World Book Day: Tabby McTat & Samuel Sprat

World Book Day is here and my granddaughter is dressing as a very special kitten. Here are some purr-feet resources so you can get in on the fun…

Happy World Book Day 2022! 

I hope you’re making the most of all the excellent resources that are available for readers of all ages. 

This year for World Book Day my granddaughter Daisy is dressing as Samuel Sprat, the little kitten from Tabby McTat by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.

This is the second time she’s chosen to dress as a character created by this incredibly popular duo.

Samuel Sprat is one of three kittens in a litter belonging to Tabby McTat and his partner Sock.

Unlike his brother Soames and his sister Susan, Samuel Sprat has ‘a deafening miaow and a very loud purr’. He is therefore unable to be re-homed because his voice is too loud for any potential owner to bear!

Thankfully, Samuel is able to find his place in the world by becoming a busker’s cat. The story ends with him singing with Fred, his father’s old human companion, in a local square.

Daisy was very happy to help with the construction of her costume, painting stripes on an old t-shirt to match Samuel’s tabby colouring (he looks just like his dad) and stuffing kitchen roll into the leg of an old pair of tights to plump up her new tail.

There are lots of readings of Tabby McTat for children to enjoy on YouTube. 

One point of contention among readers is what tune to apply to the song that McTat, Sprat and Fred sing on several occasions throughout the story!

The lyrics are:

Me, you and the old guitar

How perfectly, perfectly happy we are

MEEE-EW and the old guitar

How PURRRR-fectly happy we are!

Due to popular demand, Donaldson and her husband Malcolm (who busked their way across Europe and the US in the 1970s) have performed her version of the tune. 

But Donaldson emphasises it’s perfectly fine to make up your own version – as with the costume interpretations we create, it’s all part of the fun of World Book Day!

Granny Smith says…

A bonus Julia Donaldson story recommendation today: Daisy really enjoyed this performance of The Smartest Giant in Town, which features contributions by Imelda Staunton and Jim Carter, and some great sound effects. Enjoy!