Bad Kitty: Searching for Santa

Bad Kitty Picture Books

by Nick Bruel

In Bad Kitty: Searching for Santa, by bestselling author/illustrator Nick Bruel, Kitty's back for another Christmas tale--this time involving Santa and complete with a colorful poster!



In this hilarious story, Kitty battles with Santa and loses. Or does she?

Kitty wants to write a letter.
Actually, she wants to write a letter to Santa.
But has Kitty been good this year?
Hmmm . . . Kitty's not so sure.

She writes the letter anyway and is soon on her way to meet Santa in real life at the mall!

Will she make it in time? Will Santa give Kitty what she's asking for?

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

24 pages, Hardcover

First published August 10, 2019

About the author

Nick Bruel is the New York Times bestselling author and illustrator of children's books including Bad Kitty, Bad Kitty Gets a Bath, Bad Kitty Meets the Baby, and Boing!, among others. Nick is a freelance illustrator and cartoonist, and during his down time, he collects PEZ dispensers and grows tomatoes in the backyard. He lives in Tarrytown, NY with his wife Carina and their lovely cat Esmerelda.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/nickbruel

Reviews

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bad Kitty Searching for Santa by Nick Bruel. PICTURE BOOK. Roaring Brook Press (Macmillan), 2019. $10. 9781205198433

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Bad Kitty has not been good this year. She still wants Santa to bring her something. She writes Santa a letter and is disappointed when she can't find the real Santa. Will she get a present if he doesn't get her letter? What will Kitty do?

I loved this book. It was bright and easy to read. The illustrations made the story even funnier and it addresses the commercialism of Christmas time without being a downer. It was cute and funny.

Michele E., Book Guru and Library Technology Teacher
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...

[Tegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun story about Kitty's search for Santa and how sometimes we think we know the way things will go, but we can be pleasantly surprised.

[Raven Black · Rating 2 out of 5]

Even though (spoiler) Bad Kitty has a tantrum, this is actually a different take on the Santa story (we see ALL the different Santa's, not so subtlety asking for everyone to GIVE, but only the REAL Santa knows the score. I'm still not hooked on Bad Kitty overall, but this one I did not hate.

[Patsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bad Kitty gets her letter written too late, to deliver it to Santa. But, it seems that Santa remembers her after all.

[Villain E · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kitty wants to personally deliver her letter to Santa. But there are sooo many people dressed like Santa around Christmastime.

[Baby Bookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review was originally written for The Baby Bookworm. Visit us for new picture books reviews daily!

Hello, friends! Christmas is only days away – time to celebrate with some awesome Christmas titles! Our book today was Bad Kitty: Searching For Santa by Nick Bruel, the latest holiday adventure for the cantankerous cat.

Bad Kitty may not have been 100% good this year, but she thinks Santa will understand. After writing her letter to him, she insists that she must deliver it in person rather than by mail, so the narrator and reader follow along as she makes a journey to the store to get some facetime with the jolly old elf. Along the way, however, she sees lots and lots of Santas – a diverse mix of skintones, genders, and even species – imploring passersby to donate to charity with red buckets and “GIVE” signs. Bad Kitty doesn’t like this much, finding it confusing and overwhelming to have so many Santas, all of whom are clearly not the REAL Santa. When she finally makes her way to the store, she is crushed to find it closed. Stomping on her letter, she decides she does not like Santa anymore. But in the midst of a disappointing Christmas morning, Bad Kitty may just have her faith in Mr. Claus restored…

Bad Kitty can be an acquired taste at times – her capricious and occasionally naughty behavior can be a turn-off to some parents, but a hilarious joke to kids (though I do appreciate that the character is female, as boys are often given the lions share of “rebel” characters). It can also lead to some mixed messages, such as the idea that those seeking charitable donations are somehow trying to “trick” Kitty (though admittedly, the narrator refutes this). The main lesson here seems to be that Santa loves us all, even if we’re a little bad from time to time – it’s not a bad one, but I might have liked to see Bad Kitty donate to charity or show some measure of holiday spirit to earn Santa’s gift. However, JJ thought it was hilarious, and the illustrations are truly charming and expressive, including a lifelike octopus Santa that even inspired a laugh from me. So I would suggest giving this one a look and deciding if it’s right for you – and maybe adding that there’s nothing wrong with charity during the holidays. Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)

Be sure to check out The Baby Bookworm for more reviews!

[Erin Buhr · Rating 4 out of 5]

We didn't discover Bad Kitty in our house until my kids were closer to 5 but I think even some older toddlers would be amused by silly Bad Kitty - preschoolers definitely. In this one (of many) Bad Kitty stories, Bad Kitty has written a letter to Santa and wants to deliver it in person. This book speaks to the confusing idea that there are "Santas" everywhere with simple text, good use of page turns and humorous illustrations. Oh Bad Kitty. 

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kitty wants to not only write a letter to Santa, but wants to hand deliver it to him. So Kitty heads to the mall to give Santa the letter, but on the way meets several different types of Santa, which confuses her. The mall is closed, and Kitty is disappointed, but in the end Santa restores Kitty's hope and belief in Santa.

[donna cochran · Rating 5 out of 5]

My granddaughter loves Bad Kitty. Cute stories, relatable characters. Lol, I love her too.

Good stories. Entertaining. Young readers really enjoy. My granddaughter wants ALL of the Bad Kitty books. I can't wait to read this one to her.

[Kelly]

I don't usually read the Bad Kitty books, but this one was actually really funny. I'm not a big fan of having the Salvation Army people and money container in the book just because of what they do and don't stand for. But the story is funny and Bad Kitty was funny.

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Laugh-out-loud funny holiday adventure (I LOVED the Santa octopus!)

[Syntha Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

mid-Sept.....too soon?

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bad kitty wants to meet santa but keeps meeting fakes. Will he ever find Santa anf make his wish for presents? Preschool and up

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not real familiar with Bad Kitty, but it was a fun read with grandson.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this Bad Kitty book!

[Susan Dunn-Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bad Kitty tries to find Santa to deliver his Christmas letter.

[wildct2003 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read

[Kaylynn Johnsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bad Kitty is sweetly honest in this Christmas tale.

[Christine Grant · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Tis the Season" library outreach.

Bad Kitty is trying to meet Santa but everyone she finds is the wrong one. Will she ever meet Santa?

[Jess Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute Christmas book, but not my favorite.

[Katie Haasch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Bad Kitty. Kitty writes a letter for Santa but wants to paw deliver the letter. By the she gets to the store Santa is at it’s closed. In the end kitty still gets a present from Santa!

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although Bad Kitty hasn't been particularly good this year, she still would like some presents and writes a letter to Santa. Being Kitty, she insists on delivering the letter to Santa, but on the way to the department store where he is in residence, she encounters several other individuals posing as Santa and soliciting monetary contributions. Kitty becomes increasingly frustrated and decides that she isn't a fan of Santa when she and her human arrive at the store too late to meet him. But Santa still has a present for Kitty. I continue to enjoy these Bad Kitty books and adore Kitty's personality. The illustrations of her festive Christmas sweater are so very funny. As most of us know, cats aren't particularly fond of being dressed up, and Kitty is no exception to that rule.

[Smoot M.L. · Rating 2 out of 5]

First of all the story did not show Bad Kitty doing anything bad. He looks like he is having a bad hair day. In the story he looks like he is having a bad time trying to locate Santa. He also has a bad Christmas because all he gets is sweaters which he does not like. Until he sees a present that has not been opened and realizes that Santa does like Kitty. Also not crazy that they chose a black cat to represent a bad kitty. The story lacks substance but the pictures are great. Very colorful and vocabulary is simple to read. No problem learning to read the words Santa, kitty and give since they are repeated many times.

[Children's Literature Centre at FSU · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bad Kitty Searching For Santa by Nick Bruel is a adorable book for children ranging from first to fifth grade. This book is about believing what you can not see. It is about a kitten who believes in Santa and is excited about Christmas, however, he does not get to meet the "real" Santa. The kitten was disappointed and almost stopped believing until he saw a gift under the tree that restored his belief in Saint Nick and his Christmas spirit.

[Ellon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was cute. Kitty is writes a letter to Santa and wants to bring it to him but meets tons of imposter Santas on the way (all with the message to give). Kitty gets frustrated but is surprised in the end.

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. It was just meh.

[Desi Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

HEHEEHEEE!!!

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3.5)