Today we talk about DETECTIVE CAT PURR – THE CHASE BEGINS, a book by Jo Rimmer published with our publishing house Europe Books.
Europe Books had the pleasure of interviewing the author, Jo Rimmer, to get to know her better, where she found the inspiration to write her book DETECTIVE CAT PURR – THE CHASE BEGINS, as well as how important illustrations are in a children’s book.
Below you can find our interview. Take a seat and enjoy your reading!!!
- Where did you find the inspiration to write a children’s book?
Eyes alight with curiosity and voices filled with questions as connections are made ─ and understanding grows was my inspiration as a teacher and is my inspiration as an author. It was in my role of lesson designer for the Cambridge Primary Programme; Science, Mathematics, and English that I harnessed the innate curiosity of learners to investigate, reason, and problem-solve into stories that encompassed fiction and non-fiction. And so, the kernel of Detective Cat Purr – began as a cross-curricular classroom theme that spilled out of the classroom into spontaneous investigations across the school, as children put their learning to the test – in an effortless expansion of vocabulary and skills. Last year, I returned to the Detective I had created and began refining it into a fully developed plot. The characters deepened, the settings expanded, and Detective Catherine Nine Lives Purr and her Global Police team emerged as a modern, imaginative story to spark curiosity, encourage reasoning, and a love of learning through story.
- How important do you think illustrations are in a children’s book?
I think that illustrations are essential in a children’s book; they are not an addition to the story, but a fundamental part of how it is understood and enjoyed. As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words, and in Detective Cat Purr – The Chase Begins the illustrations are designed to work hand-in-hand with the text to immerse the reader in the Glopol team’s investigation. They provide visual clues, reveal character relationships, and enrich the settings in ways that words alone cannot always achieve. For young readers in particular, illustrations play a vital role in developing comprehension and literacy. They act as visual scaffolding, helping children decode unfamiliar vocabulary, follow the sequence of events, and make sense of the narrative. Well-designed illustrations also increase engagement; they capture attention, spark curiosity, and invite children to predict what might happen next, which strengthens imagination and critical thinking.Illustrations also create emotional connection. Facial expressions, colour, and atmosphere help children understand feelings and moods instantly, deepening their relationship with the characters. Ultimately, illustrations transform reading into a fully immersive experience that supports learning while keeping the joy of storytelling firmly at its heart.
- What would you like to hear from your young readers?
I would love to hear is that they felt truly part of the story. If a child tells me, ‘I felt like a detective’, or that they imagined themselves as a member of the Glopol team, then I know the book has achieved its purpose. Stories have a unique power to invite children inside a world, and my hope is that Detective Cat Purr – The Chase Begins makes them feel involved, curious and confident as they follow the clues alongside Cat Purr and her team. I would also be delighted to hear that children learned new ideas without realising they were learning. When knowledge is woven naturally into a story, it becomes enjoyable rather than instructional, and that is when learning is most powerful. Hearing that a reader picked up new vocabulary, facts or ways of thinking ‘without it feeling like school’ would be incredibly rewarding. Finally, it means a great deal when children connect with the characters — whether they have a favourite member of the team, or admire how they work together, as they follow the clues left behind by Razz Matazz and Red Hood.
- What will parents understand through your stories?
Through my stories, I hope parents will see that Detective Cat Purr – The Chase Begins is more than an entertaining read; it is an invitation to think together. The illustrations and storyline are designed to encourage shared discussion, where parents and children can pause, look closely at the pictures, ask questions, and make predictions about what might happen next. Reading can be an interactive experience that strengthens bonds and makes story time meaningful and engaging. Parents will also notice how the story naturally develops important thinking skills. Children are encouraged to notice details, gather evidence, remember clues, and make connections as the mystery unfolds. As new information emerges, readers are prompted to rethink their ideas, adjust their predictions, and explain their reasoning. These moments create opportunities for rich conversation, where children can practise expressing their thoughts and parents can support and guide that thinking. Finally, the story highlights the value of teamwork and perseverance. Even when challenges arise and success is not immediate, Cat Purr and her team continue working together and refuse to give up — a message parents will recognise as both reassuring and valuable.
- Are you working on new writing projects that you can tell us about?
Yes, I am currently working on the sequel to Detective Cat Purr – The Chase Begins, which continues the pursuit of Razz Matazz and Red Hood. Alongside developing the story, I am also deeply involved in creating the accompanying artwork. This is a part of the process I enjoy, as I become immersed in the world of the story, refining characters and scenes as the narrative evolves. Along a very different creative path, I am also developing a novel for young adults inspired by my long-standing passion for History. This project, with the working title Threads of Destiny, explores a richly layered narrative in which six mortals become entangled in a game controlled by the gods of Olympus. Over more than a thousand years, the characters move through different places and historical periods, forming friendships, discovering love, facing loss, and confronting the reality that survival is never guaranteed. At heart, I simply love writing and storytelling. I enjoy the entire creative journey — researching, building worlds, developing characters, and continually challenging myself to explore new ideas and forms of storytelling.
Europe Books thanks the author, Jo Rimmer, once again for taking the time and answering our questions. We are really pleased to have walked alongside her on the editorial path that led to the publication of her book DETECTIVE CAT PURR – THE CHASE BEGINS. We wish her the best of luck for her future works.
To you, my readers, may this book be a great source of inspiration for everyone and may it bring you a great experience to enjoy. And remember that, no matter how adult you are, books for children have a lot to teach us all! Written in simple and clear concepts, illustrated children’s book have the ability to give us important life lessons or they put us back in touch with our forgotten child side which just needs to be awakened.
So, my dear reader, all I have to say is to enjoy your reading!
Your editor!