Trouble and the missing cat by Cate Whittle

Ill. by Stephen Michael King. Omnibus Books, 2016. ISBN 9781742990774
(Age: 7+) Recommended. A further adventure with Trouble the dragon and feisty friend Georgia will delight readers and has universal appeal. Trouble has been banned from landing on the school's playground because he broke the asphalt, and can't land on the oval because he is burning the grass. But riding to school and elsewhere on Trouble's back is the only way that the family can get around. And then there is the mystery of Mrs Jones' cat Tibbles, who has gone missing.
This is a charming story and the reader quickly becomes involves in the lives of Trouble and Georgia. Whittle's narrative makes it very easy for the reader to suspend belief about having a dragon for a friend and the adventures of the two make for an engrossing read. Georgia is a very clever girl who really enjoys solving mysteries and puts all her ingenuity and intelligence in solving the mystery of what has happened to Tibbles, especially as Mrs Jones is missing him so much. Her compassion is evident as she gives Trouble a helping hand to overcome his loneliness and her problem solving skills are phenomenal.
Stephen Michael King's quirky illustrations add an extra dimension and humour to the beautifully written text.
Readers who enjoy some well written magic realism with their mystery stories will not be disappointed.
Pat Pledger