Andrea Balance (text) and Grasya Oliyko (illustrator), Creature, Walker Books Australia, September 2021, 32 pp., RRP $27.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781838740412
For cat lovers, felines can be the centre of the universe. Andrea Ballance and Grasya Oliyko’s Creature embraces this concept in vivid colour. By taking a fresh look at a day in the life of a cat, we see the familiar antics of a cat at play take on a whole new meaning. Narrated in first-person (first-feline?) this book explores the idea that a cat’s world is like an entire universe. “I stretch out, roll over and yawn. Exposing my furry tummy like a solar system.” We see how with a different perspective, the everyday can actually become something remarkable.
Oliyko’s illustrations burst with colour. The cosmos is crafted within each picture and delightful details add joy. Ballance’s rhythmical prose instils a sense of calm and wonder in the reader, perfect for a bedtime story.
Beautifully illustrated, Creature celebrates imagination, and the delight cats can bring. Recommended for cat lovers aged three and over.
Reviewed by Fiona Miller-Stevens
