Tabby McTat: 1

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Julia and Axel’s book is a beautiful, heartwarming story that we’re delighted to be adapting for BBC viewers this Christmas,” Goodland said. The film will see busker Fred and musical cat Tabby enjoy their life singing to audiences in London streets before tragedy strikes. The friendship between Fred and Tabby is a truly special one and the film explores how their relationship changes unexpectedly as their lives move forward, and ultimately, how they learn to embrace that change.” The film is directed by Sarah Scrimgeour and Jac Hamman, who both previously worked on Donaldson and Scheffler adaptation Superworm, and is written by Max Lang and Suzanne Lang.

Tabby McTat, the Musical Cat Hardcover – Picture Book Tabby McTat, the Musical Cat Hardcover – Picture Book

The BBC has released a first-look of forthcoming Christmas animated adventure, Tabby McTat, a story set on the streets of London about the warm and wonderful friendship between a musical cat and a talented busker called Fred.Tabby McTat is such a beautiful story about embracing change and the transitions in life as well - from childhood to adulthood and people going on journeys. There is so much warmth and celebration of family and community, but then there's also, the moments of fear and loss that is often a gain. I am a cat-lover, and I also used to go busking with my husband Malcolm. So I put a cat and a busker together in this story. Jodie Whittaker, the narrator of this year’s adaptation, reflects on what it means to her to be involved, how the story resonates with her own childhood, and of course, on being a cat lover! Tabby McTat was busker’s cat with a miaow that was loud and strong, the two of them sang of this and that’– this particular tale is of Tabby McTat becoming separating from his dotting owner, the busker. After searching for the busker in the familiar square ‘he was never there’, so McTat goes on a journey as he finds a new family, and in turn a wife. The buskers cats life changes dramatically as he has ‘a very full life with plenty of things to do, like washing Prunella, and pouncing on Pat, and hiding the car keys under the mat’– and he even has kittens of his own, but he can never settle as he misses the busker too much. As McTat goes in search of the busker, his young son, Samuel Sprat follows him. Once McTat is reunited with the busker he then realises he doesn’t have time for busking now he has his life with his wife –‘then out from the shadow sprang Samuel Sprat’ - and little Samuel takes the role as the buskers cat. Tabby McTat is directed by Sarah Scrimgeour (Superworm) and Jac Hamman (Superworm); written by Max Lang and Suzanne Lang; and produced by Barney Goodland and Michael Rose of Magic Light Pictures. The film was acquired by Charlotte Moore, BBC Chief Content Officer and Nawfal Faizullah, BBC Drama Commissioning Editor.

Tabby McTat By Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler |The Works Tabby McTat By Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler |The Works

Parental note: Do not underestimate the interest from younger readers in this book – the powerful illustrations and the tone of the story are well worth introducing to them early.It is produced by Barney Goodland and Michael Rose of Magic Light Pictures, which has adapted other works from the children’s picture book duo including Oscar-nominated short film The Gruffalo. Forgotten the title or the author of a book? Our BookSleuth is specially designed for you. Visit BookSleuth The infamous partnerships of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler is once again a winning formula as the illustrations more than do justice to the story. The details of Scheffler’s drawings bring to life further the story, and kids will have fun searching for the gruffulo (now a trademark to his illustrations). Tabby McTat is purr-fectly happy, singing along all day with Fred the busker. But when Fred gives chase to a thief, the two are separated. I used to love busking with my husband, Malcolm, when we were living in Bristol, and also in Paris,” Donaldson said. “We also both love cats – in fact, we’ve just acquired two new kittens named Tabitha and McTat.