Slinky Malinki’s Christmas Crackers

Lynley Dodd

Penguin, 2007

pbk., 32pp., $A14.99

9780141501093

Christmas was coming. Out came the tree, dressed up in finery, splendid to see. Trinkets and tinsel with baubles and bows, a mouse with a hat and a very red nose.’

It’s Christmas in Slinky Malinki’s house and the rapscallion, mischievous cat is most curious about the Christmas tree. With its reindeer, ribbons, baubles and bells, it’s too tempting a treat for Slinky not to investigate. So Slinky Malinki, with mischievous glee, creeps out from the shadows to climb up the tree . . .

There have been many photos online about what happens when a cat and a Christmas tree come together and this lovely story epitomises what can happen.  From the author of Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy (the first book ever reviewed for this blog) comes this delightful rhyming story of a cat who is determined that it will not be displaced by a fairy!  Even though it was published some years ago, Slinky Malinki is so much fun and so popular with little ones that this title is still in print and stocked by booksellers. And such is the appeal and quality of Dame Lynley Dodd’s work, there is an exhibition of it at the State Library of NSW running till March 15, 2015.

Slinky Malinki  is one of my all-time favourite characters (even though I’m not a “cat person”) and to have a Christmas tale about him to share with my grandchildren is just going to be so much fun. And then we will meet the rest of the friends