This book is phenominal. Until you see the illustrations you can not imagine this book. The store is told with illustrations, that are so detailed, that the story is told by the youngest reader in the same detail. It is a book that can be given to a young child, to read the story of Santa, and can be re-read over and over and be just as fresh each time it is told. I have purchased one for every niece, nephew and God Child and will continue to do so.

This is an inspiring allegory which moves well beyond the agebounds of4-8 years old listed in the ad. Our 3 year old loved it. Because it is only pictures, Dad supplied the narrative, with Larisa adding details to the story. We ordered a second copy of this book to send to a 6 year old girl we sponsor at an orphanage in Korea. The message of hope and inclusiveness says that Santa thinks of everyone and has lots of help (in the form of little fairies) in overcoming obstacles to delivery. Beautifully expressive illustrations. A great gift book for the child in all of us!

This was given to my son one Christmas when he was 3-4 years old. It was his favorite book for so long. Because it is only illustrations, it can be read differently by many people. The pictures are amazing; the details and creativity just wonderful. I then purchased every other book by Peter Collington, and both of my children have loved them all. I have given this book as a gift many times!

Don't kid yourself, this book is supposed to be for children but you'll find that adults are just as fascinated. An odd story with beautifully painted illustrations. You'll find it migrating away from you child's shelf and onto yours. Well worth a look and definately not your typical kid's book.

My husband and I bought this book at a library sale when my older daughter was a toddler. I don't remember ever reading it to her, but we pulled it out again when our younger daughter was looking for something to hear. In this story, told with illustrations only, we see a life in the day of Little Pickle, a feisty toddler (not unlike our own toddler!) Little Pickle gets into all kinds of trouble at home, and when she falls asleep, she gets into even more trouble in her dream! Our little girl loves the story - her favorite part is when Little Pickle is pushing her mother in the stroller. It might be a little scary for some very sensitive younger children (in her dream, Little Pickle is in a raft in the ocean during a storm), but I think most children will enjoy Little Pickle's adventures.

Adults...don't even THINK of the "I'm buying it for the kids" routine. Buy it for yourself and ENJOY it! This is an absolutely wonderful book. Yeah, share it with the kids, but enjoy it for yourself. Don't hide behind adulthood. The book is a wordless story about giving and about true character..doing good when you think no one else is looking. Destined to be a Christmas classic and hopefully, like one of his other books "The Angel And The Soldier Boy", a video as well.

This book is nothing short of wonderful. It took a long time for me to find a copy after first hearing of the book. Finally I found a copy in my library. Each time I read it I find some new detail. It is very disarming. I wanted to buy a copy and was very glad to discover the British paperback version is available through Amazon.uk. The paperback version is the same size. Reading it will be an annual treat for me. I also learned plans are underway for making a 20 minute animated feature of this story for BBC this Christmas. What a treat that will be! Just hope Knopf prints again and the VHS is available through Amazon.

I first came across this book when working as a nanny for two little girls. They received this book from their grandma for the holidays and I looked through it. This book literally took my breath away.

This book is the essence of "a picture is worth a thousand words". The story is told in pictures only, no words whatsoever, and I continue to find something new in the details every time I look at the pictures.

The story of a poor gypsy woman who uses her last bits of strength in a bid to stay alive on Christmas Eve. Destitute, no help in sight, she saves a Nativity set in a church when it is knocked over by a vandal, and comes to have her own life saved in return.

The artwork is superb, I shared the book with people at work, all of whom said they would be going out to get copies of the book for their own families. This book is ageless, appeals to all, and will remind you and yours of the true spirit of the holiday season.

This book is no "Small Miracle."

Okay, the illustrations are great. Okay, it's a clever satire about the feline mind versus the human mind. But as a book for young children, this one stinks to high heaven.

First of all, there's the family. I'm sorry, but Mr. and Mrs. Ford are NOT overworked. Or at least, the author doesn't play them that way. All they ever say to Tibs are things like "get over" and "why can't you feed yourself, you great fat lump?" Well why did they ever adopt a cat? As a cat lover, their behavior makes me shudder. I think the RSPCA should take them out and have them shot. They are so lazy and self centered, they just don't want to be bothered with Tibs, and then they're stupid enough to give him the family credit card and access to the ATM PIN number, and they get UPSET when the poor animal tries to amuse himself!

Poor Tibs ends up having to go to work and pay them rent. Are they appreciative at all of his effort and ingenuity? They are not. And then when he gets so exhausted that he gets fired, they say "Well, you'd better get another job because we need the money." So what does Tibs do? he checks out the "less gifted" kitties snoozing on the front steps and decides that he may not have been so clever after all.

Not only does this cat's family treat him like dirt, sending children the message that their families only care about money and jobs, the story seems to be implying that one might as well never do anything since you're never going to be loved for it anyway. As a children's librarian, I shudder to think of the effect this may have on some of the kids. Most young children are simply not mature enough to grasp that the story is satire. They may think, "well why should I do anything on my own since I will never be validated or praised for doing it?" or "Hey, it's MUCH smarter to con other people into doing things for me".

I can see the author's point in the story. Yes, most of us who own cats wonder about how they think and the mysterious process by which they can make themselves the center of the household, but most children do not think in this way. This book should never have been released as a children's book. It would have been much better as a story for older or even teenage kids. Two thumbs down and I'm very sorry, because the pictures were great and Tibs is just as cute as he can be.

My 4-year-old daughter and I picked this up at the library, and it had her, my husband, and I all giggling! The pictures are terrific...warm, vivid and very funny. Tibs the cat is so plucky and adorable. I, too...as I noticed some of the previous reviewers pointed out...got pretty upset with Tibs' human family and wondered why they even have a cat if they didn't want to be bothered with the poor thing. In fact, when I read it aloud to my daughter I delete the parts where they call him "stupid", "dumb" etc. It's cruel, and I don't want her thinking it's acceptable to treat animals OR people that way.(Though Tibs' family is pretty harsh with him in general, not to mention neglectful...the only time they seem to show him affection is when he becomes independent.) Tibs gets so fed up with depending on them that he takes things into his own paws and impresses everybody. But he shows them, and who's better than him in the end?
There are different messages (good and not-so-good, obvious and more subtle) that can be picked up from this book. It's all in how you view it. But, why not discuss it with your kids after reading it? I don't think the message is that it's clever to be lazy when things get too stressful and let everyone else take care of you...I think the message is to just be yourself. (After all, did his family THINK he was going to take care of himself to begin with...feed himself, pay for his own food and rent, do his own shopping and wash the dishes? He is, after all, a cat...albeit an extraordinary one. Didn't they expect a bit too much of him...even if he was capable? And why make him work until he drops...they took the darn ATM card away. Give him an allowance! They took him for granted and took advantage of his cleverness. That would be like expecting one's young children to support and take care of themselves.) I would recommend this brilliant, humorous storybook. If you are a cat lover like me, it will surely bring a smile to your face...especially the illustrations!

For my six year old son's birthday, I bought him Clever Cat, because he is totally devoted to our cat. My son loves the book, he pours over it for hours and talks to our cat about it. When we walk down the street to school, he likes to point out the cats, sleeping or waiting patiently at their doors.

This book has completely captured his imagination and made him view cats in a totally different manner. I recommend this book to any parent who has a child with a cat.

I loved the illustrations, but the story was somewhat unsettling to me as an adult. I am concern about poaching of animals for their ivory and found the tooth fairy using the childs teeth for piano keys, just as unsettling(even though the child lived). But if the story does not bother you, you will find that the illustrations live up the the quality, detail and class that you associate with this 'writer'.

This is an excellent book for children who are not yet able to read fluently. Children are able to utilize their imagination in order to form the "words" to the story. The illustrations are inviting and the subject matter is something that most children can easily identify with. As an elementary education teacher, I would recommend this book to grades K-3 for pleasure reading, as well as 4-6 to assist in developing sequential story writing.

I found this to be a darling book. It shows a loving relationship between a little girl and her mother as well as alleviate the mystery of the tooth fairy. As a young child (I am a first grade teacher with a grown son), I saw what I believed to be the tooth fairy. I never forgot it, it made such an impression on me. Young children love fantasy and "little" things, so for most children, I believe this to be an enchanting departure from the usual fare of books dealing with the fantasy world adults create for children. I was surprised to think that another reviewer would compare this topic to poaching of ivory. The child "wants" the tooth fairy to visit. Many children try to stay awake with the hopes of a magical glimpse of the tooth fairy. This beautifully illustrated book helps to "answer" the fantasy questions that children want to explore. Even when they no longer truely believe, many children do not admit it, so they can continue to enjoy the fantasy world. Imagination and fantasy are wonderful things that indicate high intelligence. We grow up soon enough and put these thoughts aside for reality. This book is a beautiful treasure for children and even adults. I love this book!

This is a great wordless book. My mother found it at the grocery store ,of all places. This is a wonderfully illustrated book about a boy's favorite horsie ride outside the local 5 and dime type store. One day the owner has it replaced with a rocket ride. The little boy is so upset that he refuses to even ride on the rocket. Later that night , the little boy drifts off into dreamland and dreams about riding away to the circus on HIS horsie ride.You won't believe what happens at the circus or what the next trip to the 5 and dime brings.Thanks Mom !