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Tommi Tatze (2009)

by Julia Donaldson(Favorite Author)

3.96 of 5 Votes: 1

ISBN

3407793952 (ISBN13: 9783407793959)

languge

English

genre

Middle Grade & Children's

publisher

Beltz & Gelberg

review 1: From the much-loved duo of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, the voice and vision behind "The Gruffalo" and "Room on the Broom", the story of Tabby McTat is likely to be a firm favourite on any Key Stage 1 bookshelf.'McTat', the story begins, 'was a busker's cat/with a miaow that was loud and strong'. Alongside Fred on guitar the two friends would spend their days singing in the town square, entertaining passers-by who threw coins into Fred's old checked hat. Together Fred and McTat were 'purrrrfectly happy', until one morning, while Fred was eating his breakfast, McTat decided to take a stroll, met another lovely cat called Sock, and stopped a while for a 'cat-to-cat chat'. In the meantime however, back with Fred, all was not well: While McTat was away a thief stole the... more busker's hat and trying to give chase Fred tripped, broke his leg, banged his head and ended up in hospital on the other side of town! Returning to their usual spot later on that evening, McTat could not find Fred anywhere, and although McTat lingered on, Fred did not return...not that evening, nor the next one, nor even the one after that. Thin and worn out, thinking that Fred had abandoned him, McTat finds his new friend Sock and is taken in by 'Sock's people'. When Fred gets out of hospital McTat is nowhere to be found and a new brass band is playing in the spot where the pair had once happily sat. While Fred eventually finds a new place to busk and McTat adjusts quite nicely to his new life as a house cat, the two friends can never really forget each other. This, of course, is no place to divulge the ending. Suffice to say that it does all finish happily.Although this book is sometimes criticised for been too wordy, I think it is a beautifully written and lyrical. The rhyming text is perfect for reading aloud to younger children, maybe even getting the class to sing along, while at the same time providing a basis for introducing poetry, rhythm and rhyme. The illustrated street-scenes and encounters between characters, the emotions depicted on their faces, the images of Fred in hospital and McTat in his new home, are vibrant and colourful, drawing children into the story and providing excellent complement to the text. Both the text and illustrations offer, furthermore, many possible starting points for responding to the story with other fun classroom activities, such as designing your own street scene, comparing the town setting in the story to your own local area, talking about the different types of musical instruments found in the book, designing a lost poster for McTat or creating your own short rhyme. Finally, at a more conceptual level, the story also offers a safe setting for an encounter with themes such as separation, continuity, change and friendship.With an engaging plot, well-crafted and well thought-out language and illustrations, this book is not only enjoyable to read but also provides a number of potentially valuable learning opportunities for Key Stage 1 children.
review 2: Tabby McTat loved to sing along as his owner, a street musician, played his guitar on a street corner. They were happy together, and shared the meager money that passersby dropped in a hat. When an unanticipated incident occurred, Tabby and his owner were separated. Will Tabby ever be reunited with his owner? This is a story about love and loyalty that will make you smile. The illustrations are cute as well. less

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