Vancouver Island childrenB次元官网网址檚 author Troy Wilson has released a new book, inspired by a Port Alberni man who fed squirrels from his hat.

WilsonB次元官网网址攚ho was raised in Port Alberni, but now resides in SaanichB次元官网网址攔eleased his ninth and newest book, Hat Cat, on Feb. 22. The book, published by Candlewick Press, was inspired in part by WilsonB次元官网网址檚 late grandfather, Tom Richmond.

Richmond moved to Port Alberni from Nanaimo in 1927 and worked in the sawmill industry for more than 40 years before his retirement. After retirement, one of the ways Richmond passed the time was by feeding squirrels out of his hat. Richmond even built an enclosure for the squirrels so the birds couldnB次元官网网址檛 steal their food.

In Hat Cat, a nameless old man lives alone and feeds squirrels from his hat. One day, he finds a stray kitten beneath the hat. The two become fast friends. Every day, the kitten (named Hat) watches the old man go outside to feed the squirrels. But Hat is not allowed out. What if Hat runs away, or chases the squirrelsB次元官网网址攐r worse?

One day, the old man leaves and doesnB次元官网网址檛 come home for a while. When new people come to take care of Hat, will one little girl give him the chance heB次元官网网址檚 been hoping for?

Although the old man in the book shares many similarities with WilsonB次元官网网址檚 late grandfather, there are some differences.

B次元官网网址淯nlike the old man in the book, my grandfather was not a big fan of cats,B次元官网网址� Wilson laughed.

Like Wilson, Richmond was also a storyteller. Richmond told stories through the spoken word, transporting his audience to the past through his tales. WilsonB次元官网网址檚 grandfather passed away in 2003, but Wilson still remembers him fondly.

B次元官网网址淗e would take me places that I would not otherwise have gone, whether it was some forgotten fishing hole, or taking me back to the past with his stories,B次元官网网址� said Wilson. B次元官网网址淓ven now, after his passing, heB次元官网网址檚 still doing that.B次元官网网址�

Wilson says thereB次元官网网址檚 no way he would be able to capture his grandfather in a picture book.

B次元官网网址淏ut it does give people a small peek into the kind of man he was,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 inspired in parts, but itB次元官网网址檚 not about him.B次元官网网址�

Hat Cat was also inspired in part by two other childrenB次元官网网址檚 books: Waiting for the Whales by Sheryl McFarlane and The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss.

Waiting for the Whales also features a nameless old man who begins the book alone and has a special connection with animals.

The Cat in the Hat, meanwhile, provided inspiration for the bookB次元官网网址檚 name.

Wilson says Hat Cat is very different from his previous books, as it is gentler and more heartfelt than his usual humourous fare.

B次元官网网址淚t has a lot more heart and a lot less humour,B次元官网网址� he said.

When the story first occurred to Wilson, he knew it was going to be a difficult one to write. He gives credit to his editor, Kate Fletcher of Candlewick Press, for helping to shape the story and whittle it down.

B次元官网网址淚t ended up at exactly the right place,B次元官网网址� he said.

He also gives credit to illustrator Eve Coy for providing the artwork for Hat Cat.

B次元官网网址淚 admire her work a lot,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 so warm, and I love the things sheB次元官网网址檚 done with the character design. She did a lovely job.B次元官网网址�

The book is aimed at ages four to eight, although Wilson says it can be enjoyed by anyone.

B次元官网网址淚 always like to say that picture books ought to be read by everybody,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭here are so many wonderful ones out there.B次元官网网址�

elena.rardon@albernivalleynews.com
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