The Christmas Day Kitten

Reach for this book when your child starts asking questions about the circle of life, or when you want to instill a sense of quiet wonder during the holiday season. This gentle memoir follows a Yorkshire veterinarian and a kind woman named Mrs. Pickering who cares for a stray cat named Debbie. It balances the joy of an unexpected Christmas gift with the tender reality of a pet's passing. While the story handles a pet's death, it does so with immense dignity and a focus on the legacy of love left behind. Parents of children aged 4 to 9 will appreciate the sophisticated yet accessible prose and the way it models compassion for all living creatures. It is a perfect choice for teaching that some of the best gifts cannot be wrapped in paper.