I read this as a child and lost myself in it utterly. It was one of the first occasions when I truly experienced how books can provide the reader with the pleasure of a parallel universe. I really did ‘live’ this book. Written in 1955 it's still a terrific read. A wonderful, exhilarating adventure story about a young girl who goes on an errand for her mother but comes home with a witch's broomstick and a fabulously aloof black cat. Carbonel is a royal cat bound by spell placed on him by a cranky retired witch. Rosemary and her chum spend the summer tracking down the hat, the cauldron and the book of spells to free Carbonel. I loved reading it to my spellbound children. This book is a big part of my family.
This is the story of a cat, a broomstick and an ordinary schoolgirl called Rosemary. She bought them both in the market, quite cheaply. Of course, neither the cat nor the broomstick were just what they seemed, and they turned up just when Rosemary badly needed something nice to happen to her.
This is the story of a cat, a broomstick and an ordinary schoolgirl called Rosemary. She bought them both in the market, quite cheaply. Of course, neither the cat nor the broomstick were just what they seemed, and they turned up just when Rosemary badly needed something nice to happen to her.
A good cat is apt to be independent, so she did not have things all her own way, and as Carbonel proved to be a Royal cat in a very special sense, that was understandable. Between the cat and the broomstick, Rosemary picked up some useful spells and magic, and the adventures they brought about turned a dull-looking holiday into one long to be remembered for its unexpected excitements and rewards.
Barbara Sleigh was born in 1906 in Warwickshire. She took an art teacher's training course, and later began to write stories for children for radio. She was a lecturer at Goldsmiths' Teacher Training College, then in 1933 joined the staff of BBC Children's Hour. Three yars later she married David Davis, who later became Head of Children's Hour. Her first children's book, Carbonel, which was to become the first of a trilogy, was published in 1955 and has remained a firm favourite with younger readers.
This is the story of a cat, a broomstick and an ordinary schoolgirl called Rosemary. She bought them both in the market, quite cheaply.
Carbonel features in the following genres: eBooks of the Month, Recommendations, Temporary Thema
Paperback. Not Available.
Carbonel was written by Barbara Sleigh and published by Puffin Books an imprint of Penguin Books Ltd
Join Our Community
Join our community for the latest bookish news, reading recommendations, exclusive opening extracts, author events and competitions. It\'s all free. And enter a monthly draw to win a £50 Gift Card. See past winners here
