The Catlady - Softcover

Dick King-Smith's novels for young readers include Babe: The Gallant Pig, Funny Frank, Titus Rules!, and The Golden Goose. He lives in Bristol, England.

Grade 2-4–In this beginning chapter book set in 1901, Muriel Ponsonby, aka the Catlady, keeps a large number of felines on her large country estate. The eccentric woman is a firm believer in reincarnation; she examines each new kitten thoughtfully and can determine if it's someone she once knew or just an ordinary cat. As the story opens, her deceased parents are living with her. She is both surprised and pleased to find Queen Victoria among her latest arrivals. The royal guest is allowed to eat first, has a bed of honor, and receives all other special treatments befitting a monarch. Miss Ponsonby secures a village girl to help around the house and develops a strong friendship with Mary. When the elderly woman finally dies, the property is left to the Royal Society for the Protection of Cats, with young Mary in charge. Naturally, she has been thoroughly swayed to the idea when the reincarnated Miss Ponsonby shows up as a strange and confident cat six months later. Sprinkled with black-and-white sketches deftly portraying the tale's subtle British humor, The Catlady will appeal to King-Smith fans. A lighthearted glimpse into the feline world.–Debbie Whitbeck, West Ottawa Public Schools, Holland, MI
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