Gwenda Turner: Penny and Pocket

By MARGIE THOMSON

Like Turner's earlier The Builders Cat, Penny and Pocket has the added charm of being a true story, taken by Turner from an account in the Christchurch Press and turned into a lovely picture book for young children - although it's so utterly captivating that even older children, incidental listeners, are spellbound by it.

Bianca finds a tiny kitten on the side of the road and takes her home where she becomes part of the household. She's so small she fits into Bianca's pocket (hence her name) but so cute that everyone (except the old cat Simba) loves her - especially Penny, Bianca's Jack Russell terrier.

Penny becomes a mother to the tiny kitten, even, marvellously, producing milk from her own teats to feed her adopted baby, carrying Pocket around gently in her mouth, and licking her clean.

Sadly, this is Turner's final book as she died earlier this year, leaving a legacy of fine children's books.

Puffin

$14.95