BookCrash Review: The Littlest Christmas Kitten Written by Leona Novy Jackson

My daughter's interest in cats and kittens has sparked this year with the arrival of a stray cat at our front door. I jumped on the chance to review The Littlest Christmas Kitten when BookCrash offered the book title as part of their book review program, because my daughter and I both adore cats. I am also a Christmas book collector so I was curious about the message in this book.

Book Description 
This 32-page hardcover children's book was written by Leona (Lee) Novy Jackson and illustrated by Kelly Dupre. It is a sweet and simple story about a lost kitten with a curious streak. A mother cat searches for her lost kitten as the restlessness and excitement of the animals in the stable begin to rise. A feeling of expectation and wonder was definitely in the air. By the end of the evening, the Savior is born and angels sing praises. The author reveals the location of the kitten, but you'll have to read the book to find out more.

My First Thoughts
The Christian message is an attempt to speak to our hearts about the real reason we should celebrate Christmas which is the birth of Christ. It helps us recognize that it isn't about gifts, decorations, or any other holiday-related tradition. The story also has an underlying message about how a lost soul can be found through the miraculous events surrounded by the birth of Jesus. It encourages the reader to not give up on the important things in life that you hold dear to your heart. This retelling of the Christmas story brings the stable animals of the night to life. The illustrator brilliantly captured the emotions and feelings of the animals presented in the story with her distinctive and creative illustrations while utilizing a minimal amount of color.

Overall Opinion
The book was delightful. It may not be on my top ten list of books to read every Christmas, but it is still worth reading for entertainment purposes. The unique perspective of the book still reinforces the true meaning of Christmas. It teaches us to spread the good news of hope and peace during the holiday season.

The book is written from a cat's perspective or point of view. I had a difficult time connecting to the story and felt the plot was a little far-fetched or unrealistic at times. There's always the possibility that cats were present that Holy night and the author incorporated the event into the story with her imagination and style.  

I really appreciated the description, history, and origin behind several familiar Christmas symbols at the back of the book. The Christmas symbols described in the book consist of the stable, manger, Christmas star, nativity scene, Christmas trees, Christmas lights and candles, holly, candy canes, advent wreath, and gifts. The book also includes an entry about cats which seemed out-of-place amid the more popular Christmas Christian symbols. The cat blurb discusses the importance of keeping long-term commitments when purchasing a kitten. The author also explain the hazards during Christmas time and the precautions you should take if you own a cat. Furthermore, she  states the reason why cats purr on Christmas Eve. She even tells the reader that the legend has been passed down throughout many cat families.

Price
Images Unlimited Publishing Books $16.00
Amazon $12.90

Recommendation
I recommend this book for children ages 4-7 years old. It would be a good Christmas gift for ANY cat lover or individual looking to add a unique book to their Christmas collection. Sunday school teachers may want to consider reading aloud "The Littlest Christmas Kitten" to their students. The children may gain a better understanding of the Nativity story from a cat's perspective and I know many children who love cats!

Disclosure or Disclaimer of Material: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through the BookCrash.com book review program, which requires an honest, though not necessarily positive, review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR Title 16, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

BookCrash Review: The First Christmas retold by Janice D. Green

I recently reviewed The First Christmas as retold by Janice D. Green with illustrations by the talented Violet Vandor. I strive to focus on the birth of Jesus during the Christmas season. I'm already preparing for Christmas by reading and choosing books for my Christmas Book Tree Advent Countdown which is one of my favorite Christmas traditions. I also try to tie in an activities related to the story read aloud. Let me tell you about a book I reviewed that includes both a familiar story we must all hear and a fun activity that'll engage your child.

Book Description (From the Website)

The First Christmas, by Janice Green and illustrated by Violet Vandor, tells the account of the birth of Jesus Christ. Adults and children alike will enjoy snuggling up to share these thirteen colorful scenes and the engaging discussion questions as this timeless story unfolds. Even older readers may be surprised to learn something new as they read again of the Messiah's birth.

My Thoughts
The 32-page paperback book gives a well-written, detailed, and complete account of the Nativity Story. The message is one that has been heard by many over the years but is of great importance for all children. I really appreciated the italicized conversation starters or questions found on each page that enable the parent to check their child's understanding following each section of the story. These questions will help you interact and engage with your child and help them focus on key topics. The questions help children make personal connections to their lives and feelings in relation to the story. For example, the author asks the child in the book "How do you think Mary and Joseph felt to have to walk or ride a donkey for days? Can you think of a time when you were very tired but you couldn't stop and rest?" The questions will spark a conversation and get the child thinking about their lives.

The lovely illustrations are simple and suitable for all children. There are not any inappropriate or violent illustrations in this retelling. There is a relevant illustration on the left side of each two-page spread of the story.

I love books that include meaningful activities within the pages of the book. This children's book concludes with a Bible Quilt activity that reinforces the truths from the Bible. The First Christmas coloring pages for the family activity are found on the publisher's website, however they are not FREE. They cost $1.50 for a PDF downloadable file which is reasonably priced considering the memories and possible traditions you'll create with your family. I do feel that it would be in the best interest of the author to offer these coloring pages FREE to individuals that purchase the book. This could be done using a special link and/or password added at the front of the book.

I would like to note that this book begins not with the angel's announcement to Mary, but that it begins with Gabriel's visit to Zachariah and Elizabeth about the birth of John the Baptist. You'll hear about Mary and Joseph's visits from the Angel, Mary's visit with her cousin Elizabeth, their travels to Bethlehem, the discussion with the innkeeper, Jesus's birth, the angel's visit with the shepherds, and lastly the journey of the Three Wise Men as captured in 13 colorful scenes depicting this retelling of Jesus's birth.

A small suggestion to the author would be to capitalize any words or phrases that reference God or Jesus. Another minor suggestion would be to make the story more concise for younger readers who may not be able to sit still for long time periods. It may be a little too wordy for readers in the youngest age group.

Recommendations
I recommend this delightful book to Christian families with children in preschool through early elementary ages 4-12. You could read the book as part of your morning devotions or bedtime read aloud during the Christmas season. I will be giving this book to my daughter for Christmas this year. You could even break the story up over several days reading a little each day to make it easier on younger children. It would make a perfect Christmas gift for relatives and friends. There's a good chance that this book may become a tradition if you enjoy reading Christmas stories every year. I know every year we enjoy telling the story of Jesus's birth. If you do too, then this read aloud book can be added to your collection. You may even want to share this title with the Children's Ministry staff members at your church or even with grandparents.

Price
HoneyComb Adventures $9.95
Amazon $9.95

Note: All prices are subject to change without notice. Websites may include selected pages to preview before purchasing the book.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary, free copy of this book from the publisher through the BookCrash book review program in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."