Rebecca Ralfe (text) and Gabriella Petruso (illustrator), Milo’s Little Secret, Larrikin House, June 2021, 32 pp., RRP $24.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781922503145
Everyone has heard one version of the story about the cat that gets fed by several different neighbourhood families. Here it is brought vividly to life in the tale about Milo (or is he Ron or Colonel Mustard or Rudy or Rasheed?)
Milo’s secret comes unravelled when he goes missing. The family puts up posters with a picture of him all around the neighbourhood and suddenly they are inundated with their clamouring neighbours who all call him something different and, it turns out, all feed him. How Milo is found, and how the situation of multiple mealtimes is subsequently resolved is cleverly done.
The illustrations are humorous and colourful, with good use of white space and the facial expressions of humans and cat reveal a range of emotions.
This is a funny and entertaining romp about a cat with personality.
Reviewed by Lynne Babbage
