Madeleine Floyd

The Captain's Purr by Madeleine Floyd is not a new picture book: it was published in 2003. But when I picked up a second-hand copy the other day, I was reminded of her exquisite illustrations and I felt I ought to remind Babygadget readers, too.

As parents, we all run the risk of our kids getting fixated by books which bore us, or which we even find aesthetically repellent. Bedtime stories are a much more pleasant prospect when both child and adult are happily absorbed in the tale, and we can only increase our chances by stocking up on the books that we admire most. The Captain's Purr is a simple but surprising tale, and if you are like me, you'll enjoy looking at the pictures long after you know the story off by heart.

I was surprised to see that since this book's publication, Floyd has only put out one other, Cold Paws, Warm Heart in 2005. Perhaps that reflects how long it takes to make illustrations in such detail?