Bilingual French & English Version: Toddy the Tomcat and Other Tales / Toddy le Matou et Autres Contes

I’ll admit: I approached *Toddy the Tomcat* skeptical of yet another ‘bilingual’ audiobook that treats French like an afterthought. But Rizzuti’s writing—and Kay Webster’s performance—won me over in the first two minutes. Webster’s narration is a masterclass in pacing: she leans into the rhymes like a poet at an open mic, stretching syllables for comedic effect (her drawling *“Toddy, oh Toddy”* when the cat’s up to no good is *chef’s kiss*). The French passages aren’t just translated; they’re *reimagined*, with alliteration that sings differently in each language (“*le matou malin*” rolls off the tongue like a chanson lyric). The stories themselves are tight, morally ambiguous little gems. Toddy isn’t a hero—he’s a lovable scoundrel, and the tales don’t shy from consequences (one involves a very undignified fall into a trash bin). My only gripe? The production’s sound levels fluctuate slightly between English and French segments, requiring a volume tweak mid-listen. And while the vintage style is charming, younger kids might need a quick primer on words like “consternation” or “*un forfait*”. But those are quibbles. For families tired of sanitized, algorithm-friendly kids’ content, this is a breath of fresh, slightly mischievous air. Just don’t blame me if your kid starts demanding you read *Le Roman de Renart* next.