Helen Nicoll (1937–2012)

One of four Meg and Mog adventures based on episodes from the television show—the others include Mog in Charge, Meg's Fancy Dress and Meg's Cauldron—this book follows Meg, Mog and Owl as they spend the day at the seashore. When Meg wonders what it is like underwater, she conjures up a submarine, and she and Mog set out to explore (with wise Owl staying on dry land). Finding a treasure in a sunken ship, witch and cat are ecstatic, until their submarine is attacked by a giant octopus. Does the octopus want the treasure, or something else...?

Having read all of the Meg and Mog picture-books written by Helen Nicoll and illustrated by by Jan Pieńkowski (I have not read any of the subsequent titles authored by David Walser as yet), but never having watched the animated television series based upon them, I approached these TV tie-in titles with some interest. Although unimpressed when reading the first two (Mog in Charge and Meg's Fancy Dress) a number of years ago, I found the third that I read (Meg's Cauldron) more appealing. Similarly, this fourth and final TV tie-in was enjoyable, offering a fun, lighthearted little seaside adventure for our trio of friends. Having now read all four of these titles, I am curious to watch some of the television show, and will have to see whether I can track some episodes down. Recommended to those young readers who are fans of the television show, or who have run out of original Meg and Mog stories to read.… (meer)

One of four Meg and Mog adventures based on episodes from the television show—the others include Mog in Charge, Meg's Fancy Dress and Meg's Treasure—this book follows Meg, Mog and Owl as they confront a cauldron that just doesn't work magic any more. Taking the cauldron in for repairs, the trio are given a sparkly new cauldron, with all kinds of fancy buttons, to use in the meantime. After no end of chaos caused by the cauldron's eagerness to please, and literal interpretation of every comment it hears, they are relieved when this replacement finally does something useful, in restoring their original cauldron...

Although I have read all of the Meg and Mog picture-books written by Helen Nicoll and illustrated by Jan Pieńkowski (I have not read any of the subsequent titles authored by David Walser as yet), I have never watched the animated television show that was made from these books. Meg's Cauldron is the third of four tv tie-in tales taken from that show that I have read from Ladybird Books, and while I do agree with the sentiments I expressed in my reviews of the other two (Mog in Charge and Meg's Fancy Dress), in that I do not think these books are the equal of the originals, I enjoyed this one more than the above two, which I read some years ago. Perhaps I simply have a weakness for humor derived from overly literal obedience or interpretation—think stories like Amelia Bedelia, or Mole and Shrew—but I did find this one amusing, and I did appreciate the ending, in which familiarity outweighs efficiency and convenience. Recommended to those young readers who are fans of the television show, or who have run out of original Meg and Mog stories to read.… (meer)

One of four Meg and Mog adventures based on episodes from the television show - the others include Mog in Charge, Meg's Treasure, and Meg's Cauldron - this book follows Meg as she tries to find the perfect costume for the upcoming fancy dress party on Witches Hill. Egged on by Mog and Owl, she tries a spell, only to find that her princess outfit attracts the wrong kind of attention, in the form of a dragon. When her cavewoman costume attracts a woolly mammoth, and her banana apparel draws a gorilla to her, it seems that there are no safe choices. Is Meg doomed to be chased all evening, or will she make it to the party in time?

Like Mog in Charge, the other tv tie-in Meg and Mog adventure that I have read, I didn't think Meg's Fancy Dress the equal of the original Meg and Mog stories created by author Helen Nicoll and artist Jan Pieńkowski. The artwork isn't as creative, and the text, although longer, is also simpler, not being divided between the main narrative and various speech bubbles and sound words. That said, I think the story will still prove quite entertaining, particularly for young fans of these characters, and the television show based upon their stories. The appearance of Bess, Jess, Tess and Cress at the end of the tale, although not wholly unexpected, will be a pleasure for readers who have already encountered them in Mog's Missing.… (meer)