Jingle Paws

Margaret Wise Brown

Alessandro Psacharopulo

Parragon Publishing, 2014

32pp., hbk

9781472350619

It’s Christmas Eve and the house is silent and still.  Everything is laid out ready for Santa when a tiny mouse nibbles on one of the treats and squeaks in delight.  That wakes Cat who leaps off the bed and races through the house looking for that mouse.  But Mouse is fast and sneaky and manages to elude Cat. But sudden’y, there is a noise far louder than a mouse and down the chimney tumbles a dog and four guinea pigs!  It’s Jingle Paws and his helpers.  He’s the pet’s Santa Claus and has gifts for them all.  After gobbling up the treats, he’s gone as fast as he came in a sleigh pulled by the guinea pigs – but he’s left something special in his wake.

Written in rhyme, this is a delightful festive tale that is original and enchanting.  Young children will love the idea of their pets having their very own Santa and no doubt will be wanting to put a stocking out for their pets too.  I wonder what Jingle Paws would give three chooks and a goldfish.