Gilbert Goes Outside

Colin Thompson (author)

Chris Mould (illustrator)

Lothian, Australia: 2005

ISBN: 0734408765

Genres: animals, picture book

Issues: change

'Gilbert was not a happy boy. He did not like things to change. Most animals and a lot of people are like that, but with Gilbert it was worse.' Gilbert resists change the way most people resist giving up their car. So when Gilbert's Mum decides that it's time her furry friend went outside, he tries to escape into his favourite paper bag.

His Mum does the unforgiveable. She picks him up, takes him outside, and dumps him on the grass – then goes inside and shuts the door! Worse yet, she throws out his paper bags. Will Gilbert survive the many threats and mysteries of The Garden? Will he manage to live without his beloved paper bags?

Thompson's capacity to think inside the head of very scaredy scaredy-cat is hilarious. Readers will laugh out loud at Gilbert's cowardly nature as expressed in Thompson's cleverly phrased sentences and delightfully captured in Chris Mould's whimsical illustrations. Thompson's dry humour influences every line of the text and adult readers, cat lovers in particular, will crack up at the wonderfully believable and only slightly exaggerated character that he creates in Gilbert: 'There was an ache in his heart where paper bags used to live, and ache he thought he would never be able to fill. But then he saw it, standing next to the dustbin. Big and brown and beautiful. A dream that made paper bags look pathetic... And it was half past Oprah by the time he got it safely jammed under the bed in the darkest corner.'

One of Thompson's particular skills is that most of his books appeal to a reading age from 6 to 106. Gilbert Goes Outsideis no exception. It's definitely one to share as laughing together is much more fun. But be warned: your cat may not find it quite as amusing.

See also: Gilbert; The Bicycle