Stowaway in a Sleigh

Stowaway in a Sleigh

C. Roger Mader
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2016

From the dust jacket, “The cat’s out of the bag and adventure awaits! When Slipper finds Mr. Furry Boots in her house, she does what any cat would do and investigates. But curiosity gets the best of her when she finds herself on a trip she hadn’t planned on taking…

“Join Slippers as she discovers that the best journey is the one home – especially for the holidays.”

This book is beautifully illustrated and sparingly narrated. The pictures really don’t need words – the author could have gone completely wordless and the story wouldn’t have been any less enjoyable. A lovely, calming story to read to kittens, especially on Christmas Eve, in anticipation of Mr. Furry Boots’ arrival with toys, even for cats!

If you love beautiful books, put this one on your Christmas wish list – we did!

Rating 5 out of 5 paws for a heartwarming story with illustrations both gorgeous and dreamy.

Reviewer:

Simon

Cat Dreams

Cat Dreams

Ursula K. Le Guin
Illustrated by S. D. Schindler
Orchard Books, an imprint of Scholastic Inc., 2009

From the dust jacket: “Climb into a cat’s dreamland! It’s raining mice, all the dogs have run away and a big bowl of kibbles and cream is waiting.”

It’s as if the author peeked inside my head to see what I dream of!!! Beautifully illustrated with gorgeous detailed imaginings of what all cats secretly hope for – lots of mice, no drooling dogs, a never-ending bowl of yummy goodness and even a cat nip tree to climb!! The rhymed text is large with simple words that dance across the page enchanting toddlers and beginning readers alike. The young kittens in your household will ask you to read this book to them again and again!

Rating 4 out of 5 paws for big bowls of cream, raining mice and scared dogs!! Also for moms who hold you when you’re scared.

Reviewer:

Simon

 

 

 

Little Night Cat

 

Little Night Cat

Sonja Danowski
Translated by David Henry Wilson
NorthSouth Books, 2016

From the back of the book, “When Tony, a little boy, bravely offers his stuffed animals—including his favorite toy cat—to the animal shelter to raise money for the needy dogs and cats, it touches his mom’s heart. Later that night when Tony misses his toy, she gives him her old stuffed cat. He embraces it with such care and devotion that his mom rewards him in a way that he never imagines.”

Oh, this beautifully illustrated and thoughtfully written book brought tears to my eyes and put a lump in my throat. I was so touched by Tony’s generosity and love to give so many of his toys to help raise money and then later that night, I felt his sorrow and loneliness of having no stuffed cat to hold as he tries to fall asleep. I love the subtlety the author uses to encourage her readers to give to animal shelters and even adopt a pet. There’s no preaching or brow beating – just a little boy who gives all he can give and it is returned to him many times over.

Rating: 5 out of 5 paws because it is a tale of amazingly wonderful, beautiful and satisfying love.

Reviewer:

Simon

 

Cat in the Manger

Cat in the Manger

Michael Foreman

Henry Holt and Company, 2000

From the dust jacket: “A long time ago in a faraway land, a cat lived in a barn. He had to share it with the other animals: cows and goats, chickens and…mice! But that was all right; he was a good mouser. Then, one wintry night, the door flew open and in came a man and a woman, to take shelter from the snow….”

This short and beautiful book tells the story of the Nativity from a cat’s viewpoint. The cat (and therefore, the reader) doesn’t find out who the little family is that comes to the barn, the reverence with which the story is told is plain. It is a quiet book, with softly colored illustrations that speak of the seriousness (and joy) of the moment. The text is a medium size and easily followed for early readers. Enjoy the quiet joy of the Nativity through the eyes of a cat – and even though cats aren’t mentioned in the Bible as having been present at the Christ Child’s birth, I am 100% positive there was at least one present!

Rating

Reviewer Simon

♥

A Pussycat’s Christmas

A Pussycat’s Christmas

Margaret Wise Brown

Illustrated by Anne Mortimer

HarperCollins Publishers, 1994, 1949

From the dust jacket: “How can you tell when it’s Christmas? Is it the snow? Is it the rustle of tissue paper? Or the sound of bells? Or the music of a song? Here is all the mystery and beauty of Christmas seen through the eyes of a cat, told in a simple, rhythmic story by Margaret Wise Brown, and illustrated with beautiful paintings by Anne Mortimer.”

First of all, any book with Anne Mortimer’s illustrations and story by Margaret Wise Brown is going to be wonderful. Second, any book that has a beautiful cat at the center of the story is going to be extra wonderful. And third, any book that has a tuxedo cat as it’s star is going to be extraordinarily wonderful!! This book is extraordinarily beautiful and wonderful! The story makes you want Christmas here right now! The pictures make you want to roll in the snow and listen to the quiet of Christmas Eve night. Maybe even spy Santa up in the sky – like PussyCat did! The text is medium size so it is perfect for early readers to read to the younger ones – especially on Christmas Eve. So gather the kittens around and savor a sweet story of wonder and enchantment. 

Rating

Reviewers: PeggySue & BobbieSue

♥