When I was little, this was my favourite book; when my children were little, it was their favourite book. The story of how Borka, the youngest of six geese born to Mr and Mrs Plumpster without any feathers, is a touching tale of motherly love and triumph over adversity. Mrs Plumpster immediately knits poor, bald Borka a grey woollen jumper but when the family migrates south, Borka gets left behind because she can't fly. The abandoned goose is befriended by a friendly boat skipper who takes her on his boat back to London, where she is given a new home at Kew Gardens. The other geese don't mind about her having no feathers because there are so many other strange birds at Kew and anything goes. Borka is republished to celebrate its 50th anniversary.

Cape is right to publish this golden goose of an edition for an as-yet-uninitiated generation

The book is compulsive reading; we are with Varjak every step of his way, willing him to succeed. Independent readers of 9 upwards will treasure it, not least for its illustrations, and some will camp out on the publisher's doorstep for the sequel

The cat magic mystique is brilliant

An engrossing and exciting story, handsomely produced with superbly atmospheric illustrations by an acclaimed mixed media artist.