Young readers will enjoy Barber's exemplary prose-by turns funny, dramatic and touching-for its cat's-eye perspectives and comforting resolution.

Brimming with character-and fetching characters-each of Bayley's glowing paintings is a gem, and her marine-themed borders are a crowning touch.

The clever Mowzer's sirenlike singing placates the Storm-Cat into letting Tom cast his nets, and her purring soothes the creature into letting them return home safely, where they find that the whole village has turned out with gleaming lanterns to welcome them. Mowzer, a wise old cat, goes along to protect her 'pet'-Tom, a fisherman-when he decides to brave the elements to get food for the villagers. A fierce winter storm sets in just before Christmas, and 'the cats and their people grow very hungry' because the Great Storm-Cat won't let any fishing boats out of the harbor. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability.The quaint Cornish fishing village of Mousehole (pronounced 'Mowzel') is the setting for this captivating story inspired by an old legend. A picture book favourite, this is the dramatic and moving Cornish tale of a cat and a fisherman who brave the stormy seas to save their village.

Gently yet powerfully told, this incredibly moving story of bravery, sacrifice and companionship inspired by Cornish legend is sure to connect with readers of all ages, new and old alike. It is then that Mowzer and Tom set out to brave the fury of the waves together, and discover that it might just need a cat's perspective to understand - and tame - the ferocious ways of the Great Storm-Cat sea. Soon, with Christmas coming, there is no food left in Mousehole. Their life is a happy one - until one terrible winter, the Great Storm-Cat comes clawing and snarling and leaping at the harbour walls, so that no boat can go out to sea to fish. This is the stunningly illustrated story of the seaside village of Mousehole Cornwall, where Mowzer the cat lives happily with old fisherman Tom - Tom who rocks the rocking chair just right, and catches fresh fish for dinner every night.

The Mousehole Cat by Antonia Barber