Review of "Freddy's Magic Garden: Incredible Cat Stories" by Angelina Dayan

 

These true cat stories are narrated by a feline named Freddy and his (human) Mum, who live in France, not too far from Paris. Freddy's Mum always liked cats and finally ended up with more than fifteen felines, either in the house or as permanent garden guests.

When Freddy came along Mum already had seven Maine Coon cats, and their stories - and others - make up the tales in this book. The stories - which are suspenseful, adventurous, happy, and sad - will make cat lovers laugh, thrill, and occasionally shed a tear.


Freddy

For example: Freddy's story begins when he and his sister Caramel are born in a vacant lot, where they live with their (cat) Maman. Things go well for a time but the weather heats up and food and water become almost nonexistent. Maman goes out to find sustenance for her family, but the poor feline is so weak she collapses in someone's garden, unable to move.

As it happens, Maman collapses in Mum's garden and Mum - seeing Maman from her office window - runs out with water and food. As the story unfolds, Mum discovers where Maman, Freddy, and Caramel live and continues to provide sustenance. Then disaster strikes: a bulldozer arrives to dig up the cats' vacant lot, and Maman, Freddy, and Caramel run away. Mum looks EVERYWHERE for the cats, searching under bushes, examining fences, ringing doorbells, leaving her phone number, etc.

Long story short, after various dangerous/exciting adventures the cats are reunited with Mum. Freddy takes up residence in Mum's house with Mum's seven Coon cats, including daddy Uddy and mommy Tahiti; Caramel - who prefers the outdoors - lives in Mum's garden; and Maman comes and goes as she pleases.


Uddy


Tahiti

Other stories detail adventures of still more cats, including Pearl - who's thrown out of a car and abandoned; Chili - whose (cat) Mummy goes off to find food and never returns; Vicky - who goes on a hunger strike to get her way; Princess - who's accidentally left at a rest stop and walks 200 miles to get home; Kelly - a kitten found in the woods without her (cat) mommy; Maggie - whose human family moves away and leaves her behind and more.


Vicky


Maggie

Many of these cats are adopted by Mum, who has a big big heart for felines. Photos of many of the cats are included, which adds fun to the narrative.....as does the 'catification' of some words. For instance, the cats describe a music lover as playing Meowzart, Barkhoven, and Ratmaninov and refer to a certain billionaire, space-loving human as Mewlon Husk.

The stories have happy endings, so the book is appropriate for animal lovers of all ages, including children.

Thanks to Netgalley, Angelina Dayan, and Angelina Dayan Publishing for a copy of the manuscript.

Rating: 3.5 stars