A children's book written and illustrated by Don Trousdell, that's what! The stars of the story are the feral felines at Dockyard, who, indirectly, are also the beneficiaries of book sales.

Since moving to Bermuda 14 years ago, Mr. Trousdell has always been fascinated by the Island's hidden charms and beauty, and he also believes in giving something back to the community.

Having retired as a graphic artist after a 40-year career during which he had his own studio in Atlanta, Georgia, Mr. Trousdell has turned his attention to painting instead, and his canvases have proved popular whenever and wherever he has exhibited.

Because he has never learned to drive a car, Mr. Trousdell cycles miles every day -- a mode of transport he says is incomparable for seeing and learning more about the Island than could ever be discovered from motorised transport.

"Bermuda is a wonderful place to be if you take your time and walk or ride a push bike,'' he says. "There is a whole hidden part of the Island that is very unique. At low tide I walk along the coastline in the water. It offers some wonderful places to look at.

"I think as a visual person. When you walk or cycle you see the world completely differently. It is very much a 19th century point of view.'' Living in Somerset with his wife Tina, who is also an artist and graphic designer, one of his regular rides is to Dockyard -- an area he has always found endlessly fascinating.

One thing which soon piqued his curiosity was the regular congregation of large numbers of cats in a particular place at a particular time, and he always wondered what they were waiting for.

"Every day around 3 p.m. you would see these cats begin to gather. Some of them were really quite wild, and it would be quite a sight to see them all lined up,'' Mr. Trousdell relates. "At 4 p.m., when this wonderful man would drive up in his car to feed them, there would be about 32 animals waiting.

They knew the sound of his tyres, and as soon as he stopped his car and opened it up to get the food out they would be all over it, inside and out.'' Mr. Trousdell was captivated by the way the gentleman fed and cared for the cats. He even had names for them.

"The man really loved them, and took great care of them. They were in wonderful condition, and he even took them to the vet to be spayed or neutered,'' he recalls.

The artist learned that the gentleman was a volunteer with the Bermuda Feline Assistance Bureau (BFAB), who had been feeding the Dockyard colony of felines for years.

"It was kind of magical to see all these animals appear, and to know that every day somebody was helping them,'' Mr. Trousdell says. "I am not a person who has cats and dogs, but when I saw this I said, `Boy, this would make a great human interest story.' A lot of people started going to Dockyard to see the cats. When you see that many in one place it really makes an impression.'' So much so, in fact, that Mr. Trousdell decided he would write the story of the Dockyard cats himself, which he then illustrated in full colour in his inimitable style.

The result is a charming book that even adults can warm to, which spins a engaging tale of how the Dockyard felines can not only tell time, but also enjoy their environs.

Once completed, Mr. Trousdell began thinking -- as he has done many times before -- about turning the project into a money-maker for a worthy case.

"I knew the Bermuda Feline Assistance Bureau (BFAB) was there, and I approached them to ask if they would like to be the beneficiaries. They are a very small registered charity of about 30 people or so, and they do a very good job in keeping the feral cat population in tow,'' he relates.

"BFAB agreed to pay for the printing and they are selling the books. I don't get any financial gain out of this. I donated the story and the art because I wanted to help BFAB, and I think it is a nice little story which teaches children about animals.'' Dockyard Cats was recently launched at a book signing in Dockyard, and is now available in bookstores around the Island at a cost of $15 per copy.

Mr. Trousdell will be signing copies of his book at Harbour Night in Hamilton on October 11, and also at the Cat Fanciers Association championship cat show in the Harbour Room of No. 1 shed on October 21.