By T. S. Eliot (author) , Arthur Robins (illustrator) Part of the A Faber Picture Book series
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Arthur Robins’s scratchy illustrations are full of humour and he’s proving to be the perfect partner for T.S. Eliot. Skimbleshanks is the third of the Old Possum poems Robins has illustrated and it’s another rousing success. The world Eliot describes might be long gone, but Robins makes it totally friendly and recognisable to children.
Skimbleshanks the railway cat looks wonderful in his railwayman’s uniform, exuding just the right amount of benevolence and bossiness, and Robins has fun with the other characters too, choosing to make the passenger preparing for bed a little old lady, and adding a carriage of rowdy dogs – Skimbleshanks confiscates their football!
A delightful picture book in its own right, and a great way to introduce young children to great poetry, they’ll soon be reciting the verse with you. ~ Andrea Reece
All aboard as Skimbleshanks, the Railway Cat, stars in the third picture-book pairing from Arthur Robins and T. S. Eliot's Old Possum's cats, set on the Night Mail train where Skimble won't let anything go wrong.
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The picture books taken from Old Possum's Cats include -
Macavity! Mr Mistoffelees The Conjuring Cat Skimbleshanks The Railway Cat
Praise for Macavity!
‘I love MaCATity.’ (Me – It’s Macavity.) ‘Yes that’s what I said, MaCATity, because he looks like my cat and he is a very very funny naughty naughty cheat. And my name is on the cover (Arthur Robins).’ Robin, age 4, and mum, Donna
‘This was fun to read to my little sister. I read the story and she shouted “Macavity’s not there!” a lot and in her loudest voice.’ Hal, age 11
‘We loved this book! We read it once, then Hazel asked me again the next day to read the story about the cat “they can’t find”.’ Hazel, age 4, and mum, Shona
‘I like the funny police dog and the naughty cat!’ Otto, age 6
‘All the cats are naughty, aren’t they – but Macavity is the naughtiest.’ Seb, age 4
Thomas Stearns Eliot (1888-1965) was born in St. Louis, Missouri, of an old New England family. He was educated at Harvard and did graduate work in philosophy at the Sorbonne, Harvard, and Merton College, Oxford. He settled in England in 1915, where he was for a time a schoolmaster and a bank clerk, and eventually literary editor for the publishing house Faber & Faber, of which he later became a director.
He published his first book of poems in 1917.
He founded and, during the seventeen years of its publication (1922-1939), edited the exclusive and influential literary journal Criterion. In 1927, Eliot became a British citizen and about the same time entered the Anglican Church.
Eliot received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1948.
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All aboard as Skimbleshanks, the Railway Cat, stars in the third picture-book pairing from Arthur Robins and T. S.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed Skimbleshanks The Railway Cat and determined it is suitable for children aged 0-4 years old
Skimbleshanks The Railway Cat features in the following genres: Featured Books for 3+ readers, Recommendations, Books for Babies and Toddlers, Poetry Books for Children, Children’s / Teenage poetry, anthologies, annuals, Children’s, Teenage and Educational, Recommended Children's eBooks
Paperback. £7.19, down from the £7.99 cover price. In Stock.
Skimbleshanks The Railway Cat was written by T. S. Eliot and published by Faber Children's Books an imprint of Faber & Faber
Skimbleshanks The Railway Cat has 32 pages
Yes it is part of A Faber Picture Book series
£7.19, reduced from £7.99. In Stock.
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