Tibbles the Cat

A curious cat named Tibbles moves to a new island home, where she discovers a rare flightless bird and causes its extinction due to her predatory behavior. This book presents a tragicomic plot with a foundation in Greek tragedy, highlighting the unintended consequences of human actions on the environment. Tibbles the Cat is a humorous and educational story for children aged 6–9, teaching them about history, conservation, and the impact of humans on animal species.

Format: Hardback
Length: 24 pages
Publication date: 18 January 2024
Publisher: Albatros nakladatelstvi as

When a curious cat named Tibbles and her owner move across the world from England to a new home on a small island off the coast of New Zealand in 1894, everything seems idyllic at first. Then things go horribly wrong. In this charming little story, the oblivious, amusing hero, Tibbles, discovers a rare species of flightless bird that had never previously been described – the Stephens Island wren. Unfortunately, Tibbles also becomes the cause of the birds extinction by preying on them.

Beneath the surface of this whimsically told story is a sophisticated tragicomic plot with a foundation in Greek tragedy. Tibbles' killing of the Stephens Island wrens led to the eventual extinction of the entire species, and the tragedy is heightened by the fact that Tibbles was not a malicious or malevolent creature, but rather a normal cat behaving according to its instincts. To add insult to injury, Tibbles is not only innocent and ignorant about the effects of her actions; she is also silly, care-free, and wildly unconcerned. This book presents a true story in a subtly comedic light, but the underlying tragedy is still present, emphasizing the unintended consequences of human actions on the environment.

Ultimately, the tale of Tibbles the cat had a silver lining – it brought global awareness to the dangers of introducing non-native animal species to other continents. Beautifully illustrated in a vintage style, with heavy graphic novel elements, this quirky, captivating tale will take readers on an emotional, darkly funny journey of discovery and consequence, all while teaching valuable lessons about the environment and the human.

Weight: 234g
Dimension: 206 x 207 x 10 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9788000070056