y separately published work icon Old Tom Series series - author   picture book   children's fiction   children's   humour  
Issue Details: First known date: 1994... 1994 Old Tom Series
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Adaptations

form y separately published work icon Old Tom Phil Sanders , Michael Ward , Andrew Kelly , Stu Connolly , David Witt , Helen Meany , Brad Hall , Michael John Wagner , ( dir. Guy Gross ) Australia France : Yoram Gross Film Studios Millimages ABC Television , 2001 7449954 2001 series - publisher film/TV children's

'Old Tom is based on a series of successful books written by Australian author Leigh Hobbs. Old Tom is a one-eyed, flea-ridden, orange tomcat, who’s good-natured but slothful behaviour is in contrast to the respectable, suburban matron, Angela Throgmorton, who treats Old Tom as if he were her son. They are, in reality, every bit as oddball and eccentric as each other, and together they become involved in a series of comedic adventures and topsy-turvy situations.'

Source: Yoram Gross Film Studios (http://www.yoramgrossfilms.com.au/completed/oldtom.html). (Sighted: 6/6/2014)

Teaching Resources

Teaching Resources

This work has teaching resources.

Teaching notes provided to AustLit by Anthony Shaw.

Notes

  • Some books in this series are in picture book form and some are longer works of children's fiction.

Includes

y separately published work icon Old Tom Leigh Hobbs , Ringwood : Puffin , 1994 Z833917 1994 single work children's fiction children's
y separately published work icon Old Tom's Holiday Leigh Hobbs , Leigh Hobbs (illustrator), Sydney : ABC Books , 2002 Z960053 2002 single work picture book children's

'Angela Throgmorton lives with her mangy cat, the troublesome but lovable Old Tom. One morning Angela receives some exciting news: she's won an all-expenses paid luxury holiday--for one. Angela is sad to leave Old Tom, but there is plenty of food in the freezer and he needs to clean his room anyway. Angela visits museums and royal gardens, she rides on boats and trains, and she photographs everything so she can share the pictures with Old Tom when she gets home. But everywhere she goes, she sees something that reminds her of her beloved pet. The lonelier she gets, the more she misses Old Tom. Then a wonderful surprise turns Angela's solo adventure into a delightful holiday for two.' (Booktopia)

y separately published work icon Old Tom at the Beach Leigh Hobbs , Leigh Hobbs (illustrator), Ringwood : Puffin , 1995 Z1002119 1995 single work picture book children's
y separately published work icon Old Tom Goes to Mars Leigh Hobbs , Leigh Hobbs (illustrator), Ringwood : Puffin , 1997 Z1014653 1997 single work picture book children's

'Old Tom has decided he's due for an adventure…and a break from his fussy but affectionate owner, Angela Throgmorton. But the earth is to small for this fat cat … Old Tom decides that MARS will be his destination! And why not the Martians will love him, and probably make him king … and then he could eat EVERYTHING he wants! But it won't be smooth space travel for this feline there'll be a hilarious bump or two on his travel through the Milky Way!' (Publication summary)

y separately published work icon Old Tom : Man of Mystery Leigh Hobbs , Leigh Hobbs (illustrator), Sydney : ABC Books , 2003 Z1063696 2003 single work picture book children's humour

'Angela Throgmorton decides it is high time that Old Tom helped around the house. But Old Tom has other ideas...Who is that mysterious figure disappearing into the night? Join Angela and Old Tom on a wild chase through the dark streets, with Angela determined to unmask the Man of Mystery! '  (Publication summary)

y separately published work icon Old Tom's Guide to Being Good Leigh Hobbs , Leigh Hobbs (illustrator), Ringwood : Puffin , 1998 Z1076130 1998 single work picture book children's humour

'When Angela receives a surprise invitation to the Queen`s afternoon tea party, she has to make sure that Old Tom behaves. With her trusty Guide To Being Good, Old Tom ends up surprising everyone! A fourth hilarious Old Tom adventure.' (Publication summary)

y separately published work icon Old Tom's Big Book of Beauty Leigh Hobbs , Leigh Hobbs (illustrator), Crows Nest : Allen and Unwin , 2007 Z1433921 2007 single work picture book children's humour
y separately published work icon A Friend for Old Tom Leigh Hobbs , Camberwell - Kew area : Puffin , 2008 Z1489817 2008 single work children's fiction children's 'Old Tom discovers Angela and decides that he wants to live with her and, of course, that she wants to live with him. Old Tom's hilarious attempts at infiltrating Angela's life - which leave behind the usual trail of shocked onlookers and broken debris - burst from the page with Leigh's trademark energy and humour.' (Libraries Australia)

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

First known date: 1994
      1994- .

Works about this Work

Meet the Australian Children's Laureate Leigh Hobbs Robyn Sheahan-Bright , 2016 single work essay
— Appears in: Magpies : Talking About Books For Children , November vol. 31 no. 5 2016; (p. 14-16)
"For me it's the feeling that I want to 'spread the word' wherever possible and not just to the converted ... to galvanise a spirit of enthusiasm for what's good and worthwhile and absolutley necessary about the presence of librarians and libraries in schools.' (Introduction)
Ironic Subtext in Word and Art Captures Children's Imagination Georgina Connery , 2013 single work column
— Appears in: The Canberra Times , 19 November 2013;
Overflow Rosemary Sorensen , 2010 single work column
— Appears in: The Weekend Australian , 13-14 March 2010; (p. 19)
A column canvassing current literary news including a report on Bloomsbury's decision to publish some of Leigh Hobbs's Old Tom books.
Old Tom the Cat's Whiskers Renee Switzer , 2006 single work column
— Appears in: The Sunday Age , 23 July 2006; (p. 8)
The Cat's Whiskers Rosemary Sorensen , 2004 single work column
— Appears in: The Courier-Mail , 23 June 2004; (p. 23)
Leigh Hobbs 2003 single work column
— Appears in: The Dromkeen Society Bulletin , October vol. 9 no. 4 2003; (p. 6)
The Uses of Irony and the Carnivalesque in Leigh Hobbs' Picture Books Nicole Humphrey , 2003 single work criticism
— Appears in: Papers : Explorations into Children's Literature , August vol. 13 no. 2 2003; (p. 37-41)
Nicole Humphrey examines how Leigh Hobbs uses discrepancies between his illustrations and text to create irony and humour in his picture books.
Listening to the Language of Pictures Erica Wagner , 2004 single work criticism
— Appears in: Magpies : Talking About Books for Children , March vol. 19 no. 1 2004; (p. 8-10)
Erica Wagner, publisher of children's books, discusses the relationship of image and text and her role as an editor in the creation of children's books.
The Cat's Whiskers Rosemary Sorensen , 2004 single work column
— Appears in: The Courier-Mail , 23 June 2004; (p. 23)
Old Tom the Cat's Whiskers Renee Switzer , 2006 single work column
— Appears in: The Sunday Age , 23 July 2006; (p. 8)
Last amended 8 Mar 2022 10:09:43
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