Cyril and Pat

by Emily Gravett

“Cyril and Pat” by Emily Gravett. Published by Two Hoots. A brilliantly funny story about how nothing is more important than a loyal friend.

Cyril was the only squirrel in Lake Park. He felt all alone and sad until the day he met Pat who became his best friend. Well, what’s so special about Pat? One may think. Cyril thinks that Pat is a big grey ... What else but a Squirrel just like him? The truth however is far from that. Anyways not that it matters.

Pat and Cyril started spending a lot of time together playing games. They had a lot of fun doing things together and enjoyed each other’s company thoroughly. They helped each other when Slim, the dog chased them around the park. Slim and various birds who saw them together tried telling Cyril who Pat actually was. But to no avail. Cyril never let them finish. Until the day a boy saw Pat and got scared of him and screamed what he was! Any guesses? Well, Pat was a Rat!

What happened next? Did Cyril stop being friends with Pat as he wasn’t a squirrel? Did he give in to the birds and Slim who kept telling him that squirrels and rats cannot be friends? Is it better to be alone or to have a friend who isn’t like yourself but great company for you? Read the book to find out.

Emily Gravett is one of our favourites. She is super talented given that she writes as well as illustrates her books and does an exceptional job. We are always in awe of the detail in the illustrations. Each reading gives us some other hidden nugget :) My seven year old has been reading her books since he was three.