Kelly Dupre

I absolutely love the illustrations, but I'm afraid my ignorance about Somali culture may be inhibiting me from getting into this story. This is the tale of Igal Shidad, a wise man who is also a bit cowardly. In this tale, he is traveling to find water, but he keeps getting spooked by sounds and shadows. He prays to Allah for courage, but he also learns that he shouldn't travel in darkness-- he's too frightful.

The idea of Igal Shidad was entertaining. This particular story didn't catch me too much, but there are apparently many stories about Igal, and possibly one of those may be more appealing to me. (For what it's worth: a few of the Somali students who I offered it to just told me, "Oh, yeah, we already know about him. We have seen that a lot.")… (altro)

The Littlest Christmas Kitten is a child's picture book which emphasizes the brief moments in a stable where something special happened--a baby was born--and only the animals were there to witness the event.

The illustrations done by Kelly Dupre reminded me of other picture books I've seen with a wood cut motif. Black is used as a contrasting outline color to the watercolor earth tones of the scenes. The cartoon-like drawings are light-hearted enough to catch a child's eye. They are simple yet convey a great deal of emotion as the events unfold. The children reading this book would easily identify with the mother cat while she hunts for her missing kitten. In the meantime, the book successfully communicates the cozy atmosphere of the humble stable into which the Christ child was born. Without expressing the idea in words, the reader senses the anticipation of a few moments frozen in time: the tableau of the first Christmas.

The most interesting part of the book for the adults is the section after the story which tell the story of the meaning of Christmas symbols, including the tradition of Christmas cats. This part is a great reminder to parents and grandparents and other caregivers to teach our children the true message of Christmas, that Jesus came to earth for a reason.

I highly recommend this picture book for your collection of Christmas related stories.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book from Book Crash on behalf of the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”… (altro)

It is no secret that I am a big fan of cats. I have a new kitten who is into everything. Her middle school stage is in full force! So when offered a cat themed book to review, I always jump at the chance. The Littlest Christmas Kitten by Leona Novy Jackson and illustrated by Kelly Dupre would be a sweet addition to your family’s Christmas reading.

The Littlest Christmas Kitten is an attractive children’s book targeted towards children ages 4-7. It tells the story of a momma cat frantically looking for her lost kitten. The story takes place in a stable filled with animals many, many years ago. But this book isn’t just about a lost one found, it is also about the birth of Jesus and the wonder of that night over 2000 years ago. The story is simple and the beautiful wood block illustrations enhance the feeling of a story from old. And while there is no mention of cats in the Biblical narrative, it isn’t so hard to imagine a momma barn cat and her kittens being present at the birth of Christ.

While I liked the simple story of a kitten as a backdrop to the Nativity, I really loved the author’s additional information on the many symbols of Christmas included in the back of the book. This offers another opportunity for parents to talk about the real meaning of Christmas. There is even an entry on cats with very important info on what is good and not so good for the cat members of your family during the holiday season. As the wife of veterinarian, I believe this is invaluable for all pet owners.

So if you are looking for a book to reinforce the true meaning of Christmas as well as please your special little cat lover, then definitely check out The Littlest Christmas Kitten.

Recommended.

Audience: children ages 4-7.

(Thanks to Book Crash for a review copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)… (altro)