The Animals' Merry Christmas

by Kathryn Jackson, Richard Scarry (Illustrator)

Golden Books is proud to reissue this beloved Christmas collection, chock-full of funny animal stories and poems. This oversize format features Scarry’s earlier, more painterly style and makes a perfect gift. A true holiday treat for Scarry fans!

Genres: Picture Books, Christmas, Childrens, Holiday, Collections, Classics, Fiction

72 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1950

About the author

Kathryn Jackson wrote hundreds of lively, witty stories for Golden Books, most of which were coauthored with her husband, Byron. The Saggy Baggy Elephant is one of the pair’s most famous titles. Golden Books that Kathryn Jackson wrote on her own include Tawny Scrawny Lion, Nurse Nancy, Pantaloon, Richard Scarry’s The Animals’ Merry Christmas, and Richard Scarry’s A Story a Day: 365 Stories and Rhymes.

Reviews

[Gina House · Rating 5 out of 5]

Woo! Holiday cheer at its best! 😍🎄✨ I've always love any story illustrated by Richard Scarry, but this one in particular made my heart happy! This oversized Golden Book is packed full of bright, colorful illustrations by this amazing artist and includes the silliest Christmas stories ever. Any child would find this delightful and wonderfully fun. It's definitely a top choice for festive Christmas children's books!

[La Coccinelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Little Golden Books brings us yet another strange book featuring stoned-looking animals and extremely simple stories. I don't remember reading this one when I was a kid, and we read lots of Little Golden Books; nothing seemed familiar, in any case.

This book is actually a collection of short stories and poems. My reactions to them varied quite a bit, so I thought I'd say a few words about each one:

"Mr. Hedgehog's Christmas Present" - This is a simple little story about a hedgehog trying to find a gift for his wife. In the end, it turns out to be as simple as giving her the apple he finds on the street (after polishing it up nice first). It's an okay story, but very short.

"Green Christmas" - This one is the first of a couple of poems. It talks about a Christmas without snow. The animals lament all the things they won't have... but then find pleasure in the things they will have instead. It's kind of a nice sentiment, especially since there are lots of kids who celebrate Christmas during the summer, or who simply don't get snow for whatever reason.

"The Singing Christmas Tree" - This story is about a little fawn who sees a Christmas tree in a human window and wishes he had one of his own, complete with twinkling lights and decorations. His mother concocts a plan to make it happen for him... and while the tree turns out not to be like the humans', it's perhaps even better.

"The Cold Little Squirrel" - This story will eventually end in tears. Basically, there's a little squirrel who's always cold. So he goes out and tries to find warmth. He finds a house and climbs up to the chimney, where he hears a little raccoon girl inside wishing Santa would bring her a real live doll. The squirrel slips and falls down the chimney, the raccoon girl thinks her wish has been granted, and the squirrel is warm... for now. (I just can't help wondering what's going to happen when the squirrel gets tired of being a toy and wants to go home.)

"The Long-Ago Donkey" - This is a take on the Nativity story that perpetuates the myth that Jesus was born in the middle of winter; much emphasis is made about the cold. The story itself is too simple, and the donkey comes around to his mother's way of thinking so quickly that it almost seems like there's something wrong with him. (He's highly suggestible, in any case.) Some of the illustrations in this one are just weird; there's one scene that looks like the baby Jesus is being shot with a laser beam.

"A Very Small Christmas" - This is the second of the two poems in the book, and it's about chipmunks getting ready for Christmas, going to bed, and waking up to find a tree decked out in peanuts and tiny candles. It's fairly cute.

I think I enjoyed the poems more than most of the stories, although "The Singing Christmas Tree" was pretty cute. Overall, this isn't a terrible collection.

I still feel sorry for that squirrel, though.

[Melissa Namba · Rating 2 out of 5]

While the illustrations are fun, this book was clearly made for a generation with a longer attention span. It is super wordy and there are long and full paragraphs on every page. I don't know a toddler who could sit through it. Each story, because there are a bunch, could be its own book with the right amount of illustrations.

[Lorraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like the collection of Christmas stories. The drawings are so delightful (tiny squirrels, eensy mice!), and the stories are really sweet. I especially enjoy the one in which a barn is determined to create a visit from Santa for three little chicks even though Santa has never come to the animals before.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of the stories in this book were very good. Some stories were sexist and ageist. Adorable illustrations throughout. The cover of the copy I read was embellished in gold glitter and had a sticker that said "Glow in the Dark" on it, but I didn't see anything glowing on this decades old book.

[Andy Hickman · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Animals' Merry Christmas (Giant Golden Books)
by Kathryn Jackson, Richard Scarry (Illustrator)

Fun memories of the story & illustrations

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not love this.

[Donna Mork · Rating 5 out of 5]

Several small stories about animals and Christmas. A lovely one about the donkey at the first Christmas.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute stories about animals at Christmas. Four are prose, 2 rhyming poetry. My 5 yr old enjoyed them.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun Christmas read, even for older folk like me.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Richard Scarry's illustrations are outstanding, of course. It reminded me of my childhood. 💕 This book is is chock full of fun animal Christmas stories.

[Katie Cat Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great stories. Love the old art style.

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A few cute stories - some I overlooked as a kid. A nostalgic Christmas read for a Midwestern Xennial.

[David Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classic collection of Christmas stories about various groups of animals. Stresses giving, cooperation, and gratitude. Wonderful 1950 illustrations by Richard Scarry

[Toad Soup · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Ricardo…

[Roger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just skimmed. This is a LONG, wordy book.

[Carmen Gatti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable christmassy short stories. I think I will add it to my collection.

[Gabriel]

12 out of 5
It's really cute. I like the creations and the animals talk. Like, the colorful things are so beautiful. I love it.

[Danna · Rating 2 out of 5]

My grandpa used to read this to me when I was little, and I loved it. However, the stories did not stand the test of time. Most were not very well written, especially the ones written as poems. There are a few cute stories, but without the nostalgia factor it's just not a very good book.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Broke this book out last night to read to B for the 7th Christmas. I have my own copy from my childhood as well. My FAVORITE story then and now, is "The Goat that Played Santa Claus." It defines the Christmas spirt for me. There are some stories that show their age (Terrible Teddy, for one -- Tommy surely is more misunderstood than terrible, right? ;-)) but most is pure fun. B's favorite is "A Goose for Christmas." She thinks it is hysterical that the mom and boys are plotting to keep the goose as a pet.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a funny, quirky, delightful collection of stories about how various animals celebrate Christmas. I think my favorites were "Terrible Teddy Bear" and "The Naughty Little Reindeer." Children about 3+ would love it, and there are so many stories that you could read one each night for most of December. This is definitely a book I'd like to own.

[BookgirlonGoodreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

A piece of my childhood. A beloved book read to me every year during the season that I now read to my children every year during the season. It's hard to come by - I found my copy in a used bookstore in Evanston by chance. Great drawings and most of the stories are wonderful too, but even if they were terrible I'd love it for the sheer nostalgia of it!

[Karlie Nyte · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is one of the highlights of my childhood, and I was super excited to find a used copy on Amazon. So many memories when paging through this book! I recommend it to everyone - read it to a child during the holiday season or throughout the year. The stories and poems are wonderful, and the images are perfect!

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book from my husbands chilhood. We were thrilled when it was re-released. It has become a tradition in our home to read these fun and quirky stories to our kids too!

[Suzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A favorite from my childhood.

[Calamity Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

wonderful stories that really embody the magical spirit of christmas for me. I would read this book all year, except that it's so extra magic when you just break it out in December.

[Maren Prestegaard · Rating 3 out of 5]

a beautifully illustrated book.

[Pinky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tales of Christmas feasts, trees, presents and more.

[Lumi / Otso · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is a classic and we're really reading it a lot this holiday.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

My childhood is wrapped up in this wonderful book. I had been looking for it for years and was thrilled to see it recently republished.