Meg's Cauldron

Meg and Mog

by Helen Nicoll, Jan Pieńkowski (Illustrator)

This is a story about Meg the witch and her cat Mog, taken from the television series and illustrated with pictures from the TV animation.

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Helen Nicoll was born in Natland, Westmorland, in 1937. She was educated at schools in Bristol; Dartington Hall, Devon; and Froebel Education Institute, London. Helen Nicoll married Robert Kime in 1970 and they have one daughter and one son.

Helen Nicoll was a television producer with the BBC for many years. It was here, as Producer of the children's educational series WATCH, that she first met Jan Pienkowski. After working together for four years, they decided it was time to preserve their creativity in book form for future generations of children to enjoy. The result is the immensely popular MEG AND MOG series.

In addition to the MEG AND MOG series, Helen has a long and varied association with Puffin - as editor of the Junior Puffin magazine THE EGG from 1977 - 1979, as compiler of the popular children's poetry anthology POEMS FOR SEVEN YEAR OLDS AND UNDER, illustrated by Michael Foreman, and through her partnership with Puffin, the enormously popular series of Puffin Cover to Cover story tapes of which Helen is the Producer.

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Kylie Abecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

All Meg and Mog stories are cute and funny and great for early readers. I remember practicing my reading with Meg and Mog when I was little, whilst waiting to visit our family doctor, Dr. Cornwall. Even though I was always so sick, I loved going to the doctor, because I always loved reading a new Meg and Mog story.

[Fiona · Rating 5 out of 5]

i read this book when i was 2 or 3 and loved it then, and 14/15 years later i still love it, sad i know, but its great when you want to return to your childhood picture books, fun and exciting no matter what your age or how many times you have read it.

[Katy W · Rating 2 out of 5]

The children and I didn't get into these books as much as the forgetful cat series.

[Gene · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hate them my little one loves them