The Cat Wants Custard

By P Crumble & Lucinda Gifford

Larrikin House 2026

Reviewed by Zewlan Moor 

Kevin the Cat has a hankering for custard. He really, really wants it, and turns his nose up at all sorts of other treats, including sardines and pigs’ ears. But how will he communicate his desire to the nincompoop human? 

Kevin tries to mime the dessert by hiding in a bowl of custard-yellow sweater. He tries to hint with rhyme, by fetching a jar of mustard. He even spells out the letters C-U-S-T-A-R-D through callisthenics. But nothing works! His human is so dense! 

 

Finally, in a clever double spread that doubles as a lesson in analogue clock reading, he stakes out the fridge. The tension runs high as he gradually loses focus over the six-hour vigil, just as his human opens the fridge! 

Fortunately, Kevin wakes and achieves his goal … or does he? 

The humour as the reader realises the nature of Kevin’s obsession and witness his ability to bounce back is perfectly captured by Gifford’s bold illustrations and facial expressions. 

This is a modern classic, and still remains funny, fresh and pertinent ten years after its initial publication by Scholastic. Now The Cat Wants Custard is being re-issued by Larrikin House, who have wisely chosen not to interfere with the collaborative magic cast by the prolific and commercially successful creators, P Crumble and Lucinda Gifford.

Zewlan Moor is the author of Nothing Alike, The Bill Dup and Our World: Philippines. Her next book, Say Hello Like an Armadillo is out in the US/UK in June 2026 and Australia in Summer 2026-7. Pre-order or add it to your Goodreads Want To Read shelf now!