''Mog Time'' is a compendium of six stories about the beloved cat. It is a beautiful, heavy hard back book which means it is perfect for reading together. The pages are large so everyone can crow round and have a look. It might be a little tricky for smaller hands to manage but that's not a problem as these are much better for reading aloud and enjoying together.
In ''Mog the Forgetful Cat'' we are introduced to Mog and also her human family, Mr and Mrs Thomas, Debbie and Nicky. For those of you who are familiar with Mog, you'll now that some way down the line she does die, but happily it's not in this story nor in fact anywhere in this collection. This is not the beginning of the end. Mog is just a cat who sometimes forgets something, like where she is, or whether she's eaten already. The grown ups are getting a bit frustrated by this, but then something happens, Mog helps to save the day, and everything is forgiven.
In ''Mog and Bunny'', Mog gets a special new friend to play with, whom she loves very, very much. ''Mog's Bad Thing'' introduces some toilet humour and the notion of some cats being better than others. It's never too early to learn that in life, everything is a competition.
''Mog and the Baby'' was one I was familiar with from standalone editions though some of the facts had slipped my mind, like the way she saves the day again. That Mog is one busy cat. ''Mog on Fox Night'' was funny and very reminiscent of the author's best-selling title [[The Tiger Who Came to Tea by Judith Kerr|The Tiger Who Came to Tea]]. And then, finally, we have my all-time favourite with the tree that walks. Or, to the unfamiliar, ''Mog's Christmas''. I must have read this at least once every Christmas in the 90s.
There is nothing more British than these stories. Take, for example, the way the burglar is offered a cup of tea while the policeman takes a statement. Where else would that happen? Or the fact that when Mog can't make it to her lavatory in time, the result is simply that she does a bad thing on Mr Thomas' chair, with no further details forthcoming. There are a few inconsistencies. In one story she knows what snow is, but in the next it is white things falling from the sky. But then again, she ''is'' something of a forgetful cat.
Every home should have Mog stories somewhere on the bookshelf, every child should know this wonderful, smart, sometimes crabby but always entertaining feline. This new edition of six classic tales is a perfect introduction, or re-introduction for those of us who met her when we were children because, as should be abundantly clear by now, any time is Mog time. A highly recommended compilation, I must thank the publishers for sending us a copy to review.
For even younger readers, [[Mog and Me and other Stories by Judith Kerr|Mog and Me and other Stories]] is a lovely introduction that's easier (and sturdier) for sticky little mitts.