Grandma Murphy’s Pussycat

By Maura Finn & Lucinda Gifford

Reviewed by Mia Macrossan

Maura is a Melbourne based author of several charming picture books including Birdsong by the Billabong and Too Many Cats. Lucinda has a well- deserved reputation for appealing illustrations with numerous picture books and junior fiction to her credit, including The Best Present Ever, Elvis Eager and the Golden Egg, Too Many Dogs and more.

Here these two creatives have produced a witty appealing work that will delight young readers. Part of the appeal of Granma Murphy’s Pussycat is the rhythmic rhyming text which sings along and begs to be read aloud.

At midnight’s strike as all lie sleeping,

comes a figure crawling creeping.

…

It’s Granma Murphy’s pussycat. 

His fur jet black against the night, 

one ear part-torn, his tail-tip white, 

his eyes a brilliant piercing light.

What is this feline up to? What is his secret destination as he prowls around the city, saunters past barking dogs, into the woods where there is a ‘nasty mean-eyed rodent pack, but also witches whirling, laughing ladies, twisting twirling…?

This pussycat is a worthy addition to the cat canon, with echoes of T.S Eliot’s Macavity and Lynley Dodd’s Scarface Claw. The suspense gradually builds up to a satisfying climax with an appearance by Grandma Murphy herself.

Lucinda’s illustrations, all shades of black and purple, are wonderfully atmospheric, showing the many faces of the night in the city and woods. She obviously knows her cats as this one is shown in all varieties of mood, pose, and movement.

This story, while a great addition to anyone’s Halloween library,  deserves to be read to everyone, cat and dog lovers alike, all year round. I hope there are more adventures for this enterprising pussycat.

Affirm Kids 2024

Maura Finn

Lucinda Gifford