Trying to Find a Book I Read as a Child in Primary School. Anyone remember?

[PavlovtheCat]

A book series (I think) about a boy called either Tim or Sebastian. He had a black cat. Possibly the cat was called sebastian. He went on adventures with his cat, I think he travelled on a broomstick (but might not remember that right) and one of the stories he had a highwayman in it.

I was about 7? so, 1984 or so? they were not picture books, but I don't think they were longer books like Roald Dahl, smaller with some possibly black and white pictures on the odd page? The books were not bright and colourful, dark I think (I am thinking dark plots but that might be my mind interpreting the cover of the book?)

I asked at the library and they have no clue what I am talking about, neither do any of my friends of a similar age.

Do you lovely lot know what I am talking about?

(and, while I am at it, the librarian said she is trying to remember a child's programme where a monster looks through a window and into a story….)

Found it!!!! Tim and the Hidden People! There is a book called the Highwayman!

Cat was called Tobias not sebastian.

I think it might be part of a series called 'Tim and the Hidden' people by Shiela Mc Culllagh.

Do you remember a book called carbonel about a cat? We were read it at school (same era) :)

I remember Tim & The Hidden people. I loved them!
Off to Ebay

Me too! I am going to buy some for my children. I have been trying to find them for ages. Think DD might be a little old, but maybe not (she is 7.5 but fluent reader, Roald Dhal level now) but DS is 4 so perfect start for him and maybe DD can help read to him too.

I loved Carbonel, wannabestressfree!
There were three books, Carbonel, King of the Cats, and The Kingdom of Carbonel, which I read as a child, and then the author (Barbara Sleigh) wrote another in 1978, Carbonel and Calidor. I found it when I was a children's librarian and read it eagerly, but was disappointed - I'm not sure if it was because I was older, or because the author was, but the magic just wasn't there.

I found my old copy of Carbonel in the loft a few weeks ago. I remember really liking it but like RustyBear says I do wonder if it is as good now. We have lots of old books that I loved as a child (and my sister) and we have tried reading some to our girls and whilst some have been very appreciated, others have fallen completely flat which surprised me.

I loved Carbonel. :)

I still like the first two nonickname, I do think the third just wasn't as good.

I loved the Carbonel books but found Calidor the kitten very annoying.

If anyone is still looking for information on these books I have a site dedicated to them timandthehiddenpeople.net It has a rundown on each book in the series with some great examples of the artwork in the books. I hope thias helpes someone out!