This is a stunningly illustrated story told in the style of a traditional fairy tale. An old man who lives near a forest looks and wonders at a tree full of birds on the river bank. He longs for them to come near him but they always stay away. When the old man makes a magic flute, all the birds of the forest flock to him accompanied by insects, lizards and the fish from the lake. But magic has a way of tricking those who are unwary and the cunning of a cat soon gets the better of him. Originally published in 1984, this stunning edition of Holcroft's magical story has been newly illustrated by renowned American artist Leah Palmer Preiss.

 

There are 32 pages in this book. This is a picture book. A picture book uses pictures and text to tell the story. The number of words varies from zero ('wordless') to around 1k over 32 pages. Picture books are typically aimed at young readers (age 3-6) but can also be aimed at older children (7+). This book was published 2012 by Penguin Group (NZ) .

Anthony Holcroft lives with his wife Julia on a rural property near Rangiora in North Canterbury. His books and stories for children have been published in a number of countries, and adapted for radio and television. Awards and honours for his work include the International Reading Association's Short Story Award, which recognises authors of outstanding short fiction for children worldwide; and the inclusion of his picture book Chen Li and the River Spirit in the New Zealand Book Council's 100 Best New Zealand Books of the 20th Century. As well as writing, protecting the environment has always been an important concern of Anthony's. He has been involved for a number of years in two personal restoration projects in North Canterbury, for which he recently received an environmental award. The Old Man and the Cat is a story with strong environmental themes. Leah Palmer Preiss majored in art at Smith College, Massachusetts. She is a renowned American illustrator, artist and animator, and her work has appeared in numerous annuals & exhibits, including Society of Illustrators, Print, Spectrum, Visual Club and RSVP competitions. Her paintings have been included in gallery shows in the United States and New Zealand. Leah lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, in the United States of America.