I am particularly receptive to this kind of story, but I happily confess that I cried with laughter. So much so that my daughter demanded to know what I was reading. Then she started laughing too. That's the sign of a winning picture book.
Title: The Cat Wants Custard
Author: P. Crumble
Illustrator: Lucinda Gifford
Publisher: Scholastic Australia, $16.99
Publication Date: July 2016
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781760155780
For ages: 4+
Type: Picture Book