Alby and The Cat is a book for children.

I read this book to my three grandchildren – first to the 7 & 8 year olds girls, who hung on every word.  Then to my ten year old grandson, who couldn’t wait to hear more. (He is a good reader, but we make reading time ‘our time’ in the evening when we read a book together.)

I was surprised to find he was just as interested in the book as the girls.

The story is about Alby, a guide dog, although that isn’t explained until we’re well into the book. The role of a guide dog is explained through the eyes of a cat, which remains unnamed until page 33.   Referring to ‘the cat’ until this time, I found to be very off-putting as I couldn’t relate.  But it didn’t deter the children. 

They became more and more curious as the book continued.

Through the pages we learned what a guide dog is, how it is trained to alert the owner to danger, the way it is taught not to react to distractions, and how it is a ‘working’ dog and needs to be on alert the whole time.

I found it strange that the author, Leanne Davidson, chose to have the dog wait outside a shop while the owner went inside alone.  After all, guide dogs are permitted to enter shops because of their role.

The reason was explained in the book, and the children accepted it happily.

Throughout the book, Pussums (the cat) and Alby (the dog) were at odds with each other, until the cat saves the dog from a dangerous situation.

By the end of the book they each found good traits in the other.  This happy resolution satisfied the children’s sense of a happy ending.

As much as I liked the book and the message it sends, I found some of the language to be above the age of the targeted reader.  I had to stop reading several times – for both age groups – and explain words along the way.  (i.e. reverberating, ecstatic.)

This issue occurs only a few times, so please don’t let this put you off buying the book.