The White Cat and the Monk

An enchanting retelling of a classic Old Irish poem, brought beautifully to life by the award-winning Sydney Smith, illustrator of Footpath Flowers.

From the illustrator of Footpath Flowers, Sydney Smith, and award-winning author, Jo Ellen Bogart, comes a retelling of the classic Old Irish poem, ‘P ngur Ban’ – the poem that inspired the character of Pangur B n in the Academy Award nominated animation, The Secret of Kells. The monk in the poem leads a simple life – he studies his books late into the evening, searching for meaning. His cat, Pangur, leads a simple life, too, chasing his prey in the darkness. But as night turns to dawn, can each find what he seeks? Thoughtful readers will be enchanted by this elegant, classically-inspired story which pays tribute to the wisdom of animals and the wonders of the natural world.

For all fans of Footpath Flowers and all followers of Sydney Smith’s work, both young and old.
An artful picture book: atmospheric, beautifully rendered illustrations, with gorgeous contrast between light and dark, transport readers to a 9th century Abbey.
Powerfully evokes the comfort animals can bring, and perfectly captures the feeling of reading into the night.