Publishers Weekly
‘Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the city/ Not a creature was stirring... except for Bad Kitty.” Riffing on Clement Clarke Moore’s “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” Bruel takes readers through the alphabet as his crazy-comical cat wrecks the holiday (“The Eggnog was Ended./ The Fruitcake was Flung”). After a scolding, Kitty runs away in the big city only to be rescued by a kind soul who knows a few things about Christmas spirit. Kitty’s zany antics, three romps through the alphabet, and a warm reunion make this a gift indeed for Bad Kitty fans. Ages 4–up. (Sept.)
From the Publisher
It's a good story for teaching kids about the true meaning of the holiday.” —Parents Magazine
“Bruel slyly adapts the familiar poetic structure; Kitty's over-the-top expressions make her bad behavior even funnier.” —Horn Book Magazine
“Kitty's zany antics, three romps through the alphabet, and a warm reunion make this a gift indeed for Bad Kitty fans.” —Publishers Weekly
“If madcap destruction and comic antics are dear to your Kitty fans, recommend this title.” —School Library Journal
“A witty and original take on the old Christmas Eve chestnut, with a sweet twist to season the fun.” —Kirkus Reviews
Children's Literature - Mary Quattlebaum
Everyone's favorite feline wreaks holiday havoc in a book that blends alphabet rhymes with a tender tale of good will towards men (and cats and lonely old ladies) and ends with a critter-centered rendition of "Twas the Night Before Christmas." Bad Kitty is a feisty, unpredictable character whose escalating mischief draws in young readers and keeps them wondering what might happen next. Author/illustrator Nick Bruel's innovative page design and use of panels create visuals that zing with energy and showcase Kitty's antics to lively effect. Now that Kitty has tackled Christmas in this seventh book in the series, might a tussle with the Easter Bunny be next? Reviewer: Mary Quattlebaum
School Library Journal
K-Gr 3—Fans of Bad Kitty will not be surprised that she is up to no good again. Through a mash-up of odd alphabet lists and riffs on "The Night before Christmas," a litany of the feline's pranks is conveyed in bold graphic panels and uneven rhymes. Bad Kitty wants MORE for Christmas until she escapes from her family car and is rescued by a lonely old woman who teaches her that the true meaning of Christmas is "FAMILY." Puppy rescues Kitty and they both take the old lady home, where she is adopted by their owners. If madcap destruction and comic antics are dear to your Kitty fans, recommend this title. Others may want a calmer holiday.—Anne Connor, Los Angeles Public Library
Kirkus Reviews
Bruel continues the hilarious adventures of Bad Kitty with a "Night Before Christmas" theme in this latest entry in his successful series about the alphabet-obsessed pet.
Bad Kitty exhibits her customary bad-to-the-bone behavior as she tears through presents and decorations in alphabetical order, from ambushing an angel to zapping the narrator's zeal. But all that chaos isn't enough for the fearless feline, because she also dreams of an improbable Christmas banquet, enumerated in another alphabetical litany of hypothetical treats such as fried yak with zebra tail. After a scolding, Bad Kitty runs away from home, and as darkness falls on Christmas Eve, she is rescued by a tiny, elderly woman. The lady shares her family photos with the cat, launching another amusing alphabetical list of her extended family. Though the rhyming text is humorous, the kindly woman also makes some gentle comments about the important aspects of celebrating Christmas with family, and her kindness is repaid when Bad Kitty takes her home for Christmas. The cartoon-style illustrations and multiple-panel format will draw in reluctant readers who might resist a Christmas story, but, really, who can resist Bad Kitty, with all her funny faces and amusing antics?
A witty and original take on the old Christmas Eve chestnut, with a sweet twist to season the fun.(Picture book. 3-8)
