Merry Mittens: A Moontime Cats Christmas Story

Moontime Cats

by Jordan Morris, Charlie Mylie (illustrator)

Curious cats make mischief under the moon—and help a new kitten friend—in a purr-fect holiday picture book.

The neighborhood is brighter than usual one night when cat friends Carl, Biscuit, and Peewee meet up to have some fun. Their mission? Making mischief as only cats can! One goes high, one sneaks low, one gets covered in a big plop of snow . . . And now they’re all sidetracked by a paw-print trail leading straight to a little thief’s stash of trinkets, tinsel, and a stolen star that they know just where to bring. Batted-at ornaments (crash!), twinkling lights, falling snow, caroling cats—but what’s that new voice they hear coming out of a beautiful box? Can they help her find a home? With sprightly illustrations, good humor, and plenty of feline antics, Jordan Morris and Charlie Mylie spin a warm and funny tale full of Christmas magic.

Genres: Christmas, Picture Books, Cats, Holiday, Childrens

40 pages, Hardcover

Published September 2, 2025

About the author

Jordan Morris is a high school teacher and librarian. His students wanted a good novel to read. He wrote Round and Round. Jordan won the 2005 A.C.T. Writers Centre Young & Emerging Writer Mentorship with Jackie French, who taught him everything he knows about writing (and everything he didn't know about writing.) A quarterfinalist in the 2012 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Competition, Jordan has been published in the occasional magazine and anthology, and wrote the sold-out Noir Revue for the Spiegeltent in the Old Parliament House rose gardens for Canberra's Centenary. In a previous life he ran a boutique hotel for writers and artists. He hopes that in at least one other past life he was a dinosaur.

Reviews

[YSBR · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three mischievous cats, Carl, Biscuit, and Peewee, meet under the moon on Christmas Eve for some playful fun. As the cats make their way through the neighborhood, a pair of blue lights, which turn out to be the watchful eyes of another cat, follows their exploits. When they come across an odd looking track in the snow, the cats follow it and find a sneaky mouse has stolen the shining star from the giant tree at the center of town. After returning the star to the top of the tree, the three cats are meowing out a Christmas carol when they notice another cat has joined in on the singing. They befriend the shy cat and when it’s time to head home, they realize their new friend has nowhere to go.  The cats find a big empty red box under the town’s tree and bring it to their owner’s doormat with their new friend inside. A new cat for Christmas–the purrfect present! The final page illustrates the four cats in their home and the new cat has a bowl that says “Mittens,” hence the title, “Merry Mittens.” 

This is a sweet Christmas story with gentle humor that would be fun to read aloud, particularly the scene where all the cats yowl out the “the kind of carol only cats like to hear.” The illustrations were done in colored pencil and watercolor on cold press paper and convey both the dark quiet of a cold winter’s night and the warm playfulness of the cats and their silly nighttime adventures.  The sentences are easy to read with rhymes and onomatopoeia sprinkled in to enliven the simple narrative. Warm and cozy and perfect to read on a cold December night, especially if a new cat for Christmas is coming! Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

PLEASE READ THIS REVIEW ON MY BLOG: https://bookreadingtic.com/2025/12/13... AND PLEASE FOLLOW ME, THANK YOU!

The Cats will Play

Join the adventures with three cat friends as they explore the night filled with snow. After they discover the missing star from the top of the Christmas tree, they do their best to put it back--finishing it off singing carols that only another cat would love.

They have been unaware that they have been followed during the night by a new kitty. But then the shy spy joins their singing, and they have a good time playing together.

All but one of the cats have owners that call them to come home. That one, is the new friend, who doesn't have a home. A Christmas miracle takes place when they find the perfect place.

This sweet picture book is a story that children will love to hear. While laughing at the cat antics, they will be concerned for the cat without a home, and will cheer happily for the ending.

This nice story is even more fun since it takes places during the holidays. Wonderful, colorful illustrations make this already good tale, even better. Children ages three through eight-years-old will enjoy this five-star book.

On a personal note, I also enjoyed this book because I am very familiar with the Rabbit hOle Museum—a family favorite--that both the author and illustrator helped create.

Thanks to Candlewick Press for providing Tickmenot with a book to review. Opinions are my own.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three rambunctious feline friends are pouncing about one Christmas Eve, and along the way they meet a fellow shy kitten with nowhere to be. Can they give her the gift of a happy home? Super adorable and paws-itively sweet.

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Moontime Cats make a new friend! Very cute.

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

My cat loving kid loved this.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

doo cute and amazing art

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It had sweet moments but was also a little random.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a new cat!

[Rick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute holiday book for cat loving kids.

[Molly Cluff (Library!) · Rating 5 out of 5]

So cute! As a big cat lover, this hits all the right notes for me. A trio of cats goes on a nighttime wander and end up meeting a friend. Cute hijinks and fluffy mischief!

[Alyssa Gudenburr · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for cat lovers. Such a warm fuzzy story.