Fun tale for kids and cat lovers hits the shelves on Thursday

Curious cats, a forgetful Dad and a drifting boat get all at sea in a new ‘Kiwi-as’ picture book

Mr Jones is probably not the only bloke who has forgotten to tie up the boat properly of late. But he may be the only one who has then had his boat commandeered by a pair of cats!

 

Captain Cat is the outcome of a real bit of misadventure that Joan Joass’ moggies got up to when husband Paul had to hurry from his dinghy to the wharf behind their house on Herald Island. 

In the book, Fluff and Scout’s love of fish gets the better of them as they leap into the dinghy, and find it floating out into the estuary.

 

The boat’s owner might not be onto it, but the neighbourhood kids are! Spying the cats afloat, one posts on social media: ‘Do you know whose cats are these? Get in touch and HURRY please!’

 

Following on from their successful 2020 outing The Longdrop — which reprinted only a month after its launch — Joan teams up again with Bob Darroch for a tale of typical Kiwi warmth and fun.

Bob’s vibrant, jam-packed illustrations hilariously depict Fluff and Scout’s adventures at sea, in a story that kids and fishing dads will relate to.

The authors

Joan Joass is a retired primary school teacher with science degrees in geology and chemistry.  She lives on Herald Island, West Auckland, close to the water with her husband Paul and a pair of cats.   

Bob Darroch has written and illustrated numerous children’s books over a long career, including his bestselling Little Kiwi series. He lives in Temuka, South Canterbury. 

Publication: 3 June 2021  |  RRP $19.99  |  ISBN:  978-0-947506-86-5

Paperback, 230 x 215 mm, 32 pages, colour

Fun picture book celebrates the great Kiwi holiday and the great Kiwi longdrop

As New Zealand emerges from the Covid-19 pandemic the family holiday on the coast has a great attraction. 

The Longdrop will rekindle those memories and laughs for kids, parents and grandparents in a distinctive Kiwi style. 

Here are all the ingredients of the coastal getaway — a  caravan, a beach and the sometimes-smelly toilet shed out the back of the holiday section — the longdrop.

Author Joan Joass took inspiration from a real-life event holidaying with her family, when her husband Paul saw there was too much paper in their outside loo — and decided the quickest solution was to light it! 




In the book, the kids just need to go, and the public loo is sooo far away from their caravan. So, Dad builds a longdrop.

When the paper builds to capacity Dad thinks and thinks and solves his problem — with a match. Much hilarity ensues, as the parent and kids rally round to show what family is all about. 



To capture the true-blue Kiwi atmosphere, Joan teamed up with veteran illustrator Bob Darroch — and says she’s totally delighted with the way he has brought her words to life.

As a former teacher, Joan has taken pleasure in compiling a Teacher Resource to support the book's use in schools. To see the resource click here.

The authors

Joan Joass is a retired primary school teacher with science degree in geology and chemistry and a career that includes stints as a wine-laboratory technician and a bus driver. This is her first picture book. Joan lives on Herald Island, West Auckland.   

Bob Darroch has written and illustrated numerous children’s books over a long career, including his bestselling Little Kiwi series. He lives in Temuka, South Canterbury. 

Publication: 16 June 2020  |  RRP $19.99  |  ISBN:  978-0-947506-71-1

Paperback, 230 x 215 mm, 32 pages, colour