Christmas Cats

by Lesley Anne Ivory

A gift book for cat lovers as well as fans of Lesley Anne Ivory combines fifteen full-color plates in a single-volume format and highlight felines in the full spirit of the holiday season as well as the artist's detailed style.

Genres: Cats, Christmas, Nonfiction, Art, Animals, Holiday, Picture Books

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

Lesley Anne Ivory was born in Bedfordshire, England, and studied at the art schools of St Albans, Watford and Luton, gaining the National Diploma in Design. Lesley's predominately watercolour and gouache artwork is heavily influenced by her love of pattern, from Indian and Persian tapestry and design to the mosaics and friezes of the ancient world. Her wood engravings have been exhibited at the Royal Academy and she created a set of limited edition prints of animals for the World Wildlife Fund. Lesley Anne Ivory has illustrated more than 40 children's books; cats play an important part in Lesley Anne's life and the majority of her paintings are portraits of her own feline family.

- Art of the Imagination

Reviews

[C. (Don't blank click my reviews, comment please! · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the cats who are our family’s children and am moved by art that immerses me in a portrait that looks and feels real. I greatly treasure authors whose stories and drawings are personally true. For all of these warm, sublime elements together: I have since February 7, 2015, looked to the exquisite work of Lesley Anne Ivory! “Christmas Cats” 1991, is the sixth of her books I have collected, a special treasury of her family kitties at this sacred time of year for people and their loved-ones.

By the time I savoured this artbook on December 22, 2023, I certainly knew Lesley is astonishingly gifted at portraiture that looks like a photograph of each cat: from the lights in their eyes, to the individual hairs and textures of their glorious, multicoloured fur. I also count on her impressively intricate border motifs. To this wonderful seasonal yearbook, Lesley added two more profound dimensions of private memories and talent shared with us: local outdoor views, stained glass windows, and homemade decorations that exist. Isn’t that amazing?

Taking as much care with personal records as I do, I was very impressed by the explanations accompanying this beautiful artwork, about views outside household windows that are actually in different locations but which Lesley worked into her cats’ backgrounds. Stained glass windows and staircases from her parents’ and neighbours’ homes were identified, because her cats were posed upon them. The love of our animals, beauty, and accuracy are traits I admire highly and I appreciate finding them together.

Imagine someone so talented, she paints Christmas tree ornaments to hang for each of her cats, with their own likenesses upon the balls and matching wood boxes! In this cherished memory book of Leslie’s, even the cat tree ornaments exist in her home life: amazing!

[debbicat *made of stardust* · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was given to me a few years ago but somehow it got put away in a Christmas hat box used for storage. I just came across it again and it's delightful. It opens with,
"Happy are the Christmases that are shared with cats!" And I can add from personal experience that is entirely and completely true.

The book is filled with paintings of cats enjoying Christmas in their own unique way. Any cat lover would be excited and full of smiles to find this in their stocking on Christmas morn.

[Alison Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must-read for cat lovers and Christmas fans. For full review please go to http://thebooksmithblog.wordpress.com

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

I reread this book this Christmas for the first time in many years. It's one of my favourites, as the paintings are beautiful and I like the little anecdotes about each cat. It always reminds me of my cat, who's sadly no longer with us, who really loved everything about Christmas.

This book really puts you in a festive mood, and is a great read for anyone who loves cats!

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a sweet little book! Ivory's art is spot on, precious cats and kittens rendered as portraits in holiday settings with trees, bags, windows and fireplaces. Beautiful patterns and colours, kitties and decorations. 'I need a cat' were the words I spoke to my husband at the last page; we've been cat-less for a number of years but do plan on another feline in our home someday soon. For now, lovely little books like this at Christmas time are heart-warming and dear. Fronting each cat's portrait is a short tale, bonus.
I love this beginning, 'Happy are the Christmases that are shared with cats!' Indeed.

[Michelle Stockard Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Happy are the Christmases that are shared with cats!"
A delightful collection of Christmas anecdotes about her cats, accompanied by quotes from famous Christmas works by Charles Dickens, Hans Christian Andersen, Washington Irving, and more.

[Mercedes Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love cats and Christmas so this was a perfect find for me. For each Christmas-loving-cat that is featured there is first either a poem or excerpt that is Christmas related accompanied by a few short sentences about the cat. Each page has the most beautiful artwork that is done by the author.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely collection of Christmas illustrations and reflections.

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful book of beautiful paintings.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a charming little book. The illustrations are beautiful and teamed nicely with Christmas quotes and anecdotes about the cats.

[lana! · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just a lovely anthology of poems from Christmas classics, accompanied by cute little stories of the authors cats, and the most beautiful painting of each cat besides them! Spiro “purring a private cat carol to himself” has stuck with me; but the overall theme, how cats experience Christmas too, how they pick up on the festivities, the hopefulness, the expected kindness and change in routine, how although our decorations may not be understood perfectly by them; such as our shining baubles or Christmas cards, they still hold meaning. A stocking that fill with treats each year, or shiny beads to play with, the family suddenly spending time together in one room, the delicious smells of the kitchen. Christmas is for our pets as much as it is for us, and for that reason it is best shared with them!!

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another beautifully illustrated book that is sure to please the cat-lover, the artist and the animal-lover. My first known "finding" upon the work of Lesley Anne Ivory was a miniature version of this particular book and I was foolish enough to give it to someone else who was a cat-fan. And now I have been able to purchase my own copy along with her other Christmas book "Cats & Carols".

This book is very simple yet a gorgeous addition for any Christmas collection. The artist uses matching borders on both of her pages while on the right she includes one of her famous paintings of her cats. She then puts on the opposite leaf the name of the painting followed by a beautiful Christmas quote from various sources such as Charles Dickens, Walter de la Mare & Thomas Love Peacock just to name a few. And then following the quote she has a paragraph that explains the cat and its corresponding picture whether it is a tradition that is happening in her home, where the beautiful background is at such as St. Albans and what part of the painting was influenced by something in her home or a familiar loved one's home.

This is definitely a beautiful book where you can look at the pictures for as long as you want and still always find something new.

[Finbar · Rating 1 out of 5]

not my style

[Stephanie Barko]

A good illustrator is worth her weight in gold.