Cat and Dumpling The Talent Show by Nicola Kent
Paperback published by Oxford University Press 4th September 2025
ISBN 9780192788474
Cat and Dumpling are as different as radishes and raincoats!
Dumpling loves gardening, reading, and peace and quiet. He wants to have a Quiet Day.
Cat loves dancing, playing guitar, and going on adventures. She wants to have an Unquiet Day.
When Cat signs them up to perform in a Talent Show, Dumping isn’t happy at all. Will they fall out, or can they work together to put on an incredible double act?
MY REVIEW
I absolutely adore Cat and Dumpling books by my favourite children’s author Nicola Kent.
Two best friends who live together, are completely different.
Dumplings always love peace and quiet having a quiet day.
Cat likes to be adventurous having a unique day.
Dumpling isn’t happy, he doesn’t want to be part of a talent show that Cat wants them to enter as a double act.
All Dumpling wants is to have a quiet day.
As Dumpling won’t enter,the talent competition, Cat is trying to think of what she can do to enter the talent show on her own.
Soon everyone who Dumpling knows is entering the talent show.
Dumpling changed his mind, he tries to think of what he can do enter the talent show.
And then at the talent contest, a disaster nearly happens.
Can Dumpling and Cat work together to save the day in the talent competition?
I take a bow recommending Cat and Dumpling fantastic series to all children and school libraries.
I live in Hackney, London with my partner, two teenage children, a cat called Firelight and a dog called Milly.
I grew up in north London and have been writing stories and drawing pictures for as long as I can remember. I made my first picture book in a sketchbook with my mum when I was five.
When I left school, I studied English and Art at university, and then got a place on a traineeship with BBC Television. I worked as a producer for over ten years, making programmes about subjects as diverse as priceless paintings and problem pets!
After I had my children, I decided to follow my dream of making books for children and I went back to college to study an MA in Children’s Book Illustration at Cambridge School of Art. My debut book The Strongest Mum was shortlisted for the World Illustration Awards, and in 2019 I won the Independent Booksellers’ Best New Illustrator Award.
I’m now creating books for children from 0-7, including novelty board books, non-fiction books and early chapter books as well as picture books.
When I’m not at my desk I love reading, brisk walking, going to the cinema and theatre, and cuddling my cat and dog. https://www.instagram.com/nicolakent
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