Merry Mittens: A Moontime Cats Christmas Story

Christmas comes on little cat feet in Morris and Mylie’s cheerful adventure, which follows a trio of feline friends—and a surreptitious tagalong, seen by readers. In closely hatched colored pencil and watercolor scenes, the kitty clique of Carl, Biscuit, and Peewee set off for snowy mischief on a “brighter than usual” night. Under a full moon, the gang happens upon the nest of a pack rat who has absconded with a shiny star, and redirects their mission to returning the bauble to its rightful place atop the town’s Christmas tree. While celebrating their crowning achievement with a yowling treetop serenade, the three pals finally notice the curious kitten who’s been following them, and know just how to help it find a forever home. The creators purrfectly capture familiar feline antics—batting at jingly ornaments, crowding into an empty box—along the way showing that the kitten distribution system works, even at Christmas. Ages 3–7. (Sept.)