Here Comes Santa Cat (Here Comes Cat)

Cat seems to have all sorts of schemes up his furry sleeves; perhaps he’ll be angling for birthday presents or a visit from the tooth fairy next? Quite a charming character, that Cat. (Picture book. 4-7)

Copyright 2014 Kirkus Reviews, LLC Used With Permission

Underwood and Rueda follow Here Comes the Easter Cat with an equally excellent outing that sees Cat attempting to assume the role of another holiday icon. Cat is concerned that he’s been too naughty during the past year (and he has a pie chart to prove it), so he dresses up as Santa—what better way to ensure he gets a gift? As in the previous book, the back-and-forth between Cat and an unseen narrator propels the story’s humor. “Instead of trying to be Santa, why don’t you just try to be nice?” suggests the narrator before coaching Cat through a few less-than-successful attempts at caroling and tree decorating (“Wow,” says the narrator, opposite an image of Cat thoroughly wrapped up in a string of lights). An ideal holiday pick for the naughty and nice alike. Ages 3–5. Author’s agent: Erin Murphy, Erin Murphy Literary Agency. (Oct.)

Copyright 2014 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

PreS-Gr 3—The delightfully self-centered mischievous feline from Here Comes the Easter Cat (Dial, 2014) is back! He's been naughty and believes Santa will skip him, so he dresses as Santa to give himself a present. A patient narrator advises Cat that Santa gives to others, not himself. After many silly and ridiculous attempts, Cat gives something nice, learning the true meaning of giving and receiving. Readers will enjoy the playful exchange between the narrator and Cat, the expressive full-color ink and colored-pencil cartoonlike illustrations, and the nicely resolved ending. Great for reading one-on-one or in small groups.—Maureen Wade, Los Angeles Public Library

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Praise for Here Comes Santa Cat

* "Excellent . . . An ideal holiday pick for the naughty and nice alike." —Publishers Weekly, starred review

* "Readers will enjoy the playful exchange between the narrator and Cat, the expressive full-color ink and colored-pencil cartoonlike illustrations, and the nicely resolved ending. Great for reading one-on-one or in small groups." —School Library Journal, starred review 

"Will keep kids giggling. Underwood and Rueda's spot-on use of comedic timing, page turns, white space, and layout creates another holiday winner." —Horn Book

"Loads of clever fun . . . Cat, boldly standing out on white pages, eventually makes for an excellent holiday hero." —Booklist

"Cat's expressive wordless communications and the narrator's voice—by turns kindly, jovial, and exasperated—are as diverting as they were in the first tale. . . . Kids will easily relate to Cat's childlike demeanor and his grumpiness at the thought of going presentless on Christmas. This would make an excellent selection for holiday gift-giving." —BCCB

There is a sweetness to this story that illustrates the joy of sharing in a manner that is refreshingly free of goody-goody or didactic sentiment. . . . Get yourself—and all the little ones in your life—a copy of Here Comes Santa Cat, and you will all treasure it for years to come." —Katrina Fleming for OurHenHouse.org

Praise for Here Comes the Easter Cat

"Underwood uses a clever narrative technique to tell her light-as-air story." —The New York Times

* "Will be enjoyed in storytimes as well as one-on-one. The combination of witty text, plentiful white space, and brilliant images make this a truly winning book." —School Library Journal, starred review

* "Utterly endearing." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

* "Cat's signs and facial expressions are cheekily amusing, sometimes contradicting the narrator (he holds up a poster of hearts while sticking out his tongue in disgust as the narrator states, "Well, of course everyone loves the Easter Bunny"). Add it to an Easter or cat storytime lineup, or tuck it into a cat-lover's Easter basket." —BCCB, starred review