Patricia Coomb's Dorrie the Little Witch series was one of the great joys of my early reading career, but although I must have checked books like Dorrie and the Blue Witch out of the library a hundred times as a girl, I did not discover many of the author's other titles until I was an adult. Imagine my surprise and delight when, searching for something else entirely, I stumbled across this title at the public library this past weekend!

A stand-alone fantasy adventure for younger readers, The Magician and McTree follows the story of McTree, a cat whose very old magician-companion accidentally gives him the power of speech. Although warned by the magician that this new-found ability could lead to trouble, if ever discovered by other humans, McTree finds it impossible not to speak. And so begins a journey that will take McTree all the way to the King's castle, and back again...

An enjoyable, though by no means brilliant, story is paired with Coombs' adorable illustrations, which suck the reader into McTree's world. His many expressions, whether gleeful or outraged, are ably recorded, and it would take a very level head indeed not to be won over by this plump little feline. ( )

McTree the cat is accidentally enchanted and gains the ability to speak English. An old woman hopes to please the king and brings McTree to the palace; soon McTree is entertaining the court with stories. Colorful illustrations throughout. ( )