The 12 Days of Christmas & Other Winter Holiday Picture Books for Kids – Day 9

<font size=2><em>Reviewed by Amy M. O’Quinn for the National Writing for Children Center</em>

<img src=’http://writingforchildrencenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/the-christmas-day-kitten.gif’ align="right"alt=’The Christmas Day Kitten’ /><strong>Title:</strong> <em>The Christmas Day Kitten</em>
<strong>Written by:</strong> James Herriot
<strong>Illustrated by:</strong> Ruth Brown
<strong>Hardback: </strong>32 pages
<strong>Ages:</strong> 4-8
<strong>Publisher:</strong> St. Martin’s Griffin (September 15, 1993)
<strong>ISBN-10:</strong> 0312097670
<strong>ISBN-13:</strong> 978-0312097677

The Christmas Day Kitten, written by veterinarian-storyteller James Herriot, is a holiday book to be enjoyed by all ages. It is a quiet story, as is typical of Herriot’s writing. However, your heart will certainly be touched as you read about the unique relationship between a stray cat named Debbie and an elderly woman named Mrs. Pickering.

Mrs. Pickering tells Dr. Herriot that Debbie is a timid little cat who just creeps in from time to time, has some food, sits in front of her fire for a spell, then slips away. She never stays for more than ten minutes, and Mrs. Pickering has never been able to find out where Debbie comes from or where she goes. Nevertheless, the elderly lady does everything she can to be kind to the little cat.

However, on Christmas Day, Dr. Herriot gets a call from Mrs. Pickering to come to her home. A very sick Debbie has dragged herself into Mr. Pickering’s house carrying a tiny kitten in her mouth. Debbie is thin, dirty, and at the point of death. And sadly, she does die. Mrs. Pickering is amazed that Debbie brought the kitten to her—and on Christmas Day. But she decides to keep and care for the little kitten, who she names Buster.

A year passes, and Dr. Herriot comes back to Mrs. Pickering’s house the next Christmas. But this time there is no sorrow. Buster has brought much joy to the lady and her Bassett hounds as well. He’s a bright spot in their home and keeps things lively! But there is an unbelievable and remarkable thing about Buster. He will chase a ball, bring it back to Mrs. Pickering, and lay it at her feet. He’s a retriever-cat!

Both Dr. Herriot and Mrs. Pickering think of Debbie, the little cat who struggled to bring the most precious thing she had to this loving home, even as she was dying. Mrs. Pickering says, “Debbie would be pleased.” And then she adds about Buster, “The best Christmas present I’ve ever had.”

Although this bittersweet story does have a happy ending, it’s hard not to become a little misty-eyed when reading the description of the little, dying stray cat, Debbie, and her mission to get her baby to safety. In a very gentle way, the story reminds us that Christmas miracles, no matter how humble and small, do still happen. These miracles may not change the world on a large scale, but they sure touch the heart and soul of those to whom they happen.

The paintings done by Ruth Brown are rich and exquisite, depicting the Yorkshire countryside. The old-fashioned scenes are lovely and full of detail and fit with Dr. Herriot’s style of writing perfectly. This is a sweet, simple story, but one that is perfect for the whole family. It emphasizes the true holiday spirit!

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<strong>Amy M. O’Quinn</strong> is a pastor’s wife and former schoolteacher-turned-homeschool mom of six. She is also a freelance writer who enjoys jotting down ideas around the fringes of family life. She specializes in non-fiction, and her work has been published or acquired by magazines including J<em>ack and Jill, US Kids, Guideposts for Kids, Learning Through History Magazine, Highlights, GEORGIA Magazine, Homeschooling Today, International Gymnast</em>, etc. She is also a product/curriculum/book reviewer for <em>The Old Schoolhouse Magazine</em> and a regular columnist for <em>TEACH Magazine</em>. The O’Quinns live on the family farm in rural south Georgia. You can find Amy’s blog, Ponderings From Picket Fence Cottage, at <a href="http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/picketfencemom">http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/picketfencemom</a>.