A magical cat, an ice-cream van that makes delicious moon-creams and a quest to bring joy to those who need it most. Now in paperback!
Mr Hooper and The Cat with the Coloured Tail travel through the countryside in their ice-cream van. They enjoy looking for heart shapes (their favourite game) and making people happy with their delicious moon-creams. But a dark feeling is following the cat. Something is wrong. When the ice-cream van enters the forest, Mr Hooper and the cat realise the heart of the world is in danger. Will they be able to save it? A lyrical fable about love and healing.
- “Gillian Mears’ distinctive voice is undimmed and her yearning fable is a sweet and gentle reminder of the two great forces that lie dormant within us – kindness and hope. Her work hasn’t just described life; it’s enhanced it. And we owe her thanks.” Tim Winton
- A tender fable-like tale about love and healing that works on many levels. The story is rich in symbolism and with a subtle yet powerful environmental message but is still able to be enjoyed as a magical story.
- Delicate, finely detailed illustrations from debut illustrator Dinalie Dabarera. This was short-listed for the 2016 Children's Book Council of Australia Crichton Award for New Illustrators.
About the Author
Gillian Mears (1964 - 2016) was loved for her novels and short stories, including the 2012 multi-award-winning novel for adults
Foal’s Bread. She wrote
The Cat with the Coloured Tail while camped in the South Australian mallee, in her converted ambo camper, Ant and Bee.
The Cat with the Coloured Tail was short-listed for the 2016 ABIA awards.
About the Illustrator
Dinalie Dabarera is a freelance illustrator based in Sydney. She specialises in pencil sketches of imaginary worlds and strange occurrences.
The Cat with the Coloured Tail is her first book.
Industry Reviews
It's a story that will appeal to all ages and especially to anyone who loves fairytales... The finely detailed coloured-pencil illustrations on each page enhance the mood of the story and, together with the elegant typesetting, give this book a timeless feel. -- Margaret Hamilton * Books+Publishing *
A beautiful reminder of the kindness and hope within us. -- Boomerang Books * Boomerang Books *
The book will make a great birthday or Christmas gift -- 103.1FM Grafton * 103.1FM Grafton *
A sweet tale about the human qualities of kindness, love and hope. -- Magpies * Magpies *
With its dreamy illustrations, the book explores how love and empathy have their own healing power. -- Sydney Morning Herald * Sydney Morning Herald *
This is a joyful, lovely little book, beautifully designed in hardback and offering a rewarding environmental message -- ReadPlus * ReadPlus *
This is a beautiful parable about kindness and love and how these virtues can restore the world. Award-winning author Gillian Mears has created a story as sweet and delicious as ice cream on a warm summer's day. Utterly gorgeous illustrations by Dinalie Dabarera complete the package. -- Readings * Readings *
A beautiful story about seeing the best in life and to be always on the lookout for love. -- Creative Kids Tales * Creative Kids Tales *
Aimed at the 8+ year age groups, this beautifully presented book combines prose interspersed throughout with lyrical poetry. It will surely be used to generate discussions on kindness and hope in our world. Its stunning illustrations created with pencil are striking and unique in style. They exude the calm felt by the lonely in the cat's presence. * Buzz Words *
This poignant, delicious, heart-felt fable will actually appeal to a much wider reader range than 6-8 yr olds...Some of Mears' cat descriptions are so perfect you can almost feel the cat curled up in your lap or poking his head out through the top of your jumper. His kitten-like way of chasing his own tail of happiness is an image that I will cherish for a long time to come. -- Brona's Books * Brona's Books *
The Cat with the Coloured Tail is a fable for all ages -- Sydney Morning Herald * Sydney Morning Herald *
This is a melancholy story at times, an effect enhanced by Dabarera's gorgeous but muted pencil illustrations. It explores challenging concepts including death (reading it one cannot but think of the author's own serious illness) and so is one for older readers, say 10 and up. But it's a book we've talked about a lot. -- The Australian * The Australian *
The pictures are mostly black and white, with pops of colour. While I expect children will be attracted to her drawings of the amazing moon-cream flavours, like firecracker and double-scoop stars, my favourite is her depiction of the elderly lady's lively step following her first lick of the "fragrant old-fashioned rose" pink moon-cream. -- Reading Time * Reading Time *
Best Books of 2015 -- The Australian * The Australian *
Best children's books of 2015 -- Sydney Morning Herald * Sydney Morning Herald *
The Cat with the Coloured Tail is a moving, whimsical fable about the power of hope and of love. Readers of all ages will love the mysterious, joyful cat and his kindly companion, and the joy they bring each other and those they meet. -- Aussie Reviews * Aussie Reviews *
Five reasons we love The Cat With the Coloured Tail -- Readings * Readings *
I was drawn to this gorgeous hardback for children with its porcelain-green cover and wonderful drawings (by Dinalie Dabarera) the moment I saw it in Gleebooks. -- A Bigger Brighter World * A Bigger Brighter World *