cover image The Christmas Tree Tangle

The Christmas Tree Tangle

Margaret Mahy. Margaret K. McElderry Books, $16 (1pp) ISBN 978-0-689-50616-1

A curious kitten gets the ball rolling in this rollicking cumulative tale of unusual efforts made to rescue the tiny feline from the top of the Christmas tree. Well-meaning animals take turns trying to get the kitten down, all with snarled results. The kitten finds her way back to the ground, but leaves her would-be rescuers stuck in the tree. A clever child carries out the detanglement in time for a holiday feast. Even if a tad too anthropomorphic at times, Kerins's vivacious acrylic paintings capture playful animals at their antic best. Ages 5-8. (Oct.)