A mysterious cat, with fur the colour of rain clouds, has arrived on the allotment where Jessie helps her dad. Nobody believes hippy gardener Honeysuckle when she tells them it’s a Royal Rain Cat from Thailand, at least not until it starts to rain.

Review Jessie’s Dad has taken two weeks holiday to spend time with her on their garden allotment. Jessie is proud of her dad’s vegetables but after a spell of dry weather, the plants desperately need rain if they are to be ready for the allotment’s Open Day. One afternoon, a cat with grey fur the colour of rain clouds shows up as a stray. Dad’s neighbour, hippy gardener Honeysuckle, says that the cat is a Royal Rain Cat from Thailand. If they give the cat special food, a cushion to sit on and then write special poems, Lotus will make the rain come.

Jessie is sceptical, but decides to give Honeysuckle’s ideas a try. The next morning, rain pours down on the allotments. Lotus must be a Rain Cat, and Jessie is desperate to keep him.

I really enjoyed this delightful story, told with a lyrical, spellbinding narrative. All the characters in the story are well drawn, particularly young Jessie as she strives to have a cat of her very own. This is a memorable read, perfect for reading aloud in KS1 and 2 classrooms.

2008-11-16