Mader, C. Roger. Stowaway in a Sleigh. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2016. $17.99. ISBN 9780544481749. Unpaged. Ages 4-7. P8Q8
The curious cat Slipper accidentally stows away in Santa’s sack and goes on an unexpected trip to the North Pole. She explores while there, but wants to go home, and heads out on foot. Fortunately, Mr. Furry Boots (aka Santa) figures out what has happened and retrieves Slipper and gets her back to her own home. The storyline is very simple and sweet and there are only few words on each page, which puts the focus on the lush and beautiful (though a bit dark) pastel illustrations. Verdict: The book will appeal to both cat lovers and readers looking for a touching Christmas story. I think this will become a favorite holiday story for many of our patrons with small children.
January 2017 review by Carol Schramm.