7 secret literary references in The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents

2. Puss in Boots by Charles Perrault (1697)

As a book that centres on a clever, magical talking cat that schemes to cheat people to gain wealth, it would be odd if the story of Puss in Boots – a clever cat that used tricks to gain money – was not mentioned. At different points, the book and character are referenced both indirectly and by name. Maybe, just maybe, they’re distant relatives…

4. Dick Whittington by Joseph Jacobs (1890)

Dick Whittington is a rags-to-riches story of a man who sells his cat to hunt rats; he makes a lot of money and later becomes Mayor of London. In The Amazing Maurice, they tell the story of Dick Livingstone (a mix of Dick Whittington and Ken Livingstone, who really was the Mayor of London for a while) and how he became famous because his cat chased pigeons.

6. The Famous Five by Enid Blyton (1942)

In the book, Malicia Grim, the mayor’s daughter, brings to mind the escapades of The Famous Five when she says it is a shame she, Maurice, and Keith aren’t four children and a dog as that is the perfect number for an adventure.