Christmas for a Kitten

Plot Summary

It's winter, and a lonely abandoned kitten is trying to survive in the woods. Each night, as he hunts for food, the warm glow of houses fills him with longing. While a family carries in its Christmas tree, the kitten slips into their house. Then—danger—a fierce dog lives there! The kitten has not found a haven after all. But it is Christmas Eve, a night when magical things can happen. Robin Pulver's gentle story and Layne Johnson's dramatic paintings evoke the wonder and joy of Christmas.

Awards

Book Sense Children's 76 Winter 2003-2004 List

Reviews

"...the tale is so warm and the art so sweet that the book will immediately put everyone in a holiday mood. Johnson uses plenty of winter whites and midnight blues and candle-lit backgrounds for the escapades of this adorable kitten, padding through a story with a too-realistic beginning and a fairy tale end." Booklist

"...the strength of this book lies in its rich oil paintings, which depict the fuzzy orange feline and its surroundings realistically and form a variety of unusual and exciting perspectives." School Library Journal

"...the oil paintings of the mischievous kitten will please any cat lover. Johnson varies (his) perspectives well, so the reader is looking at the kitten in a different way on every spread. (His) illustrations are filled with glowing tones, the golden kitty, Christmas lights and ornaments, and welcoming lights in the windows." Kirkus Reviews

"Stunning oil paintings filled with texture and light fill the pages with dazzling perspectives and drama. Kitten antics and expressions are beautifully captured. Expressing the joy and miracle of Christmas, the poignant story would be a delight to read aloud."
Children's Literature

Associated Keywords
holiday, holidays, animals, kittens, santa, santa claus, winter, cat, cats