Cat in the Manger

by Michael Foreman

You'd be grumpy too if you were tipped out of a nice warm manger to make a bed for a baby born to the two strangers, a man and a woman, on that cold winter's night. Bad enough to have to share the barn with clumsy cows and bleating sheep but for the cat who had been in the manger, the camels were the last straw - huge, stinky, and they spit! Admittedly, they were adorned in fine bridles and the three men with them looked like kings! Anyone would get caught up in the joyous occasion as the starlight illuminated the barn and all creatures pressed closer to witness the advent of this beautiful child. Anyone could readily understand an old barn cat allowing rows of little mice to sit awestruck in front of him the better to see! He never knew the strangers' names. They left within days. In their wake, a feeling of peace and goodwill lingered which affected the barn cat the rest of his lives.
Out of 10 I give this book 20!
I loved to read it aloud every year in the library. I never said anything about the characters and it was so interesting to observe the varied response of different-aged children to the cat's tale. Little ones discovered the Christmas story as they added up the references and excitedly concluded that his tale was indeed a familiar story to them. Older children got the connection right away and relished the indignant but increasingly reverent voice of the cat. It was delightful to share such a unique imaginative perspective on the first Christmas story. The vivid language and fabulous illustrations had us all rollicking with laughter. I put this book at the top of my {very long) list of favorites -
for adults, especially cat-lovers, as well as children.

ISBN: 9781842709665