Home > Categories > Books > Kids - General > The Three-Legged Cat review
Tom, Mrs. Gimble's cat, would love to see the world, but his peg-leg keeps him at home. Mrs. Gimble just wants to be left in peace with a stay-at-home cat that doesn't eat too much. Will their wishes come true?
Product reviews...
I love this book. I have a three-legged cat myself who has already given away three of his nine lives and is still full of energy and curiosity, so it is great to see that Margaret Mahy too is able to confirm that you don't necessarily have to have four legs to function! After all, we humans get along fine with just two.
Tom, the hero of the story, has a wooden leg in place of his missing limb. I see him as the sort of cat who is determined to do everything that his four-legged cousins can do.. He wants to travel and see new things, and gets frustrated when he has to stay home and be quiet. As for Cyril, he is no longer lonely and realises just how rewarding it can be when you have a friend to share everything.
Mrs Gimble, Tom's owner, likes things just so and, when people (and animals) do their own thing, it upsets her world. Eventually she is happy because she sees exactly what she wants to see, and Tom is happy because he gets his wish. And in the nature of all good stories, everyone lives happily ever after.
This story holds a delightful message for children who may feel that there are things they cannot do because they are held back for various reasons. It might be a physical problem that gets in the way, or it might be the circumstances they are in through no fault of their own. Tom the three-legged cat proves that you can do anything if you want it hard enough, and that there is always a way round a difficulty.
Random listing from 'Books'...
David is funny and quirky and has always felt different from other people. He also has a huge secret that only his two best friends know: ever since he can remember, he has felt like a girl trapped in the body of a boy.
Leo is missing his absent dad and is having a 'fresh start' at the posh Eden Park high school after being expelled from the toughest school in the area. He's tough and defensive, the complete opposite of ... more...
All trademarks, images and copyrights on this site are owned by their respective companies.
KIWIreviews is an independent entity, part of the Knock Out News Group. This is a free public forum presenting user opinions on selected products, and as such the views expressed do not necessarily reflect the opinion of kiwireviews.nz and are protected under New Zealand law by the "Honest Opinion" clause of the Defamation Act of 1992. KIWIreviews accepts no liability for statements made on this site, on the premise that they have been submitted as the true and honest opinions of the individual posters. In most cases, prices and dates stated are approximate and should be considered as only guidelines.
"A man who is 'of sound mind' is one who keeps the inner madman under lock and key."
Paul Valery (1871 - 1945)