The Twelve Cats of Christmas

by Feather Flores (Author) Carrie Liao (Illustrator)

The Twelve Cats of Christmas
Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade

Celebrate the holidays with twelve adorable cats--and one kitten--with this festive feline take on the classic carol The Twelve Days of Christmas! On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave me cats: FOUR on the gifts, THREE dressed up, TWO batting bows, and a kitten under the tree. From chasing ribbons and shredding paper to cuddling by the fire and climbing the Christmas tree (uh-oh), the sweet and mischievous kitties teach readers of all ages to enjoy the holiday season in true feline fashion. With festive illustrations and irresistible text that invites readers to read--or sing!--aloud, this charming Christmas picture book is guaranteed to delight all. CHRISTMAS IS BETTER WITH CATS: No furry companion celebrates Christmas better than the universally beloved cat! With amusing, relatable antics that will have cat people chuckling in recognition, this book's cast of kitties bring good cheer to the most wonderful time of the year. A TRULY SPECIAL GIFT: From charming illustrations to an embossed jacket embellished with vibrant gold foil, this one-of-a-kind holiday book makes a wonderful gift. HEARTWARMING AND HUMOROUS: This joyful Christmas story combines the warmth and spirit of a timeless holiday classic with the funny and familiar quirks of cats--from their ability to squeeze into small spaces to their penchant for bird-watching, and more. Perfect for:

  • Cat lovers
  • Parents and grandparents
  • Holiday gift-givers
Select format:
Hardcover
$15.99

Kirkus

Festive feline tomfoolery.

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2—In the 12 days leading up to Christmas, cats enjoy the holiday season their way by batting bows, wearing dress-up clothes, and sitting on presents. Some of them take a nap under the tree, while others shred the wrapping paper. They even help out Santa. Their antics get even messier when they climb the tree, causing it to fall in an epic and amusing fashion. As a bonus, readers can meet the 12 cats and one kitten at the end of the book, where they learn the cats' names, likes, dislikes, and favorite Christmas activities. This feline-filled rendition of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" is a fun read. As one would expect with so many cats, chaos and mischief ensue during this; readers will enjoy every minute. The eye-catching illustrations hilariously capture the cats' personalities, emotions, and eventual destruction of the holiday decorations. VERDICT A feline-filled "The Twelve Days of Christmas" sure to delight picture book readers and cat lovers. A purrfect purchase.—Myiesha Speight

Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Publishers Weekly

Starred Review

A twinkling Christmas tree with all the trimmings is the purrfect playground for the kitties given to the narrator of Flores's funny, furry carol variation. "On the third day of Christmas,/ my true love gave me cats:/ THREE dressed up,/ Two batting bows,/ And a kitten/ under the tree." And things only get hairier from there. Exhibiting behaviors well known to cat lovers, the exceptionally expressive proliferating felines alternate between curling up for a nap and expending feisty bursts of energy, ripping wrapping paper, chasing ribbon, and yep, climbing that irresistible tree. Liao expertly conveys a knowing affection for the kitty characters in winning, fluidly rendered scenes that pinball from frenzied, chaotic action to serene cuddliness. Brief profiles of all 13 felines--replete with names, dislikes, and favorite Christmas activities--conclude. All ages. (Oct.)

Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

"Flores' adaptation of the English carol will have feline fans giggling merrily... Liao's mixed-media illustrations, which resemble watercolors, are the real stars of the show. The expressive, hyperactive pusses doing nothing but being cats are a hoot....Festive feline tomfoolery." - Kirkus Reviews
Feather Flores
Feather Flores is a children's book writer and editor who gravitates to the outdoor green spaces in every city she visits. A Los Angeles native, she now resides in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she's always looking for her next adventure.

Emily Roberts is a Baltimore-based illustrator, designer, and jack-of-all-trades. When not drawing or painting, she can be found knitting, sewing, growing tomatoes on her balcony, or tending to her houseplants. Her favorite places to visit in DC are the National Gallery of Art and the Folger Shakespeare Library. This is her first children's book.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781452184616
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Chronicle Books
Publication date
October 11, 2022
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV002050 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | Cats
JUV009030 - Juvenile Fiction | Concepts | Counting & Numbers
JUV017010 - Juvenile Fiction | Holidays & Celebrations | Christmas & Advent
Library of Congress categories
Cats
Folk songs, English
Folk songs
England
Christmas fiction
Christmas music

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