The Cat That Scratched
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Cover Story
This issue’s cover is from the gift edition of Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory illustrated by Quentin Blake and with design and typography by Peter Campbell. The successful collaboration between Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake has played an important part in the popularity of Dahl’s work over the last fifteen years. Blake’s unmistakable artwork truly complements Dahl’s writing. His economical, amiable, illustrative style balances out Dahl’s often expansive language. And the liveliness, humour and pathos of the drawings offer a softer side to Dahl’s sometimes gloriously grotesque, sometimes cruel descriptions of his characters.
Thanks to Penguin Children’s Books for their help in producing this July cover which commemorates the thirty years anniversary of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’s first UK publication.
The Cat That Scratched
This second Long and Paul collaboration, a follow up to The Dog That Dug, is served up in the same irresistible combination of galloping couplets and teasing refrain. The cat will do anything to rid herself of a flea, including hoovering herself, going through a car wash and enduring the primping to end all primpings at the hairdressers. But '"Ha ha ha," said a voice, all tiny and teasy, "To get rid of me won't be nearly that easy."' The 'bothersome bug' and 'tortuous titch' (Long loves alliterative insults) eventually meets its end on the claw of an escaped lion. The plot is not as tight as The Dog That Dug but Korky Paul's unrivalled talent for conveying furious mayhem in two dimensions is given great scope. This will entertain kids from infant to top junior. I itch every time I read it.