Driving down the road one day, Matt Owens stopped his firetruck. He’s seen something small crouched by the side of the road. It is a baby magpie chick, its parents nowhere to be seen. He decides to take it home and calls it Swoop.

Swoop flourishes under Matt’s care, even making friends with Matt’s black cat called Mowgli. In fact, wherever Mowgli went, Swoop did too. Eventually as Swoop gains her flying feathers, their adventures get further from home.

Swoop is curious though and begins to wonder where she came from? She begins to have her own adventures, meeting many creatures and asking questions, until she finally has her answer.

This story is based around a real fireman, cat called Mowgli, and a baby magpie. The illustrations depicting the story beautifully depict Matt’s home and the surrounding NZ land and seascapes.

In the rear of the book, Matt describes finding Swoop as mutually beneficial. He saved the baby magpie’s life and she gave him something to focus on after hearing some terrible news.

 Any animal lover will enjoy this true tale with not one but two unlikely friendships between man, magpie and cat.

Author – Matt Owens

Picture Book

See Teacher’s Notes here

(2022, Scholastic NZ, Animals, Cat, Magpie, Fireman, Friendships, Birds, Family, Belonging, Rescue, Caring for a wild bild, Curiosity, New Zealand, NZ)