Esther Averill’s The Fire Cat narration opens with an image of the cat Pickles along with a description of him. Pickles was a yellow cat with black spots in his fur. The Reader learns before long that Pickles is an on his own, young cat, who lives in a barrel because that is all he has for a home.

The author tells us that Pickles occupied a good part of his time chasing the little cats out of the yard housing his barrel. Chasing the little cats was all he could find to do. The Fire Cat is one of the series of Cat Club books created by writer/illustrator Averill.

My classroom edition is one of the I Can Read 1-Beginning Reading volumes. I particularly liked the leveled I can Read series during the years I spent teaching First Grade and/or Kindergarten. 1: The series contains simple sentences dandy for reading by fervent Little Readers. 2: these are editions having high interest stories especially fashioned for Emergent Readers. 3: indicates those works introducing more involved plots and larger vocabulary for confident readers. And, 4: are the books meant to supply a clear bridge into chapter books.

Pickles did have an ally who lived in the house next to the yard where his barrel was located. His friend was Mrs Goodkind. Each day Mrs Goodkind came out to the yard to give Pickles something to eat.

Mrs. Goodkind thought Pickles needed a real home in order to help him become a good cat that did not chase little cats. Pickles was not happy living in the house with Mrs Goodkind; he ran back to his barrel and began chasing the little cats once again.

One day Pickles chased a little cat up a tree and would not let her go down. After a time the wind began blowing. Pickles let the little cat go down the tree. He wanted to climb down and go back to his barrel; but he was afraid. Soon Mrs Goodkind noticed Pickles and his dilemmna, the fire department arrived soon to help.

The firemen decided to take Pickles back to the firehouse. Pickles learned to be a good firehouse cat. Averill’s cat, Pickles, is portrayed as a young feline having large paws and big plans. Nonetheless, until his move to the firehouse, the only thing he had been able to find to do so was chase other cats.

Pickles recognizes that this is his big chance, and it may be his only chance to actually accomplish some of those big things he wants to do. Each year my newest group of Osage County First Grade, as were countless other classes before it, were all captivated to hear the tale, and later to read the book for themselves of a cat who has thoughts and resoluteness to be something more than a cat who only chases other cats or slumbers away his time.

I like the class discussion opportunity The Fire Cat engenders. As Osage County First Grade listens to the story they start chatting together regarding how or why Pickles came to live in the barrel in the empty lot. The kids know that strays, unwanted thrown-away critters are a problem, and that Mrs M who lives in the country often falls heir to cats who have been abandoned.

I like the tale of Pickles itself, and, I like the conclusion. The Students were always filled with sentiment and opinions regarding what is the best people can do for animals, and, that the best is not throwing them away or abandoning them for others to care for. Pickles works hard to be a good fire cat. He slides down the fire house pole, he learns to help put out a fire and, learns to jump on a fire truck. He even takes part in a rescue.

Emergent Readers grin with joy when Pickle's dream finally comes true . I especially like that the good that comes about for Pickles doesn’t just happen by chance. Children are never too young to begin to realize that hard work can pay off for cats and for kids. In point of fact; Pickles does work, and, he works very hard to become an improved cat. Pickles evokes a powerful consciousness of feeling/identification as the he develops into being a better cat through the three short chapters.

Osage County First Grade used The Fire Cat as a part of class study regarding duty and trustworthy behavior toward animals, as well as choosing The Fire Cat for pleasure reading as well as for taking to DEAR offices for DEAR time reading.

Happy to recommend Esther Averill’s The Fire Cat for classroom, school and pubic library as well as for holiday gifting, to reward an Emergent Reader and as a teacher/classroom gift at beginning of the new school term.

Other books by this writer include the Jenny Linsky and the Cat Club books.

===============================

Reviewed by Molly’ Reviews BOOKS molly martin

===============================

About the Author Esther Averill (1902 – 1992) was both author and illustrator of many books written for children.  Averill’s works include the well-known Cat Club stories about Jenny Linsky and her friends.

Writer Averill began her career as a cartoonist for her local newspaper. After graduating from Vassar College in 1923, she moved to New York City and later treked to Paris, where she established her own publishing company. Domino Press introduced American readers to writers from world over, including Feodor Rojankovsky, who won a Caldecott Award. In 1941, Averill came again to the United States and soon accepted a position with the New York Public Library while continuing her work as a publisher.

She wrote her first book about Jenny Linsky, a red scarf wearing, good-natured cat in 1944.

Averill, modeled the Jenny Linsky heroine after her own diffident cat.

Eventually Averill would go on to write twelve more tales about Miss Linsky and her friends (including the I Can Read Book, The Fire Cat.