When Alby, Jim and Jim’s wife, Ellen, visit the local school to share their experience about what it’s like to be blind and have a guide dog, Alby suddenly recognises a boy who had previously terrorised and antagonised him.
Alby can’t relax and he can’t stop thinking about the boy.
Cat advises Alby to take revenge, however Davidson’s clever storyline forces Alby to confront the boy. In an unexpected turn, Alby has the upper hand and an important decision to make. Should he help the boy or punish him?
Alby and the Cat All Holed Up, for young readers, has a great message about forgiveness, friendship, courage and not holding a grudge.
Woven into the storyline is some great insight into how to act around blind people and guide dogs, clearly educating the reader about the importance of a guide dog in the life of a visually impaired person. In the back of the book, Davidson briefly shares own her experience with guide dogs, giving the story even more integrity and meaning.
An enjoyable story, Alby and the Cat All Holed Up is an easy read, offering a clever plot and a great message of forgiveness and friendship for young readers.
Title: Alby and the Cat All Holed Up
Author: Leanne Davidson
Illustrator: Kim Dingwall
Publisher: LJD Books, $9.95 RRP
Publication Date: August 2016
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9780980724134
For ages: 7-9
Type: Junior Fiction
