As World War II finally drew to a close, Walter Brooks found himself pondering the question of whether or not friends and enemies could indeed change, or be changed, and how. So although so far, none of the Freddy books focused on character development and change,in the 1945 Freddy and the Popinjay, Brooks tells the intertwined stories of Jimmy, an emotionally abused neighbor’s child; Mac, father of a family of wildcats who enjoy eating small rabbits, whatever the rabbits might think about these tasty habits; and two robins turning themselves into more elaborate birds—or popinjays. All, for various reasons, want or need to transform themselves. And it’s up to Freddy the Pig, in his most heroic (in a quiet way) yet, to help them—or realize that just perhaps, it’s not the best idea.
Also, a courtly tournament almost straight out of the tales of King Arthur and the Round Table except that King Arthur’s tournaments, as I recall, rarely featured pillows, pigs, and reluctant cows. Which I now realize is kinda sad.
[Making friends with creatures that eat you.]