When the Cat’s Away

When the Cat’s Away written by Donna Gibbs, ill. Lionel King (MoshPit Publishing) PB RRP $14.95 ISBN 9781925666434

Reviewed by Allison Paterson

Gussie and her well-to-do family have arrived at their new home, a charming and comfortable mouse house at Le Café des Chats in Paris. Both her twin brother Pierre and Gussie are eager to explore their new surroundings, but not before Papa Mouse reminds them of the dangers that could be about. Soon enough, Pierre falls victim to the broom of a waiter and is catapulted onto a delivery van distributing baguettes throughout the city. Gussie rescues her brother but they are now far from their new home and must find their way back. Gussie leads the way, but danger is ever-present. 

The narrow escapes of the mice as they trek the unfamiliar streets of Paris add a humorous touch to the tale, as does the final illustration. Just when Mama and Papa decide they will be quite safe living in their new home another danger is lurking just beyond the mouse hole.

With the delightful sites of Paris and its cuisine, combined with French words and phrases, When the Cat’s Away provides an opportunity to share both the culture and the experience of losing one’s way in Paris (yep, been there, done that …). The feeling of being lost could also be familiar to the reader and worthy of further discussion. The illustrations are varied in layout, capture the tone of the city and enhance the tale. An enjoyable read to share with children of the early childhood years.

Interview with Donna Gibbs

Can you tell readers about your latest book? Is it your first?                                          

My eighth self-published book, When the Cat’s Away, illustrated by Lionel King, is a picture book for young children. It is about Gussie and Pierre, twin mice, who have moved with their family into their new home in Paris beneath the Café des Chats. They are soon caught up in heart-stopping adventures that put their loyalty, quick thinking and courage to the test.

 

Why did you choose to self-publish?

While I regularly publish educational books with traditional publishers, I haven’t managed to have my children’s books accepted in that way. I have come very close – right up to the last marketing meeting a few times. But it is all very painful! Naturally enough they want full control and while I accept their ideas may be better than mine, they have often persuaded me to let go the things I most cared about. Self-publishing is also full of pitfalls but you do end up with a book you have created.

If you used a publishing service, what services did the company offer?

I used Reedsy, an online firm who have professionals who quote for the work you need done in editing, book and cover design and marketing. They offer plenty of expert, useful advice and a range of online courses, many for free. They employ professionals from around the globe. You pitch your needs to persons of your choice and it is up to them to quote for the work you want done. I chose an Australian professional to do the layout, design and cover for the book. She charged Cover HB $400, Internals $500, Press files $100 and archived final files $50 – a total of $950. It was quite daunting making a choice as there were so many great people available and charges varied enormously.

MoshPit Publishing did the printing for us. For around $1400 they provided a printed proof copy, publishing via Amazon and Ingram to their distributors for global print-on-demand sales (inc. Barnes & Noble, Booktopia, and more), publishing of ebook via Amazon and Smashwords to their distributors for global sales (inc. Kindle, Apple iBookstore, Kobo etc), 10 copies of the final published book and Legal Deposit copies ordered and posted to the relevant locations (universities, libraries). Jennifer and Ally Mosher were quick, efficient, responsive and knowledgeable. They make a very special team and I would certainly choose to work with them again.

How long did it take from submission of your manuscript to receipt of advance copies? 

It took around six weeks from submission to MoshPit until we received advance copies. There were some unavoidable delays not caused by Moshpit so it could easily have been quicker.

Why did you choose MoshPit?

I had read favourable things in a Foot in the Door article about MoshPit Publishing, an Australian company located in the Blue Mountains. I contacted them along with several other companies but found MoshPit gave the most useful answers. I liked their friendly tone and lack of a hard sell.

How many copies did you get printed? And what was the unit cost? 

Initially I had 150 copies (including ten free) printed at the cost of $7.00 each. I have just ordered another 100 with the cost going to $7.25.

Are you happy about the quality of paper, design and printing?

The quality of paper, design and printing is excellent. I did wonder if I should have made the book larger (it is 20 x 20) but now that I am used to it, it feels exactly right
.

How will you distribute copies?

Copies are available as a print book through contacting me on my website (donnagibbsbooks.com) or from places referred to above such as Book Depository in the U.K (https://www.bookdepository.com/When-the-Cats-Away-Donna-Gibbs-Dr/9781925666434 ) (free postage) for $15.97; Amazon for $11.95 U.S plus postage; The MoshShop for $24.95 (free postage in Australia).

It is available as an ebook from Amazon and Smashwords for around $3.00.

Anything else you’d like to say about your experience?

The whole experience of creating the book was a delight. My illustrator was such a pleasure to work with and the finished product exceeded my expectations. We know children are enjoying the book as we’ve had many messages telling us so from parent and teachers. Self-publishing in my experience is not likely to be financially rewarding, but for satisfaction and a sense of fulfillment it can be very rewarding.

The Sisters Saint-Claire

The Sisters Saint-Claire written by Carlie Gibson, illustrated by Tamsin Ainslie (Allen & Unwin)  HB RRP $19.99

ISBN 9781760291563

Reviewed by Daniela Andrews

Do you know that unspoken rule about never doing your grocery shopping while you’re hungry? I suggest you apply the same such rule to the reading of this book! Tamsin Ainslie has created a mouth-watering gastronomical feast for the eyes with her delicate, pastel-coloured illustrations of pies, cheeses, baguettes, croissants and crepes. She and first-time author Carlie Gibson bring a French market place to life in this classical tale of a little mouse with big ambitions.

Cecile Saint-Claire’s four big sisters think she’s too small to go to Sunday market with them, but her parents believe she is ready. Each sister has her own interest in the market – Hattie wants to buy cheese, Violet wants to buy fruit, Beatrice wants to buy croissant ingredients and Minette wants to buy butter. Cecile, however, wants to sell her divine gourmet pies. Ladies and gentlemice visit her stall but are not willing to buy pies baked by someone so young. Fortunately, Cecile’s luck changes when a royal visitor comes to the market and samples some of her fare.

This empowering story for readers aged 4–8 years delivers a wonderful message that ‘great things can come from the smallest of us’. Readers will enjoy the author’s gentle rhymes, peppered with mouse humour (of course)!

‘I’ve baked yummy pies, I’m sure I can sell …’

Who could say no to this madam-mouselle?

The hardcover book itself looks rather delicious and would make a lovely gift. It is styled a bit like a quaint little French recipe book, with colourful berries decorating both the front cover and endpapers. (Tamsin Ainslie has illustrated recipe books before, so I’m not surprised!) The title and names of the author and illustrator are gently embossed on the front cover.

Oh and if you do dare read this while you’re hungry, don’t worry – there’s a délicieux recipe for a Croque Monsier included at the back!

This & That

This & That by Mem Fox, illustrated by Judy Horacek (Scholastic Australia)

HB RRP $19.99

ISBN 978-1-74362-253-7

Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

Mem Fox’s latest picture book is a lively romp through a whimsical world of bedtime stories. This & That is a rhyming tale for two mice having adventures via stories.

‘I’ll tell you a story of this,

And I’ll tell you a story of that.’

The mice flow beautifully from one story to the next – down a river, on the back of an elephant, and so on – until they are back home, mother mouse kissing her child goodnight. The bedtime procrastination routine and the value of stories run clearly through the pages, but it is the bond between mother and child which shines thorough strongest as they journey through the world of stories together.

Horacek’s vibrant and joyous illustrations echo the energy of the text and her recognisable style and colour fill the sparsely worded pages. The partnership between word and pictures is beautifully balanced throughout.

The rhythm and repetition of the text make this a perfect bedtime read aloud story for the young. Both words and pictures leave so much scope for the imagination to flourish and grow.

The previous collaboration from this pair, Where is the Green Sheep? has been on top of best-selling lists for the last ten years.

Rumble in the Jungle

Rumble in the Jungle by Geronimo Stilton (Scholastic Inc)
PB RRP $12.99
ISBN 978-0-545-48193-9
Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

Geronimo Stilton is a calm peaceful rodent. His Mousebook page is full of posts about books and antique cheese rinds, along with photos of himself in elegant jackets sitting in his office. And this is just how Geronimo, editor of the Rodent’s Gazette in New Mouse City, likes his life to be.

Unfortunately, his friend Bruce Hyena thinks Geronimo needs more exciting and adventurous photos on Mousebook. Bruce arranges two friends, Wild Willie and Maya, to whisk Geronimo off to experience some adventure (and get some good snapshots of course). But when they land in Brazil, Wild Willie and Maya disappear, leaving Geronimo, self confessed scaredy-mouse, to negotiate the wild country himself in search of the two lost mice.

All the books in the Geronimo series are action packed adventures, filled with colour illustrations, fun facts (in this case on Brazil, the people, culture and language) and humorous word play. Geronimo is a likeable mouse who finds himself in situations beyond his control. He pushes back his fears and carries on regardless, usually winding up the hero.

This a fun series for the early primary age and older reluctant readers.

The Song of the Winns

The Song of the Winns—The Gerander Trilogy book 1 by Frances Watts, illustrations by David Francis (ABC Books)
PB RRP $14.99
ISBN 978 0 7333 2786 5
Reviewed by Jenny Mounfield

Mice Alex, Alice and Alistair have been living with their aunt and uncle since their parents failed to return home from a trip four years ago. Little do they realise this was no ordinary business trip; their parents were, in fact, on a mission to liberate their homeland Gerander, a situation the triplets haven’t a clue about.

When Alistair is snatched from his room one night and finds himself deposited in another country, he is desperate to return home. He meets Tibby Rose, a little ginger mouse just like him. Ginger hair, they will soon learn, is a trait that marks them as Gerandans. It is also a trait that makes them a target of extreme prejudice. And so with lonely Tibby Rose in tow, the two mice embark on a journey that will test each as never before.

Meanwhile back in Smiggins, Alistair’s siblings are about to embark on a journey of their own. Throw into this mix pirates, spies and political skulduggery and what you get is, Stuart Little meets The Wind in the Willows with a splash of George Orwell’s Animal Farm thrown in for good measure.

Given Watts’s editing background, it comes as no surprise that her characterisation and narrative skill are excellent and her plot well-thought out. Francis’s detailed pencil sketches at the beginning of each chapter are the perfect accompaniment, adding just the merest hint of what is to come.

At almost 300 pages, and with language and concepts that lean towards complex, I would recommend this for ambitious readers at the mid to upper end of the 9-14 age range.

Watts is the author of a number of successful titles. Of particular note are her picture books: Kisses for Daddy (illustrations by David Legge), which won a 2006 CBCA Honour Book award and winner of the Eve Powell Award 2008, Parsley Rabbit’s Book About Books (also illustrated by David Legge)

Jenny Mounfield is the author of three novels for kids, her most recent title being: The Ice-cream Man (Ford St). She has been reviewing for Buzz Words since ’06.