A Tale of Three Tabbies, by Jane Lightbourne | Book Review

A Tale of Three Tabbies by Jane Lightbourne is a charming middle-grade novel set during the Covid-19 pandemic on a fictional Greek island called Agrion. The story follows three young tabby cats struggling to survive amid forest fires, food shortages, and hostile locals. It also tells the story of some English children on holiday who discover their plight and form a bond with them, particularly Jack, a quiet boy who chooses to spend his only euro on cat food rather than a Coca-Cola. It’s the kind of book that makes the world feel a slightly better place just for it existing.

Two English sisters, Jess and Emma, and their five children are traveling to Greece during a brief easing of Covid restrictions. The journey is chaotic with masks, squabbles and all of the Covid rigmarole of 2020. When they arrive on Agrion, the island feels eerily empty with restaurants closed and cats strangely absent. The children quickly notice something is wrong, and discover that cats are being deliberately driven away or poisoned, with locals largely disliking or fearing them and one menacing man with a stick terrorizing them. They meet Mary, an elderly woman who feeds the cats when she can, and at the restaurant Toxotis, they find the three tabbies together. Will they be able to save the cats from their perilous situation?

This book belong to that rare genre where charm just oozes out of every page. It’s simply very cute, and you can tell it is a passion project of the author, with beautiful illustrations by Gary Ray Smith that really bring the story to life. The author does a very good job of portraying cats, capturing their personalities and perspectives in a way that feels endearing, from how they move to their love of food. The descriptions of hunger as a creature with sharp incisors gnawing at the cats’ insides make their suffering impossible not to sympathize, while not getting too intense for younger readers.

I think it’s an interesting choice to set the novel during Covid. I haven’t really seen many books set in this period, and it gives the story a unique backdrop that adds to the sense of isolation and urgency. The references to masks, lockdowns, travel bubbles, iPads and even Archie sporting a hairstyle like Björn from ABBA ground the story and make it feel very modern and fun to read.

Coincidentally, I just got back from a holiday in Greece (although Athens), so this book brought me right back to Greece. I can attest there are loads of stray cats there, so the portrayal is very accurate. I was a bit confused why the author made up a fake island instead of using a real one as there’s plenty to choose from, but it didn’t really bother me. In fact, I would have liked to see more Greek culture in general incorporated, but the story’s heart and warmth more than made up for it.

As you can imagine for a children’s book, the book is easy to read. Though the writing is simple, it’s very well done. The prose stays out of its own way, letting the characters and their dilemmas take center stage. Lightbourne writes the kind of sentences you can read effortlessly, with simple vocabulary choices for kids. The story alternates between the cats’ perspectives and the children’s, which keeps the story from getting slow or repetitive. The pacing is gentle, which suits the subject matter perfectly. There is little in the way of dramatic confrontations or sudden twists. Instead, the tension comes from watching children navigate hard choices about responsibility with limited resources and conflicting pressures from adults.

The beautiful illustrations by Gary Ray Smith really bring the story to life. The illustrations are hand-drawn in pencil, and in an age of AI slop, it’s lovely to see such care put into them. The drawings are mostly of cats, but also of things like Greek restaurants and animal cages, all lovingly done with an attention to detail that complements the text perfectly. You can feel the artist’s connection to the subject matter and enthusiasm in the craft in every stroke, and though not strictly speaking necessary, the drawings add a warmth and authenticity to the book.

Overall, I loved this book and found it a really charming little cat-themed escape. It’s not aiming to be the next big thing, it’s just a lovely little read, and one I think most to all children would enjoy (especially those aged 7-11). Gary Ray Smith’s beautiful illustrations add something special to an already great read. It stays with you not necessarily because of ambitious premise or gross humour like many children’s books try to, but because of a delightful plot and lovable characters, and also it will make children think about their responsibilities to vulnerable animals.

Final verdict: A cute, accessible book that tells a fun story and simultaneously asks hard questions about our obligation to others. Perfect for animal lovers and anyone who enjoys gentle, thoughtful middle-grade fiction that treats young readers with respect, and doesn’t shy away from difficult questions. For fans of cats, people with young kids and children’s writers like Beatrix Potter and Judith Kerr.

You can get your copy of A Tale of Three Tabbies here!