Old Tom’s Big Book of Beauty (Leigh Hobbs, A&U, $24.95 hb, ISBN 9781741145229, October) ****

Anyone who has encountered Old Tom on the popular ABC children’s cartoon, or in one of his six picture books to date, will know that he is an acquired taste. Scruffy and unkempt, Old Tom plays by his own rules and only his beloved owner Angela Throgmorton appreciates his inner beauty. In an effort to make his appearance more palatable, Angela gives Old Tom The Big Book of Beauty, and discovers that you really can teach an old cat new tricks. He takes all of the advice very seriously, and suddenly is transformed from outcast and rebel to socialite and superstar. Unfortunately, however, his transformation appears more mental that physical, and it is not long before the mangy mog shows his true colours. There’s a lot of our national spirit in the character of Old Tom. We like to think we’re irreverent, confronting and free-spirited. Where the kids will love the humour and lavish illustrations, mums and dads can muse on Old Tom’s approach to life and reflect on whether he’s a role model or reprobate. There is opportunity here to either just enjoy the story and Old Tom’s antics, or discuss the true nature of beauty and social etiquette.

Ben Beaton is a writer and teacher in Perth

This review from Australian Bookseller & Publisher magazine is reproduced by kind permission of Thorpe-Bowker, a division of R R Bowker LLC. © Copyright 2007, Thorpe-Bowker