Sammy Claws: The Christmas Cat

Santa’s scarf-wearing cat Sammy takes center sleigh in a Christmas Eve romp. To the surprise of no cat lover anywhere, the feline’s penchant for “having a snooze/ in a box... or a cupboard... or snuggled in shoes” leads to adventure in vigorous rhyme. Just before takeoff, the elves accidently wrap up a box containing a napping Sammy and place it in Santa’s sleigh. The cat awakens mid-flight, and though he struggles to escape, Sammy saves the day when robbers—dressed fittingly in black-and-white-striped wear and carrying a big black sack—try to steal Santa’s load of gifts. Bowles’s pattern-heavy mix of spot illustrations and high-flying scenes provides extra zing to this Christmassy caper. Ages 4–8. [em](Sept.) [/em]