Written and illustrated by Peter Collington. First edition, August 2000. Alfred A. Knopf, New York.
"Every morning Tibs waited by his front door.
"And waited... And waited...
"And waited... And waited... Until someone noticed him.
"I suppose you want your breakfast," said Mrs. Ford, the owner.
"Well, you're just going to have to wait."
The Ford family - Mr, Mrs, Miss, Master - treated Tibs very badly. Rude, unkind, disrespectful. He was always in their way, they complained, always wanting something.
Finally, Tibs took matters into his own hands and learned to open a can of cat food, plate it, and feed himself. Amazing! "What a clever cat," said Mrs. Ford.
Next, Mrs. Ford gave him the house key to come and go as he pleased. Then a cash card to buy his own food, which he quickly learned he could use at a neighborhood cafe to dine on much more delicious food. He occupied his days with shopping, tennis, card games, movies. En route he passed by the local cats lounging around, just napping. Not for him! But eventually, the Fords discovered his spending out of control. "You're going to have to help out with the bills," said Mr. Ford. "We need rent money from you, also," added Mrs. Ford. They made him get a job.
The manager of his favorite cafe hired him as a waiter, and he worked to exhaustion. Unfortunately, customers didn't find him fast enough, so he was let go. The Fords reverted to their awful behavior and demanded he get another job. But Tibs, now wiser as well clever, joined the other cats to snooze the day away.
British writer and illustrator Peter Collington has created wonderful, award-winning children's books, including The Angel and Soldier Boy, A Small Miracle, The Coming of the Surfman, The Tooth Fairy, On Christmas Eve, The Midnight Circus, and Little Pickle. The Chicago Tribune praised him as "a master of wordless picture books."
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Condition: Near Fine/Very Good. Dust jacket: Light shelf wear; one very small closed tear on the front, lower right; two very small rubbed spots at head and tail of the spine. Illustrated cover boards. Pages are clean, undamaged, and complete.
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