Kevin Whitlark – Aussie Reviews

On the first day of Christmas
my true cat sent to me…
a fat mouse in a fur tree.

While there have been lots of different takes on the traditional Partridge in a Pear tree Christmas song, never before has there been a version quite so riddled with cats. The fat mouse in the first spread is followed by two tomcats twisting, three fluffy Persians, four floating kitties and more, with each spread becoming progressively more crowded with cats of all shapes, sizes and colours.

This is fun, funky offering which kids and cat-lovers will adore. Youngsters will enjoy joining in with singing the text and also studying the detail in the illustrations, with each cat unique and each spread featuring the new editions on the left side with the text and the right side showing the cumulative cat tally surrounding he Christmas tree.

Purrfect fun.

The Twelve Cats of Christmas, by Kevin Whitlark
Scholastic Australia, 2010
ISBN 9781741696240

This book can be purchased online from Fishpond. Buying through this link supports Aussiereviews.

On the first day of Christmas
My true love sent to me…
A fat cat in a fur tree.

It’s Christmastime and all the dogs are busy getting up to all kinds of mischief. Each day brings a new batch of doggy fun – two chewed up slippers, three French poodles, four pointers pointing and more. Using the repetitive pattern of well known song The Twelve days of Christmas, the book encourages kids to join in, whilst also providing lots of silliness both in the words and the doggy illustrations

On each spread the new set of dogs or mischief is illustrated around the text on the left side, whilst on the right the dogs from the previous spreads cavort over, under and around the Christmas tree. There are dogs of different sizes, shapes and colour, doing doggy things such as catching Frisbees or fetching balls, as well as more unlikely, humorous things such as playing cards, fencing or playing instruments.

The Twelve Dogs of Christmas is a lively offering which will appeal to children from toddlers and through primary school.

The Twelve Dogs of Christmas, by Kevin Whitlark
Scholastic Australia, 2009

This book can be purchased online from Fishpond. Buying through this book supports Aussiereviews.