Pearl in a Whirl

The beautiful Pearl graces the cover of this book and instantly you want to pick it up.

'Pearl in a Whirl' is based on actual events following Cyclone Gabrielle as it hit Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. It follows the story of a family and their cat.

While Pearl is enjoying her very fine life, she is interrupted by a storm that results in horrific flooding. The family must evacuate but they go without Pearl. How will Pearl survive and will she be reunited with her family?

Catherine Robertson has related this story with a sympathetic narrative written in diary form. The text includes speech bubbles and bold high impact words with words that repeat throughout the story encouraging listener participation when read aloud. The illustrations are responsive to the text, dark during the storm, and muted mud tones through the flood, bringing brighter colours as the rescue unfolds. I particularly like all the small details like the water dripping off the cat’s paws.

At the end of the story the reader can meet the real Pearl and read the timeline of events.