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Funnybones
Y Gath Ddu
A little black cat watches the antics of three skeletons sledding in the snow.
Paperback
First published January 1, 1990
About the author
Allan Ahlberg
316 books175 followersAllan Ahlberg was one of the UK's most acclaimed and successful authors of children's books - including the best-selling Jolly Postman series. Born in Croydon in 1938, he was educated at Sunderland Technical College. Although he dreamed of becoming a writer since the age of twelve, his route to that goal was somewhat circuitous. Other jobs along the way included postman (not an especially jolly one, he recalls), gravedigger, plumber, and teacher.
Ahlberg wrote his first book when he was thirty-seven, after a decade of teaching - a profession that he maintains is "much harder" than being a writer. He says that if he hadn't become a writer, he would have loved to be a soccer player. He was married for many years to fellow children's author Janet Ahlberg, with whom he often worked. Their daughter, Jessica Ahlberg, is also a children's author.
Ahlberg wrote his first book when he was thirty-seven, after a decade of teaching - a profession that he maintains is "much harder" than being a writer. He says that if he hadn't become a writer, he would have loved to be a soccer player. He was married for many years to fellow children's author Janet Ahlberg, with whom he often worked. Their daughter, Jessica Ahlberg, is also a children's author.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 29, 2020
I appreciated the limited vocabulary for young readers. I had hoped the black cat would feature more heavily. I did enjoy the play with colors and the ending.
October 21, 2019
This book has many different literary devices these could be used to help introduce to KS1 and early Ks2. For example, there is lots of repetition and descriptive language within the book which is a good example for these children. I love the use of onomatopoeia within the book, this would really get the children involved in the story.
April 14, 2025
My son really enjoyed this. His first time reading these Funny Bones books. We both read it together with him reading the easier words.
I've loved these books and the TV show since when I was a child and had to grab this as soon as I seen it.
I've loved these books and the TV show since when I was a child and had to grab this as soon as I seen it.
September 24, 2011
Another in the Funny Bones series. Together with good, clear simple illustrations the stories contain plenty of repetition and rhyme and speech bubbles. These are fun and amusing books for all ages.
Set in a snow-covered town the little skeleton goes out on his sledge, crashes and loses a leg which he cannot find in the snow because of its colour. However he sees a black cat, which is easy to see in the snow. Big skeleton takes little skeleton to the bone-yard to get a new leg, and then history repeats itself, and little skeleton is back in the bone-yard for another leg.
Big and little skeletons then take dog skeleton out on the sledge. They crash, but this time they lose the white dog skeleton; but find him again when he starts to bark at the black cat, which he chases down the dark, dark hill, in and out of the dark, dark bone-yard, etc until they reach the dark, dark cellar. When they can’t see the cat in the dark cellar they decide to go to bed. However, whilst they are sleeping, the cat goes out sledging.
Good use of colour – white snow, white bones; black cat, black cellar. Great contrasts.
Set in a snow-covered town the little skeleton goes out on his sledge, crashes and loses a leg which he cannot find in the snow because of its colour. However he sees a black cat, which is easy to see in the snow. Big skeleton takes little skeleton to the bone-yard to get a new leg, and then history repeats itself, and little skeleton is back in the bone-yard for another leg.
Big and little skeletons then take dog skeleton out on the sledge. They crash, but this time they lose the white dog skeleton; but find him again when he starts to bark at the black cat, which he chases down the dark, dark hill, in and out of the dark, dark bone-yard, etc until they reach the dark, dark cellar. When they can’t see the cat in the dark cellar they decide to go to bed. However, whilst they are sleeping, the cat goes out sledging.
Good use of colour – white snow, white bones; black cat, black cellar. Great contrasts.
June 29, 2024
I loved the original tale when I was little and have revisited a few times over the years a sweet little kick of that feel good nostalgia. But I don't recall ever reading any of the other books in the Funnybones series and The Black Cat was just as much of a delight.
The skeletons go sledging and crash, losing all their white bones in the very white snow, making it difficult to locate them and put themselves back together. They can, however, see a black cat... Until she slips into their dark, dark cellar...
I picked this up on a quiet afternoon shift at work and quickly decided to read through the rest that was at the library.
It was super quaint, quick to read, nostalgic and perfect for any budding macabre little children.
Pick it up, give it a go and enjoy!
The skeletons go sledging and crash, losing all their white bones in the very white snow, making it difficult to locate them and put themselves back together. They can, however, see a black cat... Until she slips into their dark, dark cellar...
I picked this up on a quiet afternoon shift at work and quickly decided to read through the rest that was at the library.
It was super quaint, quick to read, nostalgic and perfect for any budding macabre little children.
Pick it up, give it a go and enjoy!
October 7, 2017
The Funny Bones collections definitley bring back some childhood memories. With simple wording, repetition and some rhyme along with fab pictures any young child will enjoy ... my daughter is now a big fan
January 15, 2018
In a dark dark town.....
This took me back to my childhood! I used to love reading fuunybones & watching them when they were on TV.
My 4 year old enjoyed this too, so definitely going to read the other ones to him!
This took me back to my childhood! I used to love reading fuunybones & watching them when they were on TV.
My 4 year old enjoyed this too, so definitely going to read the other ones to him!
November 27, 2017
2 stars because not enough black cat
September 28, 2022
Well written book with some comedic pictures. I feel that other books by Allan Ahlberg are a better read for children.
September 15, 2014
The Black Cat is amongst one of the most popular titles of the Funny bones series. This Allan Ahlberg children’s classic centres on the adventures of a big skeleton, a little skeleton and a dog skeleton.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book as I found it to be very funny even though it was repetitive.
My favourite character would have to be the black cat, I found her to be the most mischievous character in the story.
Set in a snow covered town the big skeleton, the little skeleton and the dog skeleton go out on the sledge. Excited as they all are, little did they know they would end up breaking their bones. Which they found funny and amusing, this leads them to go to the bone yard.
My favourite scene has to be the dog skeleton chasing the cat around town. I thought the animations in this particular scene was descriptive, amusing and definitely will have children in fits of laughter. There is a contrast between the dark atmosphere and within this dark atmosphere are happy characters which has a positive effect on the reader.
The only aspect of this story that I disliked was the repetitive nature of the story. However, I do understand that this repetitive nature does help familiarise the children with specific words and brings along more confidence in their reading development. Therefore, I do feel this story will work well inside a classroom. I feel this book gives the teacher the chance to engage the children with their tone using high and low pitched sounds e.g. with words like “Wallop!”
This book is aimed at children for ages 4 years and over.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book as I found it to be very funny even though it was repetitive.
My favourite character would have to be the black cat, I found her to be the most mischievous character in the story.
Set in a snow covered town the big skeleton, the little skeleton and the dog skeleton go out on the sledge. Excited as they all are, little did they know they would end up breaking their bones. Which they found funny and amusing, this leads them to go to the bone yard.
My favourite scene has to be the dog skeleton chasing the cat around town. I thought the animations in this particular scene was descriptive, amusing and definitely will have children in fits of laughter. There is a contrast between the dark atmosphere and within this dark atmosphere are happy characters which has a positive effect on the reader.
The only aspect of this story that I disliked was the repetitive nature of the story. However, I do understand that this repetitive nature does help familiarise the children with specific words and brings along more confidence in their reading development. Therefore, I do feel this story will work well inside a classroom. I feel this book gives the teacher the chance to engage the children with their tone using high and low pitched sounds e.g. with words like “Wallop!”
This book is aimed at children for ages 4 years and over.
September 15, 2013
The Black Cat is a short, funny story about the adventures of 2 skeletones in the snow, and how they come across a black cat whislt out sledging. The skeletones end up having accidents and needing to get bones from the bone yard.
I did enjoy this book as it is amusing and fun for young children and the illustrations are detailed. I feel that this book would be most enjoyed by young children aged 3+, and would ideally be suited to be read to children in a reception class at primary school.
I did enjoy this book as it is amusing and fun for young children and the illustrations are detailed. I feel that this book would be most enjoyed by young children aged 3+, and would ideally be suited to be read to children in a reception class at primary school.
October 18, 2016
This is a sledding book featuring skeletons and cats. I'm not quite sure what's the point, but it wasn't bad. If my friend Mandy wound up with toddlers, I could see her reading them books like this from Halloween to Christmas (and maybe throughout winter).
April 21, 2018
Excellent childhood classic
September 5, 2019
Funny adventures with the FunnyBones and a Black Cat. Love the illustrations.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews