Who is Chimney? He is a family cat and is telling the story of him in poetic form in the book “Chimney & Co.” Chimney begins the poems when he was very young and continues until his maturity.
The titles of some of my favorites are:
My Arrival – Chimney tells how some people came to the kennel to choose a dog for their pet and the girl chose “Susie”, an Irish setter. The litter of kittens was spotted under a chair and Chimney was chosen to accompany Susie.
The Naming of Me – Chimney tells how it got its name.
Waste of Time: Chimney tells why he hates seeing people working.
Susie – Mother – When Susie had eleven puppies in total and how proud she was at that moment.
My Favorite Person – Chimney explains what a joy it is for families to have a grandparent.
My first Christmas: this is my favorite of all. Chimney tells about the first time she saw a Christmas tree. If someone has a cat, this poem will mean a lot to you and she will surely make you laugh a lot. I could go on and on because I have a cat and many of these poems bring back fond memories.
Pamela Douglas has done an excellent job with these poems. Any reader, young or old, will be left with the feeling that the cat is “really” telling the story in these poems. The author uses her writing skills and her creative imagination to make the reader feel this way.
If you are a cat lover, this is a must read book of poems. If you don’t have a cat, you might want 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 realize that cats are very aware of everything that is going on around them. If you’ve ever owned a cat, you’re well 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 “dirty” on the field. Another example of a message is All Pals Together, where we learn that it’s important to “share and appreciate friends.”
Be sure to pick up a copy from Chimney & Co. You’ll find the poems amusing, a learning experience, and highly entertaining.