Chimney & Co – The Poetic Story of a Family Cat by Pamela Douglas – Book Review
Who is Chimney? He is a family cat and is telling his story poetically in the book “Chimney & Co.” Chimney begins the poems at a time when he was very young and they continue to maturity.
The titles of some of my favorites are:
My Arrival – Chimney tells how some people came to the kennel to choose a pet dog and the girl chose “Susie”, an Irish Setter. The litter of kittens was seen under a chair and Chimney was chosen to accompany Susie.
The Naming of Me – Chimney tells how he got his name.
Waste of time: Chimney explains why he hates to see people working.
Susie – Mother – When Susie had eleven puppies in all and how proud she was at the time.
My Favorite Person – Chimney explains how happy families are to have a grandparent.
My first Christmas: this is my favorite of all. Chimney tells of the first time he saw a Christmas tree. If someone has a cat, this poem will mean a lot to you and I’m sure it will make you laugh a lot. I could go on and on because I have a cat and many of these poems bring back good memories.
Pamela Douglas has done an excellent job with these poems. Any reader, young or old, will have the feeling that the cat is “really” the one who tells the story of these poems. The author uses her writing skills and creative imagination to make the reader feel that way.
If you are a cat lover, this is a must-read book of poems. If you don’t have a cat, you may want to have one after reading this book. Parents will enjoy reading these poems to their younger children. What a combination: cat adventures turned into poetic stories!
What I really liked about the author’s writing style is that it makes the reader aware that cats are very aware of everything that happens around them. If you have ever had a cat, you are aware of this trait.
There are also several poems that teach lessons with messages like Sadie’s Sore Paw. Sadie stepped on a piece of glass due to someone “dirtying” the field. Another example of a message is All Friends Together, where we learn that it is important to “share and appreciate friends.”
Be sure to pick up a copy of Chimney & Co. You will find the poems fun, a learning experience, and very entertaining.