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Wednesday 21 August 2019

Review: Captain Cat and the Treasure Map

Patch is a courageous pirate cat that lives on board The Golden Earring with his friends, Monty the monkey and Cutlass a green parrot and talented joke-maker. 

They communicate well between themselves. The rest of the crew, Ginger, the lookout in the crow’s nest, Butch who steers the ship, the one-legged Captain Halibut, and Cannonball the cook, can’t understand them. This sometimes creates a problem with communication.

When Ginger falls overboard, the three friends try to get the others’ attention in vain. They help pull Ginger out with a friendly helping hoist from a mermaid. Ginger comes up clutching a bottle with a message in it.

Excitement stirs in everyone on board when they see it’s a treasure map! There is another paper that the pirates don’t want to see. It says something about cursed treasure. These are words Captain Halibut refuses to consider. Pirates and treasure are what register with him. The wind snatches the paper from Monty’s hand and blows away with it. It’s out of sight and out of mind.

Not for everyone though. Captain Cat is determined to save the crew; a thing that he has done many times.

Black Heart, another pirate ship and its scoundrel crew is after the same bounty. It becomes a race to win and a daring adventure.

It’s sabotage Patch and his friends have in mind. Can he save the crew of the Golden Earring from the cursed treasure? With quick sand, crocodiles, and pongy brown water to contend with, the friends go about doing what they do best – looking out for each other.  Will they succeed?

This is the first book in a new exciting series for reluctant but also confident readers. Bursting with crazy antics full of courage, excitement and the unexpected, it is excitement built into a storyline driven by terrific characters.

The illustrations by Kate Pankhurst double the enjoyment as the mischievous and the clever characters are so well depicted, they promise entertainment and enjoyable reading.

Title: Captain Cat and the Treasure Map
Author: Sue Mongredien
Illustrator: Kate Pankhurst
Publisher: Pan Macmillan, $14.99
Publication Date: 12 February 2019
Format: Paperback
For ages: 8+
Type: Junior Fiction