The Gingham Dog and The Calico Cat: Season of Harmony

by Chris Noël, Brigid Clark, Laszlo Kubinyi (Illustrator)

B1 Pictorial paperback 1990 10.00X9.25X0.25 CHILDREN CHRISTMAS STORY ABOUT DOG AND CAT ADVENTURING

Genres: Christmas, Fiction, Picture Books, Childrens

31 pages, Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

Wrote juvenile fiction with fiancée Brigid Clark. Also writes both fiction and non-fiction as Christopher Noël.

See also: Christopher Noël.

Reviews

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of those little remembered reads since more or less that has arrived from my past and as such it is hard for me to pinpoint it with accuracy. Was it just a book? Or was there a movie that was made from it as well thus lending to its popularity that far time ago? Either way I know that there were some stuffies that came out around that time while my sister got the calico cat and I the gingham dog - looking back it was somewhat fitting.

Loosely adapted from Eugene Field's "The Duel", this story tells a Velveteen Rabbit story where instead of love making one real it is anger and how the environment we are raised in contributes to who we become although not to who we end being. In a gently yet amusing way the reader is taken through not one but two stories where the main characters not only interchange but still continue to face the same problem although with different reasons behind it.

The illustrations are nice and soft to fit the whole lesson of the story instead of the story itself. So even with the seeming violence the child will fall in love with the cute and cuddly looking duo while cheering for them when things seem to be at their darkest. And if you can find the stuffies as they were it would be a true treasure to bring them back as you read.

My only main concern though about the story is the fact that Santa seems to be so cruel and uncaring. Although he has the best of intentions and the magic of Christmas to back him it still seems he could have showed more compassion as well as consideration when it comes to his wards.

A beautiful Christmas story and one to share on a cold winter night right before a snug fire if you have one.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great childhood story

I enjoyed this story much. it reminds me of the home I grew up in.
I was glad to see this available as I had almost lost hope of finding it.

[Javier Trost · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this for free at my local library. The illustrations are awesome. I found this children's book to have a good moral about how it is important to get along, work together, and hopefully find peace and harmony. I would recommend this book to maybe 1st and 2nd graders. I'm thinking about adding reading it to others as a Christmas tradition.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a strange, but sweet Christmas tale. Two toys are made by elves who are fighting and they end up bickering themselves. Then they fall out of the sleigh on Christmas Eve, but Santa assures them that if they work together they will find their way home. It's offers a nice moral about cooperation and love, but it's still an odd story. Our girls liked it, but it started slowly and we read it over the course of two nights so they wouldn't lose interest.

[Linda Klager · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful story of harmony and love!