Oscar the Christmas Kitten – A Story of Hope

Title: Oscar the Christmas Kitten – A Story of Hope
Author: Robert & Beverly Kynor
Publisher: FHL Publishing
ISBN: 9780982708705
Pages: 32, Hardcover
Genre: Children’s Books

Reviewed by: Beth Adams, Pacific Book Review

Book Review

Set during December, in the frigid Christmas season, Oscar’s curiosity got the best of him as he wandered outside his warm and cozy home to see the lights decorating the other homes in the neighborhood. Seeking relief from the cold, Oscar snuggled up to the heat of a car’s engine only to be trapped when the car started and drove away. Later, finding himself lost and cold, he sought shelter where ever he could, and wandered for days looking for his home. One day, a passer-by noticed the kitten next to a sign posted on a street lamp saying “Lost Kitten,” and phoned the number. The owner came by and picked up Oscar, and brought him home to his family, having been looking and praying for his safe return. As the story comes to a close, there is Oscar enjoying Christmas in his own bed, warm and toasty.

The incredible journey, we learn at the end of the book, is based on a true story. Yes, there is an Oscar, and yes, he did accidently get taken away in a car for miles from home. Yes, he did wander for days. Yes, a sign posted outdoors lead to his safe return. Robert and Beverly are the people in the book, and due to their special skills in storytelling decided to write this book based on their kitten, Oscar. It’s not often these idyllic children’s tales are based on true stories. I never saw a talking cat wearing a crooked hat eating green eggs & ham, but Oscar exists!

Truth is stranger than fiction indeed, and children can be told these true stories to instill a sense of hope and a “never give up” attitude. The book is beautifully illustrated by Michael Martinez, using pencil and watercolors, in a very appropriately detailed fashion. The pictures are designed for a child to visualize while being read the book, or when older to read the book by themselves. The storybook is a perfect birthday or Christmas gift for a child, a welcome addition to a pre-school library, or home collection of favorite stories that can be passed down from child to child. Hardbound, with sturdy pages and finely crafted binding, this book can last the nine lives that children often put a book through. Let’s just hope Oscar learned his lesson and there’s no sequel to his wandering adventure!