I met Marilyn Bakker through Gavin Gosney, a children’s book author, when Marilyn and I were both stall holders at the Classy Crafts Market in Howick.
When we first spoke, I shared with Marilyn about Richard’s passing and how he had asked me to carry on caring for our cats. Marilyn shared that her husband had also passed away around the same time.
I showed Marilyn the photos Richard and I had taken of Mr Bojangles climbing high up a cabbage tree in my front garden and carefully making his way back down. From there, Marilyn suggested we meet at her home to discuss turning these moments into a children’s book.
That meeting marked the beginning of a wonderful 14-year friendship, filled with creativity and many fun experiences.
We shared many laughs while creating each book, carefully discussing the topic and theme for each cat. As a former primary school teacher, Marilyn had a natural understanding of the kind of stories and messages that would resonate with children.
Marilyn is incredibly dedicated and has very high standards. She was committed to producing educational books that children could both enjoy and learn from.
In the early days, we even dressed as cats and visited schools to read to the children. Hearing their laughter and seeing their engagement was always a delight.
I am extremely proud of the books we created together, and much of that is thanks to Marilyn’s wonderful storytelling and attention to detail. She has a special ability to bring humour to a level that children truly connect with.
Now that the series is complete, Marilyn is retiring, while I am continuing to expand the books into different languages. Already, Louie’s Lost Caterpillar Adventure is available in Te Reo Māori.
All 20 books are held in the National Library, and the series is already being enjoyed in schools, kindergartens, and libraries.
Although the series is complete, our friendship continues.
Marilyn has also written a trilogy:
- Danger at Devils Cove
- The Mystery of the Missing Artefact
- In Search of the Tarasque
These books are suitable for ages 10 through to adults and are set in the Coromandel during the 1950s gold mining era. They are currently available for $20 per copy (normally $26). Please get in touch if you are interested.
I cannot thank Marilyn enough. This has been a very special journey. She truly understood how precious the cats were to Richard, and although he is no longer here, I know he would be incredibly proud of the series Marilyn helped create.