A graceful prose retelling of a 9th-century Gaelic poem thought to have been written by an Irish monk in a German abbey. In the poem, the monk compares the cat’s hunt for mice to his own search for knowledge. Sydney Smith’s watercolor and ink illustrations provide a strong sense of time and place while his use of sequential art, in some cases on wordless page spreads, gives the book a wholly modern feel. Mostly illustrated in somber tones, the pictures burst into color when showing an illuminated manuscript that is a visual echo of the poem itself. An author’s note places the poem into a historical context, saying it’s “a peek into the time and mind of one poet” but that it also resonates age after age with anyone who has ever worked alongside a beloved pet. (Ages 5–10)

In this retelling of an Old Irish poem, an unnamed monk reflects fondly on the similarities of he and his white cat Pangur Bán. He speaks in poetic couplets of their simple daily lives. Within the muted watercolor panels and spreads, they are found mindfully studying in their shared surroundings. One reads challenging manuscripts while the other challenges sneaky mice. Neither disturbs each other during their pursuits. Timeless in the joy they find with one another, they welcome waiting patiently for a light in the darkness.

2017 Capital Choices Book Award, 2016 New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Books Award, 2016 Governor General's Literary Award for Young People's Literature – Illustrated Books Finalist.

Jo Ellen Bogart was born in Texas. She currently lives in Guelph, Ontario where she writes award winning children's books.Sydney Smith was born in Nova Scotia. After graduating NSCAD University, he moved to Toronto.

Canada. Originally published in English as White Cat and the Monk, The: A Retelling of the Poem Pangur Bán by Groundwood Books/House of Anansi Press in 2016.