Susanna Leonard Hill has a feature on her blog called Perfect Picture Book Friday. It is a list of “perfect” picture books recommended by all sorts of people. I chose this book because it is a Bad Kitty book AND a Christmas book! Great combo at this time of year!
A Bad Kitty Christmas
By Nick Bruel
40 pages – ages 4+
Published by Roaring Brook Press on September 13, 2011
Theme/Topic – Christmas Spirit/Being Grateful/Alphabet/Rhyming
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Opening and Synopsis –
‘Twas the night before Christmas,
and all through the city
Not a creature was stirring …
BLAM CRASH KABOOM!
… Except for Bad Kitty.
Kitty has ruined the presents for Christmas. She’s being GREEDY and a bad, BAD Kitty and she doesn’t seem to care. As Kitty and her family are driving to Uncle Murray’s house for a visit, Kitty jumped out the window because she was still mad she got yelled at! Kitty soon regrets what she did. She is cold, lost miserable and surrounded by rats! She hid in an alley and was found by a poor, but kindly, old lady. The lady brings her to her apartment and teaches her the true spirit of Christmas. Kitty then realizes what she did and gets homesick. Will anyone come to find her?
Why I liked this book – First off, Bad Kitty + Christmas + Rhyme + Alphabet = a very funny, book about the true spirit of Christmas and a (very) naughty cat. Need I say more? Well the long version is; I really liked this version of Bad Kitty and Mr. Bruel REALLY made funny rhymes (and alphabet sets – yes! There are FIVE alphabet sets in this book and they all rhyme!) to go with the book. He is one creative guy! What is even better is that along with all those alphabet sets, there is an awesome story about family and what Christmas is really about. I really like how this book teaches the true meaning of Christmas in a funny, Bad Kitty way! I think kids and adults will really enjoy this book. It is also great for a read aloud, especially for Christmas!
AND – As a Christmas gift to one lucky reader, I picked up a copy of this (wonderful) book at the Lititz Book festival, asked Mr. Bruel to sign it (which he did) and brought it back for a giveaway for Christmas! Read on to see how to enter to win!
Activities and Resources –
You can visit Mr. Bruel’s website HERE to learn more about him and Bad Kitty.
You can read a great PPBF review of the first Bad Kitty book by Ms. Barbara from Grade ONEderful HERE!
A great activity for this time of year is to talk to your child about the Christmas Spirit and helping someone in need by donating to a charity! HERE is a great post from Kirsten Larson of the Creating Curious Kids blog about giving to charities and getting kids involved!
I’ve heard Mr. Bruel talk at a couple of events and I like how he says that Bad Kitty belongs to everyone, not just him. One great activity to do with your kid is to write your own Bad Kitty adventure. I wrote a couple on my own and in fact, I hosted a kid-writing contest last year where I had 46 kids enter the contest! You can see the winners HERE.
Here is an entry that won a prize and it is good for this time of year -
It was submitted by Isabell age 6. She wrote “Bad Kitty jumped in a pile of tartar sauce and got tartar sauce all over the tree” – Christmas tree that is! It is cool to see how creative you can be with a Bad Kitty adventure!
To find more Perfect Picture Books please visit Susanna Hill’s blog HERE.
Now for what (some of) you have been waiting for, the giveaway!
- The Prize: A signed copy of A Bad Kitty Christmas!
- The Requirements: You comment on this post. That’s all. NEXT!
- The Ending: Thursday, December 13, 2012. Josie will pick a random winner on Friday the 14th and I will announce it in next week’s PPBF post.
Good luck and Thanks For Reading! 
Meowwwwwwwwwwwww! What a bad, bad kitty — and a great review! The premise sounds very funny and there are alphabet sets to boot? Wow! Love that you hosted a writing contest too. Thanks for the fun post.
Thanks Ms. Rattigan! I am glad you like my post! You are in the giveaway!
Bad Kitty at Christmas! What a great thought! This looks like an excellent book! some of my favorite things — Rhymes, alphabets, and finding out how important home is. Thanks for sharing this book!
I am glad you like my choice Rhythm!
I think you would love this book – there’s a puppy in it! 
I love Bad Kitty. I didn’t know there was a Christmas one! Great read aloud for T-man’s class!! (I don’t need to enter the contest as I’ve already won on your blog before.)
My Mom just read it aloud to Josie’s class! All of the kids really liked it! I hope T-Man’s class likes it!
We love Bad Kitty. Mom says Bad Kitty is nothing like me at all. Then she giggles….. That’s a good thing right?
Loive and licks,
Cupcake
I know you are a good dog Cupcake!
I’d love to have this book. It sounds great and you did a super job on the review. Bad Kitty sounds so cute! I love books based on animals. That message is fantastical. *waves*
Thanks Ms. Campbell! You are in for the drawing!
I love Bad Kitty, but have,’t read this one. I am so impressed by the author including all those alphabet series!
It was funny to hear Mr. Bruel talk about how challenging it was to do. He said he really wanted to torture himself and make everything rhyme!
This sounds great and I bet lots of kids can relate to what it feels like being naughty instead of nice coming up to Christmas. So cool of you to do a giveaway, Erik!
Thanks Ms. Johnson! You are in for the give-away!
I have heard so many wonderful things about this book. If we are the lucky winners, we will gladly add it to our Christmas book basket. Great review, Erik!
Oh, and I failed to say, thanks for the mention on your fabulous blog! Yours is definitely one of our favorites.
Thanks! I LOVE “Creating Curious Kids” too!
Thanks Ms. Larson! You are in for the drawing!
I haven’t read any Bad Kitty books yet, but it looks as though I might really like them! (Don’t put my name in the bowl though – I was lucky on your blog too recently!), Also, just wanted to let you know, after you watch The Quiet Man’, watch E.T. (again, if that’s the case), and then let me know if anything ‘rings a bell’! Have a wonderful weekend!
I think you would really like Bad Kitty Ms. Zoch! I haven’t watched the Quiet Man or ET… yet.
Just got out Bad Kitty Gets a Bath! Thanks Erik.
My favorite part of that one is the list of things you need to give Kitty a bath hee hee…
Great post Erik! This book sounds fantastic. :0)
Thank you Ms. Sadd!
What a clever twist…almost reminds me of a kitty’s version of “A Christmas Carol”!
It is a nice version of this story! Thank you for your comment.
Such a perfect pick for Christmas Erik — it has all the right ingredients for a fun Christmas book. I have only read Bad Kitty on your blog and have loved your reviews. Need to add this to my great granddaughter’s Christmas book list — she loves cats.
I am glad you like my review Ms. Tilton! I bet your grand-daughter would love this book!
I swear those books were written about one of our cats – he totally fits the mold! lol FYI, we will not enter the contest just wanted to drop by and say hello and say “Great Review”. I love your idea of a kid-writing contest. Hope you get a chance to do it again.
I think a lot of people have or had) a Bad Kitty. We had one, her name was Steve. She was a bad BAD Kitty!
This sounds like a fun read! Thanks for adding it to the list! I love the contest winners illustration/writing you posted. It is perfect for the holiday season! Great post Erik!
Thank you Ms. Edwards! I am glad you like my pick!
Erik – this sounds like a fun Christmas read. I haven’t read any bad kitty books yet and now I’m going to be sure to check them out. How awesome of you to have a give away too. By the way – how did you get it to snow on your website? – I love it.
Hi Ms. Miller! It is a really great Christmas story. Mr. Bruel writes picture and middle grade Bad Kitty books and I like them all.
“Bad Kitty vs. Uncle Murray” is my favorite (it’s a middle grade book). If you have a WordPress blog you go to your “dashboard” then go to “settings” and then “general” and all the way down at the bottom is a box to check if you want snow until January 4th 2013!
Bad Kitty is one of my favorite book-kitties! He is so very very bad!
It’s awesome that there’s a Bad Kitty at Christmas book, and even more awesome that you’re having a giveaway!
Bad Kitty is very bad! Thanks Ms. Stilborn! You are in for the give-away.
My 4 year old daughter loves the bad kitty books. She’s always asking my husband to make up more bad kitty stories for her.
Thank you for visiting my blog Ms. Snow.
It is fun to make up your own Bad Kitty stories! You are in for the drawing! 
Very cool review Erik! Love this Bad Kittie at Christmas time book. What wonderful idea to do a Christmas Time giveaway. Your’re the Man! Yeah, how did you get the snow to fall on your blog? Awesome!
Thank you Ms. Tulloch! It is a very fun book!
To get the snow – (I think you do have a WordPress blog) you go to your “dashboard” then go to “settings” and then “general” and all the way down at the bottom is a box to check if you want snow until January 4th 2013!
I have this book and, honest engine, I read this book this morning to my cat–the fairly good one. Isn’t this a great book. How does Nick do it every time!!
Great review Erik. (stop beating me to the punch. 3rd book you reviewed online first. ;_) )
HA HA! Great minds think alike!
Oh, and the comments! 65 seriously? I’ll review it and geet lucky to have 3! WHAT AM I DOING WRONG??
You have convinced me to join on the Bad Kitty fa club. Alphabet, rhyming, and gratitude – pretty much all a kindergarten teacher could wish for! Sounds like it would be a good companion book to Pete the Cat Saves Chrirstmas which is all about “giving your all” at Christmas. Got my fingers crossed for your giveaway. thanks
I haven’t read Pete the Cat saves Christmas, but it is on my list to read! I think kids and adults will love A Bad Kitty Christmas! You are in for the drawing!
I love this book!!! I haven’t read Pet the Cat Save Christmas either…and it’s on my list, too! So many books…so little time
Thanks for the great review!
Oh…I’ve read it, but don’t own it,so I would love to win it!!
You are in the drawing Ms. Klostermann!
Meow, meow meowmeow meow MEOW!!!
Mrawwwwwrrrrr meow meow…fft fffffft mrow!!
Purrrrrr.
ME-WOW!
Purrrr. (Translated that means thanks for the comment and you are in the drawing!)
Hi Erik. I think I’ll be in the bad kitty drawling competition
You’re in Ethan!
Hi Erik. I think I will be in the competition
Emma will be entering too
I have Ethan and Emma entered! Thanks!
This comment has been entered into the competition
This is an official response to your official entry – You’re in!
Awesome! I love Bad Kitty books!!!
Thanks Emma! Bad Kitty is great!
Okay, well I’m apparently the last one here because I’m so behind this week, but I LOVE Bad Kitty, and though I haven’t seen her Christmas book yet, I would LOVE to win it! I just love the whole concept of Bad Kitty – she and I have a lot in common
Thanks for adding this fabulous title to our list, Erik! 
Thanks Ms. Hill! I’m glad you like my pick! You are in for the drawing!
I haven’t read a Bad Kitty book yet- but I have heard such good things about them. I loved your review and now I know a little bit more about why they are considered so great. I would love to win this book! I think it is so exciting that you have met this author a few times. They sound so nice! Thanks for the review and giveaway.
Mr. Bruel is VERY nice (and talented). I like how he writes Bad Kitty picture and middle grade books. I hope you like them if you read them
You are in the drawing!
Hi Erik! My class loves Bad Kitty! I love your idea of the kids writing their own bad kitty adventures. I think I might do that, too.
Thanks also for the link to my blog. That’s very kind of you.
Take care!
When I did my contest, I had a whole first grade class enter! They said they had a lot of fun doing it.
Thank YOU for taking the time to comment on my blog! 
(by the way, you are in to win the book!)
I love that you’re featuring so many Christmas-themed picture books. I borrowed several from the library but only a few appealed to me. Maybe next time I visit, I’d find a few more like this bad bad kitty. Great review as always, Erik!
Thanks Ms. Bascal! I think you would like this series!
Please put me in the contest. . for your readers. 67 COMMENTS. Erik, what am I not doing or doing wrong? Forget the BAD book . . . I already own it. Got it months ago, yet you still beat me. ARG! ;(
I am going to nominate you for an award, a nice award a very good award…if I can get the post up between all the reviews. Yes, it will happen.Keep an eye out, YOU ARE A SHOE-IN!
Thanks Ms. Morris! Remember that half the comments are from me and this post is a perfect picture book post – there are a bunch of bloggers that do it and we read each others and comment. You should join the PPBF group! You post about great picture books already and if you join the group it gets linked to Ms. Hill’s website where everyone finds it.
Here is a link so you can read about it http://susannahill.blogspot.com/p/perfect-picture-books.html Then every Friday go to Ms. Hill’s PPBF post and you can add your link! The people that do it are super nice. I think they would like reading your reviews!
Sounds like so much fun!
Thanks Dr. Clune!
Great review! My son has been really enjoying the Bad Kitty books — I’m sure this one will be no exception.
I’m glad he likes Bad Kitty! Thanks Ms. Finison! You are in the contest!