This charming little story with vintage vibe illustrations tells the tale of a cat and its owner that move to a new home, where things take an unexpected turn.

This peculiar book with graphic novel elements recounts a true story that happened on a small island just off the coast of New Zealand in 1894. The tragicomic hero of the tale is a cat named Tibbles, who belonged to the keeper of the island’s lighthouse.

Tibbles discovers a rare species of previously undescribed flightless bird—the Stephens Island wren, and simultaneously becomes the cause of its demise, thereby inadvertently contributing to global awareness of the danger of domesticating non-native animal species on other continents.

Chosen as a Children’s Book Council Hot of the Press book (December 2023)