The Cat on the Dovrefell: A Christmas Tale

by Tomie dePaola

A very large cat may be the key to saving Christmas in this wryly humorous retelling of the Norwegian fairy tale The Cat on the Dovrefjell .

When a man captures a great white bear, he is determined to bring it as a gift to the king of Finnmark. But to do that, first he must cross the Dovrefells—a mountain covered in snow and ice—in the middle of winter. On Christmas Eve, he reaches the house of a man named Halvor, and asks if he can stay the night. Halvor warns that every year on Christmas Eve, trolls come down from the mountains to take over his home, but the man and his polar bear think they may just be able to help...

Genres: Christmas, Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Holiday, Folklore, Classics

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

Tomie dePaola (pronounced Tommy da-POW-la) was best known for his books for children.

He had a five-decade writing and illustrating career during which he published more than 270 books, including 26 Fairmount Avenue, Strega Nona, and Meet the Barkers.

Tomie dePaola and his work have been recognized with the Caldecott Honor Award, the Newbery Honor Award, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, and the New Hampshire Governor's Arts Award of Living Treasure.

Reviews

[Mir · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't realize when I ordered this book for Christmas that it was an adaptation of a story I already had two versions of.

Basic plot: a person is traveling in Finnmark on Christmas Eve with a polar bear. (In this is and I believe also in Jan Brett's version he is taking the bear to show to the king.) Looking for a night's shelter, he finds a house full of food, but the owner warns him that every year the trolls come and devour the Christmas feast. The family is on their way out to hide till the party is over. The man and bear stay and when the trolls come and bother the "cat" that is snoozing under the stove the bear chases them away.

Of the three versions I've read, DePaola's is the simplest, both in text and in illustrative style. It can be viewed quickly and is not confusing or frightening. Suitable for quite small children.

Most complex is Brett's Who's That Knocking on Christmas Eve?, which features her distinctive beautiful and highly detailed painting. Her style is the most realistic and includes many details and elements drawn from the culture and artistry of Scandinavia. She also adds details to the text, giving names to the characters, etc.

My favorite, perhaps because it was the one I had as a little child, is the one included in George Jonsen's Favorite Tales Of Monsters And Trolls along with other tales of trolls being outwitted. I love the expressive illustrations and think this version best captures the riotousness of the scenes. The text is very lively. I didn't find it scary as a child, but I can see that some kids might.

[carrietracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A retelling of Norwegian folk tale, this Christmas story is illustrated by Tomie De Paola. The story might seem familiar as it has been popularized by Jan Brett's version Who's That Knocking on Christmas Eve. But my preference is for this version, with De Paola's hilariously grotesque trolls asking the polar bear "Pussy, would you like a sausage?"

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this Christmas folktale from Norway - originally entitled Kjetta på Dovre, it was collected by Asbjørnsen and Moe, in their classic Norske Folkeeventyr - a man and his bear (chiefly the bear) drive a troupe of trolls out of the home of Halvor the cottager one Christmas Eve night. Stopping for shelter, on their journey to the King of Denmark - the man intending to give the bear to the king - they are warned about the trolls that descend upon the house every Christmas, but choose to stay regardless. When one of the ill-mannered invaders mistakes the bear for a pussy-cat, he gets the surprise of his life, setting off a chain of misunderstandings that eventually frees Halvor from his yearly visitors...

I was pleased to see this traditional retelling of this folktale, after having only a lukewarm response to Jane Yolen's recent revisionist adaptation, Sister Bear: A Norse Tale , which changes the man in the story to a young girl, while also expanding her role. Here it is the ursine "cat" who is center stage - as it should be - and the humor of the story is more evident. As always, Tomie dePaola's stylized illustrations are a pleasure - I enjoyed looking at his trolls! I believe this story has also been retold by Jan Brett, in her Who's That Knocking on Christmas Eve? , and I think I may track that title down, to contrast and compare.

[Cheriee Weichel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is absolutely my favourite Christmas tale ever! I have read it numerous times to groups of children and not only is it always a hit, it is never boring to read again for me. The spare text and Tomie de Paola's art make this book for me.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

First sentence: Once upon a time, in the faraway land of Finnmark, a man caught a great white bear. "This bear will be a great gift for the king of Denmark," he said. So he set off.

Premise/plot: A picture book retelling of a traditional fairy tale from Norway. A man (and his bear) take refuge in a couple's home. But the couple are fleeing from their home because of TROLLS that come every year to eat their Christmas feast. The man (and his bear) are welcome to stay, however. They do. The trolls come...and well...let's just say it might be their last time to come visiting this particular house.

My thoughts: What a strange, strange book. I knew absolutely nothing when I picked it up at the library. I was expecting, well, I was expecting an ACTUAL CAT. If you've read the story, you know there isn't really a CAT to be found in the story. I wasn't expecting a traditional folk tale that has been translated (multiple times) into English. I was definitely NOT expecting trolls. So the book caught me off guard as far as what I was expecting versus what I got. That being said, if you weren't reading the book looking for an adorable little kitty kitty, then you probably would end up enjoying it more than I d

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Realistically, at a page and a half, it’s too short to concoct a review. It’s the reason why the bear does not end up with the King of Denmark, but I like the idea of him passing as a big fat cat by the fire for the rest of his days.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an entertaining Norwegian folktale to read at Christmastime and our girls loved that the "cat" was so big and ferocious. We've also read Who's That Knocking on Christmas Eve? by Jan Brett, so the basic storyline of the book was familiar to us. The illustrations by Tomie dePaola are very typical for his books and we loved the trolls. Overall, it was a fun book to read aloud and we enjoyed reading it together.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 because my children and I would not have loved it... though it seems like we should have because it's funny and it's a tale of trickery in which the underdog succeeds. I do recommend that you and your family check it out for yourselves.

[Natalie Tate · Rating 3 out of 5]

A retelling of a Norwegian folktale, but Janet Brett's version (Who's That Knocking on Christmas Eve?) is much better.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a big Tomie DePaola fan and was delighted to discover a book I hadn’t known about. It is a retelling, but I was also unfamiliar with other versions. I love Tomie’s art. The trolls were fanciful and wonderful. A fun book to add to our holiday collection.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tomie dePaola retells a Norwegian fairy tale of a family who is disturbed by trolls on Christmas Eve but are helped by a man delivering a white bear to the king of Denmark. A delightful story with great illustrations.

[Christopher Perez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story. Surprise ending.

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this sweet retelling. Love the illustrations.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun and silly Christmas Tale.

My kids quite enjoyed this book. It has excellent illustrations and a funny story. Classic Tomie DePaola. Fun and silly.

[Jj · Rating 4 out of 5]

I LOVE the trolls as rendered by the inimitable Tomie dePaola. They are perfect!

[ChiChi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A classic. Oh man, I sooooo loved the trolls, their clothes, their hair, their shoes, their noses, their nails!!!

[Maggie Panning · Rating 3 out of 5]

We like other versions of this story better (Sister Bear: A Norse Tale and Who's That Knocking on Christmas Eve?).

[Jessie]

I read this with my 6th grade class as a read-aloud while they ate snack. I read one wintry, Christmassy picture book every day for the ten days leading up to Christmas break. This was okay.

[remus Hontz · Rating 1 out of 5]

i don’t know if this is the classic by peter christen asbjornson and jorgen moe but if it is then it’s a pointless book

[Miranda Norton · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as good as his other stories

[Connie Ehrnschwender · Rating 5 out of 5]

This whimsical book will delight readers of all ages. I always smile while looking at Tomis DePaola’s illustrations.

[Emma Ludlow · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very short tale about trolls not liking bears 🤷🏼‍♀️😂

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was very funny. A man and his family always leave their house when the trolls come, but another man with a polar bear decides to stay the when the trolls come, and hilarity ensues.

[Carfig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute story and illustrations of a very big cat who scares the trolls away.

[Yvonne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I absolutely love Tomie dePaola. This was a story I hadn't heard of before. It was an interesting story of bravery and showing who you are.

[Samantha Osborne · Rating 3 out of 5]

very weird story

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an old folktale from Norway. A man captured a polar bear and asked to be housed in a cottage. Unfortunately, the owner said he could not let him stay because trolls come every Christmas Eve and chase them all out. The man assured him that it would be all right, so the owner and his family left the cottage to him. When the trolls came that night, they got quite a surprise. Great illustrations.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a funny little tale. I of course, loved Tomie's illustrations, they give the story a comical and fantastical sort of feel. I did like his pictures of the trolls and their antics. I also fell in love with the polar bear, he was quite endearing. I would recommend.

*Taken from my book reviews blog: http://reviewsatmse.blogspot.com/2009...

[MH · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful humorous story of a simple Norwegian farmer with visiting troll problems at Christmastime which are resolved by a visitor with a pet polar bear (whom the trolls think is a cat). It was published in the UK and written in British English with words not commonly used here. It was one of my children's favorite.

[MH · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my children's favorite books. No character gets eaten or dies yet the weak win out over the powerful. De Paola's illustrations enhance the humorous retelling of this Norwegian Christmas folktale.