44. "Fire Cat" by Esther Averill

The Fire Cat by Esther Averill is a sweet story about a cat named Pickles who longs for great things. However, he lives in a barrel in an apartment yard, and all he can find to do is chase smaller cats up a tree. One day, he becomes caught in the tree, and his friend Mrs. Goodkind (a name that could be straight out of Pilgrim's Progress) calls the firefighters to rescue him.

She tells Joe the firefighter that Pickles wants to do great things, and Joe takes him back to the fire station to live. Pickles learns to slide down the fire pole, ride the truck, and climb the ladder. The chief gives him a little hat and appoints him an honorary firefighter. Pickles' life comes full circle when a tiny cat becomes stranded far beyond human reach in the same tree from which he was rescued, and only Pickles can save her (and return her to the grateful Mrs. Goodkind, of course).

The illustrations are a bit funky. The cats are cute, but the people are blocky and awkward. (Mrs. Goodkind looks like my idea of a transgendered Eastern European woman.) And some of the perspectives are awkward. Still, as I said, this is a cute story that should appeal to children who love animals.