Common Sense Media Review
By Regan McMahon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Cat learns how to make the Nice list in funny holiday tale.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 3+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Cat's afraid he won't get a present because he's on the Naughty list, so he decides to step into Santa's role, red suit and all. But the narrator explains that Santa doesn't give presents to himself, and asks why Cat doesn't just be nice? Cat tries, but ends up caroling badly, giving fish to kid, and toppling a Christmas tree. Then the narrator gives him a gift of two cans of fancy cat food, and Cat gives a needy little cat one of them."Cat, do you realize what just happened?" asks the narrator. "You did something nice!" Then Santa shows up and gives him a present: an official Santa's Helper (elf) suit, and they ride off together in Santa's sleigh.
Is It Any Good?
Underwood shows there's more clever fun to be had with the star of the wonderfully original Here Comes the Easter Cat, who speaks directly to the unseen narrator only through signs. In this even more universal story, Cat must conquer his greedy tendencies and learn it's more blessed to give than to receive. And that being nice isn't that hard.
Claudia Reuda's spare, expressive drawings in ink and colored pencil on stark white pages show Cat's shifting emotions, hopes, and epiphanies. They look a lot like the quickly changing moods of a little kid, so young readers (and their parents) will have no trouble relating.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about giving and getting Christmas presents. Does talk about Santa keeping Naughty and Nice lists make you be kinder around the holidays?
What's funny about a cat who dresses up as Santa? Do you like holiday stories featuring animal characters? What others have you read?
Can you imagine speaking only through signs you hold up instead of using your voice? Try having a conversation with someone like that. You could use little sticky notes instead of a big sign. Try it for five minutes.
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Claudia Rueda
- Genre : Holiday
- Topics : Animals , Holidays
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Dial
- Publication date : October 21, 2014
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 3 - 5
- Number of pages : 88
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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