Fuddles is a very pampered cat. He likes to eat and take naps. His life is purr-fect. Then one day he follows his nose to a delicious meal, but his family shoos him away. It's the same with the presents, treats, and twinkling tree. What's a cat to do? Fuddles decides to run and finds himself outside where it's cold and icy. To make matters worse, those pesky squirrels won't leave him alone. So up the tree he goes to chase them. When the squirrels jump, Fuddles jumps too. Then down, down, down the chimney he goes to find a Christmas surprise waiting just for him.

The Bottom Line: This clever picture book will delight both the young and the young at heart. Vischer's fantastic illustrations are colorful and playful. A Very Fuddles Christmas is the purr-fect holiday treat for kids ages 3 - 7. The large print and easy words also make this a great pick for story time.

This review also appears at the Mini Book Bytes Book Review Blog. ( )

A Very Fuddles Christmas by Frans Vischer is the sequel to Fuddles (2011). Fuddles has embraced being a pampered indoor cat after a brief adventure outside. Now, though, there's something new to occupy his attention — Christmas.

Two years ago we took a stray kitten in, a couple months before Christmas. Her first Christmas for us meant decorating the tree with only soft (foam mostly) ornaments that could survive repeated attacks.

Fuddles who is used to pampering and a lot of different kinds of human food takes Christmas much to heart. Nothing is safe from him. Anyone who has lived with a cat and tried to set up for a party will nod and laugh at this book. ( )