What do you think?
Rate this book
Santa's Snow Cat #1
Santa's Snow Cat
On the magical eve before Christmas, Santa;s favorite cat falls from his sleigh high in the winter sky into the bustling world of New York below. As Snow Cat wanders the sparkling city, she encounters many "nearly" Santas, but not her beloved Santa. With a huff from the North Wind, and the light of the big Lemon Moon, Snow Cat's true Santa can't be far away.
32 pages, Hardcover
Published October 1, 2001
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
December 22, 2011
When Santa's favorite white cat sneaks along for his Christmas deliveries, she falls and is lost in an unfamiliar cityscape. It is so hectic and there are so many Santas, how will Snow Cat ever find the right one? Luckily, she isn't on her own...
The pictures here are just beautiful. Almost too beautiful, sometimes -- Snow Cat doesn't ever display much distress at her predicament. But I can understand why the author might not have wanted to make her look too fearful, since the idea of being lost at night is a source of anxiety for many children.
It bothered me a tiny bit that the text emphasized that Snow was Santa's favorite. Why does she need to be the favorite for the story to work? Does Santa not love his other cats? Would he not search for them if they were lost? Also, no reason is given for why Santa and the North Wind and the Moon all like Snow Cat the best other than that she is so white and pretty. If they have to play favorites they could at least prefer her for her personality or something. Shallow Santa!
The pictures here are just beautiful. Almost too beautiful, sometimes -- Snow Cat doesn't ever display much distress at her predicament. But I can understand why the author might not have wanted to make her look too fearful, since the idea of being lost at night is a source of anxiety for many children.
It bothered me a tiny bit that the text emphasized that Snow was Santa's favorite. Why does she need to be the favorite for the story to work? Does Santa not love his other cats? Would he not search for them if they were lost? Also, no reason is given for why Santa and the North Wind and the Moon all like Snow Cat the best other than that she is so white and pretty. If they have to play favorites they could at least prefer her for her personality or something. Shallow Santa!
December 30, 2008
4.5 Stars. Super illustrations by the Cat Illustrator Queen , Anne Mortimer. Snow Cat is gorgeous! Sweet story, almost poetic--several "big words" here for the littlest ones, which is great, I think--encourage their vocabulary:-) just be prepared to play Dictionary. My only problem is that it seems a bit silly that Santa had some delay finding Snow Cat--if he is Santa and can fly around the world in one night, knowing where every boy and girl in the world is located, how is it that it takes him a few hours to find a lost kitty in New York City??? But, that's just my opinion.
December 6, 2018
An all-white cat with beautiful jade green eyes, Snow Cat was Santa's favorite feline - the one who liked to hide in his beard, or curl up in his deep pockets, and purr. Stowing away in Santa's jacket one Christmas Eve, Snow Cat finds herself along for the ride, as he sets out to deliver his gifts. But curiosity, as the two are passing over a brightly-lit city, leads to disaster, and Snow Cat finds herself falling through the night, ending up on the streets of New York City. Can she find Santa - her Santa, not the many "almost" Santas that seem to abound in the holiday-focused city - or will she be stuck in the city, far from the Lemon Moon and the North Wind?
I enjoyed everything about Santa's Snow Cat, from the sweet holiday tale, in which Snow Cat is restored to her human companion - really, any story in which a lost or lonely cat finds a home and happiness, is probably pretty much guaranteed to be a winner with me - to the gorgeous illustrations of Anne Mortimer, who is apparently known for her feline artwork. I also enjoyed the New York City setting for Snow Cat's adventure, and the "guest appearances" of landmarks like St. Patrick's Cathedral, and Rockefeller Plaza. Young readers who love cats, who are interested in New York City, or who enjoy heartwarming holiday tales, are sure to take pleasure in reading this one!
I enjoyed everything about Santa's Snow Cat, from the sweet holiday tale, in which Snow Cat is restored to her human companion - really, any story in which a lost or lonely cat finds a home and happiness, is probably pretty much guaranteed to be a winner with me - to the gorgeous illustrations of Anne Mortimer, who is apparently known for her feline artwork. I also enjoyed the New York City setting for Snow Cat's adventure, and the "guest appearances" of landmarks like St. Patrick's Cathedral, and Rockefeller Plaza. Young readers who love cats, who are interested in New York City, or who enjoy heartwarming holiday tales, are sure to take pleasure in reading this one!
November 4, 2017
The artwork is glorious and rates 4 stars, the story rates 3 so overall 3.5 rating.
A story of Santa losing his beautiful Snow Cat on his busiest night of the year and her looking for him and finding so many 'not the real' Santas. Made me think of so many counterfeit versions of things in the world today which we only discover by trying to find our way back to the real keeper of our heart.
A story of Santa losing his beautiful Snow Cat on his busiest night of the year and her looking for him and finding so many 'not the real' Santas. Made me think of so many counterfeit versions of things in the world today which we only discover by trying to find our way back to the real keeper of our heart.
December 30, 2008
The illustrations in Santa's Snow Cat are absolutely brilliant. Julia also loved looking at each page but not nearly as much as I did. The story will tug at the heart of any animal lover, old or young.
I think it was especially nice to see Santa in a different light. Santa having a beloved pet is something millions upon millions of people can relate to. The cat's character couldn't have been done better at all.
This is a special story and one we'll be reading for many more Christmas's I think.
Update 12/11/11:
We just read this again a few days which would be the second year we've read this. I agree with what I wrote before - I know we'll read this for some time to come. It really is a nice Christmas story. And I still love that it's not focusing on toys, bringing presents to children, a stray elf, etc. It focuses on Santa's cat - something different than the multitude of Christmas stories out there.
Julia loves Mortimer's illustrations as much as I do. We're going to borrow Santa's Snow Kitten from the library this week. We'll see how that compares to this one.
I think it was especially nice to see Santa in a different light. Santa having a beloved pet is something millions upon millions of people can relate to. The cat's character couldn't have been done better at all.
This is a special story and one we'll be reading for many more Christmas's I think.
Update 12/11/11:
We just read this again a few days which would be the second year we've read this. I agree with what I wrote before - I know we'll read this for some time to come. It really is a nice Christmas story. And I still love that it's not focusing on toys, bringing presents to children, a stray elf, etc. It focuses on Santa's cat - something different than the multitude of Christmas stories out there.
Julia loves Mortimer's illustrations as much as I do. We're going to borrow Santa's Snow Kitten from the library this week. We'll see how that compares to this one.
December 26, 2025
Santa's favorite cat is a beautiful white one who follows him around. She loves to snuggle in his lap and hide away in his pocket. One Christmas Eve she slips into his pocket as he leaves in his sleigh.
All is new and beautiful to the cat. She hangs farther and farther out of the pocket until she falls to the ground. Now she is lost on the streets of New York City depending on Santa's final cry that he will find her.
Every Santa she encounters isn't her Santa. She is lost and tired. Finally she curls up beneath a Christmas tree.
Although all of the illustrations are excellent, the cat is gorgeous. Some of the city scenes show New York landmarks such as the Chrysler Building.
All is new and beautiful to the cat. She hangs farther and farther out of the pocket until she falls to the ground. Now she is lost on the streets of New York City depending on Santa's final cry that he will find her.
Every Santa she encounters isn't her Santa. She is lost and tired. Finally she curls up beneath a Christmas tree.
Although all of the illustrations are excellent, the cat is gorgeous. Some of the city scenes show New York landmarks such as the Chrysler Building.
September 12, 2021
Snow Cat spends a traumatizing evening frantically searching for her owner who she finds to be duplicated everywhere; window decor, tree ornaments, etc. Ok, that's not the best description, but it's not far off. It's an ok story but I found it rather disturbing somehow. The book eerily has an illustration of the Twin Towers and was published at Christmas time in 2001, obviously completed before September's events. Reading it near the 20 year anniversary in September made that stick out in my mind.
December 29, 2019
Santa's favourite cat is white as snow so he calls her Snow Cat. She can hide easily under his beard, and in the snow, and in his big pockets. One day she accidentally ends up on Santa's flight on Christmas Eve, and she falls out! Adventurous story gorgeously illustrated.
December 31, 2019
Sweet holiday read, especially for cat lovers.
November 12, 2020
Great read!
December 29, 2021
Beautiful illustrations, including one featuring the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. This book was published just after the 9/11 attacks.
January 20, 2023
This is a cute story and beautiful illustrations.
July 21, 2024
Beautiful illustrations.
November 29, 2025
Story is just okay, but illustrations are beautiful 💜
December 15, 2025
An absolutely beautifully illustrated book, and the story is so much fun! There is adventure, sweetness, and beauty in this book, and that makes it a trifecta win for me!
December 26, 2015
Lyrical and beautifully told, the reader is invited into the world of Santa Claus through the eyes of his cat who loves him dearly. What's even nicer, it's obvious that Santa loves the kitty too. So when Snow Cat gets lost, there's never any real fear that Santa won't find him. They have that kind of relationship that tells you all will be well.
Exploring the city at Christmastime is the best part of this book. A little sad to suddenly stumble on the Twin Towers when you don't expect it. Given when this book was published, it had to be an unfortunate thing that this came out in 2001 at just the wrong moment, when many readers would have been jarred by seeing that image in the story. Truly this is one of the most beautiful Christmas books I've ever read.
Exploring the city at Christmastime is the best part of this book. A little sad to suddenly stumble on the Twin Towers when you don't expect it. Given when this book was published, it had to be an unfortunate thing that this came out in 2001 at just the wrong moment, when many readers would have been jarred by seeing that image in the story. Truly this is one of the most beautiful Christmas books I've ever read.
October 10, 2013
This book is my favorite book in the world. It brings me back the wonderful memories of my Christmas pasts and it will always be in my heart forever. When I attended elementary school and I read this the first time, I kept renewing it over and over to read and keep. This book has sentimental meaning to me and it fills my heart with a warm and happy feeling. May this book live on for kids in the future to read and have their hearts melt by such an amazing story.
December 24, 2016
This story had really great illustrations. And the idea behind the story was a good one; but it had to much and lost us from time to time within the story. I read it out loud to my adult special needs son and we both enjoyed to because of the fact of Santa has a beautiful cat that goes with him on the sled. But after she gets lost and she tries to find Santa herself the story kind of gets lost itself. Although in the end Santa does find her.
September 5, 2011
Snow Cat was Santa's favorite cat; she was the whitest of cats with the greenest of eyes. She often took naps in the pocket of Santa's coat. One Christmas eve she was in his pocket when he started on his trip; when she woke she wanted to look out and fell out. She was lost and hoped that Santa would find her.
November 4, 2015
Our local library had their annual book sale and I purchased this book. Since I teach 3 year olds I love children's picture books. If you love Christmas, cats and beautiful illustrations you will enjoy this children's book. The story takes place in New York and that cat has a bit of an adventure after falling out of the sleigh. I look forward to reading it to my class.
December 18, 2013
Gorgeous illustrations highlight this entertaining Christmas book. I wasn't all that impressed with the narrative, but it was a fun read and we love any book that features a cat. We enjoyed reading it together.
February 21, 2008
This book has some of my most favorite cat illustrations.
September 20, 2008
I love this book. It is so cute. I recommend this book to everyone. I read this every year around Christmastime. It is a classic.
January 12, 2009
nice story pretty pictures
February 12, 2010
A really nice Christmas book for children
September 27, 2011
A bit long for kids but beautiful pictures
November 20, 2012
Cute Christmas story for cat lovers!
December 26, 2012
I thought the illustrations were nice, but the story just okay.
November 21, 2016
Enjoyed this so much. Beautiful art and amazing story and she looks like my cat x
December 2, 2016
Cute and cozy story. A little too young for my kids, probably won't add it to our family collection.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews