What do you think?
Rate this book
The Cat That Climbed the Christmas Tree
Benny, the cat, is experiencing his very first Christmas. He eagerly climbs the sparkling Christmas tree. On the way up, he meets new friends, including a fuzzy reindeer, a velvet mouse, a musical bird and, of course, the lovely angel at the top. But how will Benny make it back down the tree?
24 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1992
70 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
November 17, 2011
A cat is determined to get to the top of the Christmas tree, but is afraid to go back down. The angel atop the tree informs the cat that he does not belong up there. This book promotes teamwork as all the tree decorations help the cat climb the tree.
October 8, 2022
Read aloud to our dogs who enjoyed it immensely. ☺️
December 29, 2022
Amazing Christmas book. I love cats. I’m almost to my reading challenge goal with the book completion
June 7, 2019
One of the books in my daughter's Christmas collection.
5 Stars = For sentimental reasons.
5 Stars = For sentimental reasons.
July 5, 2017
Who doesn't love adorable cuddly kittens even as they hang from your Christmas tree or ignore your express desires to explore wherever their tiny paws scamper? Already you have an idea that impending doom is coming to our kitten protagonist but can there also be a beautiful blessing as well if he reaches his goal?
The story was full of beautiful descriptions that helped the reader to be conveyed to this family's ornaments and traditions. Layering slowly one by one you get to unravel the tree and continue to follow your guide up into the branches as he gets to learn about the family in this intimate way.
The pictures were charming and although the little mouse ornament looked cartoonish it was with enough element that it wasn't a turn-off. The spirit of the curious kitten is caught amidst the brightness of Christmas and the beauty of the story is captured via the same illustrations.
All in all there is a beautiful Christmas story and lesson waiting to be read for those who enjoy their impish kittens.
The story was full of beautiful descriptions that helped the reader to be conveyed to this family's ornaments and traditions. Layering slowly one by one you get to unravel the tree and continue to follow your guide up into the branches as he gets to learn about the family in this intimate way.
The pictures were charming and although the little mouse ornament looked cartoonish it was with enough element that it wasn't a turn-off. The spirit of the curious kitten is caught amidst the brightness of Christmas and the beauty of the story is captured via the same illustrations.
All in all there is a beautiful Christmas story and lesson waiting to be read for those who enjoy their impish kittens.
June 30, 2019
My youngest cat Nokley climbed the shelves and threw this book to the floor. It seemed appropriate to read it to him. 😹
Shockingly, he actually say at my feet and listened. He even looked at the pages when I turned the book around to show him the pictures. If it can keep the attention of my baby, it clearly deserves fine stars.
Shockingly, he actually say at my feet and listened. He even looked at the pages when I turned the book around to show him the pictures. If it can keep the attention of my baby, it clearly deserves fine stars.
November 29, 2012
My kids would rate this with 5 stars. It was my sister's favorite when she was a kid too. They love the cat and the talking ornaments. Their favorite part is when the cat sleds down the tree at the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 25, 2009
A magical fantasy. Fun!
December 17, 2018
Cute and funny story that shows a young cat why he shouldn't climb the Christmas tree.
The illustrations are colorful and cartoonish, but some of the faces were a bit off-putting. Perhaps it's just me.
The narrative is short and combines a bit of The Nutcracker story with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
This is not a story from my own childhood, so I found it to be entirely forgettable.
The illustrations are colorful and cartoonish, but some of the faces were a bit off-putting. Perhaps it's just me.
The narrative is short and combines a bit of The Nutcracker story with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
This is not a story from my own childhood, so I found it to be entirely forgettable.
January 6, 2018
Benny, a mischievous cat, goes on a long adventure to meet the angel at the top of the tree, but chaos ensues with each step to the top. My cat-loving preschooler enjoyed giggling at Benny's ascent, though lost interest towards the end.
November 25, 2018
Definitely one of James's favorites, but the plot is a little...annoying and the illustrations are a little sappy. Cute enough to do the job.
December 19, 2018
I like the angel in this book the best!
December 18, 2019
Great story of Benny the cat!
October 21, 2023
I've loved this book since I was a child. If you like cats, you'll like this book that has an adorable moral at the end.
December 9, 2023
Cute overall. Read it with a 7 year old who laughed out loud at the idea of the cat doing loops on the sled down the Christmas tree. That’s a big win for me! Brought a smile to my face, too.
December 26, 2013
This kid’s book is full of delightful detailed watercolor paintings that bolstered my enjoyment in reading The Cat That Climbed the Christmas Tree. This above average Golden Book that on the surface seems like a great addition to any holiday book self. But like a cat high on cat-nip things can get a bit too crazy and out of hand. It’s all in the context of the characters in this particular story.
The cat, who’s lackluster name is Benny; which to me sounds like the name of a Jewish accountant, decides he wants to climb up the tree. This natural primal instinct mixed with a bit of curiosity is what house cats thrive on. Yet in the story the cat is chastised for acting upon its natural habits. And I fear this will teach kids to be ignorant in thinking they can control anything they so desire. This is especially so in nature.
Benny still desires to climb the tree despite his masters insistence that he not. He does make an extraordinary adventure up towards to the top. Instead of a cheerful and wonderful place amongst the branches Benny finds that the tree is inhabited by Christmas decorations that are alive. These brightly colored nostalgic ornaments of yesteryear also reflect the harsh bigotry and ignorance of long gone peoples towards those that are not like themselves.
Nobody he meets is practically memorable or interesting in talking with Benny. He is seen as an outsider, because he is so different. At the heart this story could be about racism and how the ornaments want nothing but for him to leave. Even the praised angel at the top of the tree quickly pushes Benny to leave their pine preservation. That is hardly my idea of what an angel could mean to someone.
Benny’s tale while colorful and nicely illustrated ends with the holiday decorations only helping him get down because they are worried he will knock the tree over. That is hardly the Christmas Spirit I have begun to know from reading kids’ books.
As purely a visual affair the book is great but I worry its teaching kids to judge others based on their lifestyles, looks and species. The magical wonderment and amazement of venturing up a Christmas tree is lost through the ignorance of those that inhabit its pine scented branches. Benny might just be better off avoiding this particular tree in the future.
It is amazing how views have changed so much in the 21 years since the book came out. Benny might be quite “purr-oud” of us all.
The cat, who’s lackluster name is Benny; which to me sounds like the name of a Jewish accountant, decides he wants to climb up the tree. This natural primal instinct mixed with a bit of curiosity is what house cats thrive on. Yet in the story the cat is chastised for acting upon its natural habits. And I fear this will teach kids to be ignorant in thinking they can control anything they so desire. This is especially so in nature.
Benny still desires to climb the tree despite his masters insistence that he not. He does make an extraordinary adventure up towards to the top. Instead of a cheerful and wonderful place amongst the branches Benny finds that the tree is inhabited by Christmas decorations that are alive. These brightly colored nostalgic ornaments of yesteryear also reflect the harsh bigotry and ignorance of long gone peoples towards those that are not like themselves.
Nobody he meets is practically memorable or interesting in talking with Benny. He is seen as an outsider, because he is so different. At the heart this story could be about racism and how the ornaments want nothing but for him to leave. Even the praised angel at the top of the tree quickly pushes Benny to leave their pine preservation. That is hardly my idea of what an angel could mean to someone.
Benny’s tale while colorful and nicely illustrated ends with the holiday decorations only helping him get down because they are worried he will knock the tree over. That is hardly the Christmas Spirit I have begun to know from reading kids’ books.
As purely a visual affair the book is great but I worry its teaching kids to judge others based on their lifestyles, looks and species. The magical wonderment and amazement of venturing up a Christmas tree is lost through the ignorance of those that inhabit its pine scented branches. Benny might just be better off avoiding this particular tree in the future.
It is amazing how views have changed so much in the 21 years since the book came out. Benny might be quite “purr-oud” of us all.
November 13, 2014
I just love Little Golden Books, so when I saw this one at a used book store, featuring two of my favorite things (cats and Christmas), I had to buy it.
This is a cute story about a mischievous kitten who climbs to the top of the Christmas tree to see the angel. On his way, he meets several Christmas tree ornaments who, to his surprise, can talk!
This is a cute story about a mischievous kitten who climbs to the top of the Christmas tree to see the angel. On his way, he meets several Christmas tree ornaments who, to his surprise, can talk!
December 7, 2025
Super cute little story of a cat named Benny who on his first Christmas wants to climb up the tree, encountering all the ornaments on it like the fuzzy reindeer, wooden soldiers, a velvet mouse, a musical bird, Chinese ladies, etc...and eventually the angel on top. A beautiful Christmas book with wonderful illustrations.
December 5, 2025
How precious is this Little Golden Book! The illustrations are wonderful, but what I love most is that the Angel Topper is a real angel and helps the kitten return to the bottom of the tree. What a beautiful story!
December 29, 2015
Not exactly a new classic, but my kids like it, and cats do try to climb Christmas trees.
December 21, 2016
Benny the Cat's first Christmas. He decides to climb the tree, the ornaments talk. He meets the angel and rides a sled down.
December 25, 2016
Cute story but a bit silly. Still, the kitten is cute!
January 2, 2020
5 stars
Funny and cute, kids will love it.
Funny and cute, kids will love it.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews