The amazing adventures of Perch the cat - Anthony Kessel

The Amazing Adventures of Perch the Cat follows the life and adventures of an extraordinary ginger cat. The book starts with the purchase of Perch from a north London pet shop by her owner, former England cricket captain Charles 'Charlie' Needle. Perch sadly knows nothing about her background but gradually she settles into her new home and begins her journey of self-discovery, aided by feline and canine friends: the adventurous Snapper, intelligent Greystoke, scatty Bells, a wise old labrador called Alfred, and a gentle poodle named Polly.Although The Amazing Adventures of Perch the Cat is set in north London, the adventures - which blend fantasy, action and pathos - take place around the country, overseas and elsewhere in the imagination. The first story involves a nasty encounter with a hungry fox, keen to devour the fish in the garden of Perch's new home. In the second tale, Perch and her friends travel back to the medieval time of King Arthur and battle a rhyming dragon. A broken leg takes Perch to hospital in the next, with some unexpected philosophical reflections on the meaning of a cat's life. 'The Curse of Crazybones' is the scariest adventure, with Perch trying to save the soul of a Victorian ghost cat, wrongly hanged for a crime he didn't commit. A mountain climbing holiday in Morocco follows and, in the final story, Perch finds herself behind bars in a prison for animals and needing to find a way to escape .The Amazing Adventures of Perch the Cat is a charming children's story that will be enjoyed by 4-8 year olds being read to or 8-11 year old children reading alone. Promoting values of friendship and justice, Perch is inspired by stories that Anthony has told over a number of years to his daughter, Leone, who has provided the illustrations. Anthony is inspired by a number of children's authors, including Roald Dahl and Michael Morpugo.