SuitabookA Cat Called Waverley
Debi Gliori
- Reading
- Read together if possible, pausing when the illustrations shift towards war or loneliness. Afterwards, invite observations before explanations, and let the child decide whether to discuss personal experiences of separation or loss.
- Themes
- Homelessness and public attention: Waverley receives care from passers-by while Darren is described as a lone figure being ignored. The contrast appears to invite readers to question why compassion may be offered more readily to an animal than to a homeless person.
- Friendship, separation and reunion: Waverley’s best friend Donald leaves, and Waverley waits at the station until they are eventually reunited. The story presents sustained waiting and attachment, with reunion supplying a hopeful turn, though the emotional meaning is not fully known.
- War and its effects: The illustrations reportedly show Darren, a homeless war veteran, facing the horrors of war. The book’s stance on this remains unclear.
- Worth knowing
- The illustrations reportedly show the horrors of war and a veteran’s homelessness. Donald’s departure and the eventual reunion may also bring sadness, longing and relief; the emotional weight may be worth acknowledging beforehand.