Alan Armstrong

Alan Armstrong writes novels for young audiences with a particular interest in animals, storytelling, and the links between past and present. Whittington brings those interests together through a battered barn cat who arrives among a community of rescued animals. The cat shares the English legend of Dick Whittington while the animals encourage a boy named Ben as he struggles with reading. Random House published the novel with illustrations by S. D. Schindler, and the American Library Association named it a 2006 Newbery Honor Book. That recognition reflects Armstrong's ability to weave several narrative strands into one accessible story without losing the individuality of its human and animal characters. His publisher biography also notes earlier work as a lawyer and bookseller, experiences that place books throughout his professional life. For readers approaching Armstrong through this novel, his defining qualities are warmth, careful structure, and respect for stories passed between generations.