Gobbolino the Witch's Cat. Ursula Moray Williams

Gobbolino, a witch's feline endowed with unusual powers, is a charming little kitten who faces an identity crisis. Can he choose to be other than what he seems born to be, or does destiny mold him? Is compromise possible, or must he conform to others' expectations? Is appearance more important than reality?One hardly expects most children's books written for this age level to grapple with such weighty issues, but Ursula Moray Williams's book does just that. Gobbolino cannot accept his destiny as a witch's familiar, and so he goes in search of a family that will accept him both for what he is and what he would like to be: A cat that leads an ordinary domestic life.During his search for unconditional love and acceptance, Gobbolino meets primarily with bigotry and prejudice, although he encounters many kind characters, as well. Each chapter is a self-contained little adventure, which ends in a "cliff-hanging", suspenseful way in order to segue into the next chapter. Perhaps most poignant is the little tale of Gobbolino's adventures as he impersonates Toby the Dog in a traveling Punch-and-Judy show.Perhaps the one flaw of the book is that it is difficult to see how anyone could fail to love this little fellow. Nevertheless, circumstances conspire to deprive Gobbolino of a happy home until the very end. SPOILER ALERT: Another flaw, I feel, is this very ending. His supernatural powers finally removed, Gobbolino finds himself reunited with the very family whose father wanted to drown him at the beginning of the book for being a witch's cat! Now that Gobbolino is shorn of his powers, however, he finds acceptance within that family.I am not certain that this message of extreme conformity is what Williams intended. I prefer to believe that she simply failed to think through the unpleasant implications of Gobblino's contentment at fitting in with a family whose head wanted to destroy him merely for being what he was born to be, through no fault of his own.Still, the charm of Gobbolino and the interest of his varied adventures, as well as the deep questions that the book raises and embodies, are more than enough to compensate for the equivocal ending. I heartily recommend this book to parents of children in the appropriate age range, as well as to adults who retain their own childlike sense of adventure and love of animals.

Such a cute story about a sweet little cat. Fun read... even when you own a black cat who likes to steal the book away :o)

came as expected... thank you.

a great story to read chapter by chapter to the kids.

Bought it for the illustrations!

This is a cute story about a small kitten who was born in a home that he didn't choose to be in, to a lifestyle that he didn't want and to an inheritance that he doesn't want. While his sister chooses to continue with her inheritance and to become the best that she can be on that path Gobbolino chooses that he wants to live a more simple life that is contrary to the path that he normally would take.The book takes you into the adventures of this special kitten from being abandoned by his mother and his mistress to finding so many good homes but being chased out from each due to the bias of what he was born as even when he shows to be anything but the "normal" witches' cat. And of course by the time Gobbolino comes full circle back to where he started he is also denied by the witches due to his gentle loving ways.This story will definitely reach the heart of any child who has been seen different since of the background or life they didn't choose since no matter the struggle they don't fit in if they try to escape that first life.The only thing that stopped this from being a 4-star book for me is the fact that even though I can related to Gobbolino the ending was a bit rushed while not having been the best ending that it could be. Still all in all it was a good general read for a younger audience.

My daughter wanted to review this book so here it is : Gobbolino the Witch's Cat by Ursula Moray Williams is a great book, one of my favorites. It's a sweet story about a kitten who begins life as a witch's kitten but he truly wishes to just be a kitchen cat. You follow him on his journey to make his wish come true. Williams brings so much feeling into the story. Little Gobbolino carries the burden of once being a witch's cat. Everywhere he goes, someone finds out and he is forced to leave. The book is great for reading to young children but is darling for any age group. It's a medium length book and you just want to find out what happens next to our little hero. I strongly recommend it for anyone.-Katya Sizov age 12 currently

I bought this for my 8 year old son. He loves reading and we couldn’t find anything that wasn’t Tom Gates, Dog Boy etc so bought this when I saw it in a shop and remembered how much I loved it. He adored the book and is now waiting to get a kitten he can call Gobbolino!

Charming and delightful story of a little blue-eyed cat's adventures as he attempts to find an ordinary loving home instead of serving his entire life as a 'Witch's Cat'.One of the best and most enchanting stories/chapters in my opinion is 'The little Princess' which is delightful in its story-telling.In another; two Knights compete for the hand of a lady who spends her days alone shut up in a Tower in the middle of a lonely Forest with only an old maid and 'Gobbolino' for company! I could read this story over and over again...Enchanting illustrations done in the old style accompany these enthralling adventures in the 'Kingfisher Classics' Edition. Each chapter encompasses a different temporary home little Gobbolino manages to find; featuring Witches, Princesses, Punch and Judy, and other animals - there's even a 'Hobgoblin'!'Gobbolino The Woodcutter' is also another of my favourites, as I love any story with a Witch - and the more wicked the better!!Simply Magic!ADVENTURE HIGHLIGHTS; 'Hobgoblin', 'The Little Princess', 'Punch And Judy', 'Gobbolino In The Tower' and 'Gobbolino The Woodcutter'.

Charming and delightful story of a little blue-eyed cat's adventures as he attempts to find an ordinary loving home instead of serving his entire life as a 'Witch's Cat'.One of the best and most enchanting stories/chapters in my opinion is 'The little Princess' which is delightful in its story-telling.In another; two Knights compete for the hand of a lady who spends her days alone shut up in a Tower in the middle of a lonely Forest with only an old maid and 'Gobbolino' for company! I could read this story over and over again...Enchanting illustrations done in the old style accompany these enthralling adventures in the 'Kingfisher Classics' Edition. Each chapter encompasses a different temporary home little Gobbolino manages to find; featuring Witches, Princesses, Punch and Judy, and other animals - there's even a 'Hobgoblin'!'Gobbolino The Woodcutter' is also another of my favourites, as I love any story with a Witch - and the more wicked the better!!Simply Magic!ADVENTURE HIGHLIGHTS; 'Hobgoblin', 'The Little Princess', 'Punch And Judy', 'Gobbolino In The Tower' and 'Gobbolino The Woodcutter'.

My seven year old granddaughter Kylisa really loves this book, she tells me about all the adventures Gobbolino gets up too she would recommend this book to any young or young at heart person

I ordered this secondhand as no longer in print. The book I received was in good condition. Shame it didn't have the same front cover as advertised as it was the one I remember as a child. I must have got a later/ or earlier addition, but it doesn't change the lovely story inside. Just started reading it with my 6yr old.