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Kipper the Dog
Kipper's Christmas Eve
Kipper's holiday tale is reissued for a new generation of children Which is best, Kipper wonders, Christmas Day or Christmas Eve? Presents, or expecting presents? Kipper's friends, Pig, Arnold, and Tiger, are all getting ready for Christmas too, and Kipper manages to give little Arnold his best Christmas Eve ever.
32 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
About the author
Mick Inkpen
388 books67 followersMick Inkpen is one of the most popular author/illustrators in the world. His books have sold over 4 million copies, and have been translated into over twenty different languages. His best-loved characters are probably Kipper and Wibbly Pig – who are both stars of their very own TV series!
He began his career as a graphic designer, and worked with another children’s author Nick Butterworth (of Percy the Park Keeper fame) on a cartoon strip for the Sunday Express. In 1989 The Blue Balloon was published to great acclaim, and established him as an important and original voice in children’s picture books. He and his wife, Debbie, also had children of their own by this point: “Without the experience of having children of my own I doubt that I would have been capable of writing effectively for children. And yet it’s true that good work really springs from trying to please yourself”
Mick lives in Essex with his wife and two children.
He began his career as a graphic designer, declining a place to study English at Cambridge University. During this period he worked with Nick Butterworth, a fellow children’s author, from whom he learned design and typography. Together they developed a cartoon strip for the Sunday Express magazine, later to become a first series of children’s picture books. They also worked in children’s television.
In 1989 The Blue Balloon established him as a truly original voice in children’s picture books, by which time Mick and his wife Debbie had two children of their own. “Without the experience of having children of my own I doubt that I would have been capable of writing effectively for children. And yet it’s true that good work really springs from trying to please yourself”
He began his career as a graphic designer, and worked with another children’s author Nick Butterworth (of Percy the Park Keeper fame) on a cartoon strip for the Sunday Express. In 1989 The Blue Balloon was published to great acclaim, and established him as an important and original voice in children’s picture books. He and his wife, Debbie, also had children of their own by this point: “Without the experience of having children of my own I doubt that I would have been capable of writing effectively for children. And yet it’s true that good work really springs from trying to please yourself”
Mick lives in Essex with his wife and two children.
He began his career as a graphic designer, declining a place to study English at Cambridge University. During this period he worked with Nick Butterworth, a fellow children’s author, from whom he learned design and typography. Together they developed a cartoon strip for the Sunday Express magazine, later to become a first series of children’s picture books. They also worked in children’s television.
In 1989 The Blue Balloon established him as a truly original voice in children’s picture books, by which time Mick and his wife Debbie had two children of their own. “Without the experience of having children of my own I doubt that I would have been capable of writing effectively for children. And yet it’s true that good work really springs from trying to please yourself”
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
December 24, 2025
My son read this one to me and he really enjoyed it! Kipper is such a classic kid's character!
December 9, 2020
Very nice bedtime story ❤️
December 31, 2017
Kipper and friends are decorating his house and talking about all the fun of the season--is anticipation better, or is the haul itself the attraction? Arnold has important news for Kipper, but as usual no one pays attention. I remember that feeling as a small child; you were told "hush, we're talking" and when whatever it was finally happened, the adults were surprised!
We were both amused by Kipper being able to uproot a fir tree--small as it was, it could never happen! But I guess Kipper's not allowed to have an ax or a saw. A good deal of the fun of this book was stolen for us, as it was an open copy (no shrinkwrap) bought in a department store in the holiday season. This meant that many, many people must have thumbed through it...the batteries worked for only a couple of days after purchase.
Never mind, though, it's a Kipper story!!
We were both amused by Kipper being able to uproot a fir tree--small as it was, it could never happen! But I guess Kipper's not allowed to have an ax or a saw. A good deal of the fun of this book was stolen for us, as it was an open copy (no shrinkwrap) bought in a department store in the holiday season. This meant that many, many people must have thumbed through it...the batteries worked for only a couple of days after purchase.
Never mind, though, it's a Kipper story!!
November 4, 2010
Always love Kipper illustrations. Yet this book seemed to "explain" more of what was going on in the pictures, rather than just let the action take place and have the reader figure it out. The TV show allowed for this MUCH more. Perhaps why I love it so much. But it's still a cute story. Though I was hoping to see what Kipper's present from Pig was. I think our copy's batteries are dead, as I think I was supposed to see Arnold's fabulous hat at the end.
September 16, 2012
We love Kipper and this was a brilliant addition to our Christmas story collection. We had a hard copy that had a flashing red light at the end!
December 24, 2016
A tradition in the Plank household to read this to my daughter before bed on Christmas Eve. She's now 20 but the tradition continues.
October 27, 2022
You can tell we're replenishing our picture book stock at school with some classics!
'Kipper' stories are great for their simple, colourful illustrations and easy to read, amusing storylines, BUT ... why is every character in this story male? The only things that make them so are their pronouns, so reissue this book, and change them!
'Kipper' stories are great for their simple, colourful illustrations and easy to read, amusing storylines, BUT ... why is every character in this story male? The only things that make them so are their pronouns, so reissue this book, and change them!
January 2, 2021
Kipper and Pig get ready for Christmas with a new Christmas tree. Little Arnold discovers a new friend living in the tree, but the others do not. There’s a small bit of action conveyed mostly in the illustrations but overall the story felt a little lacking to me. End includes a light up surprise.
August 2, 2018
So loving this!
September 17, 2021
A story is supposed to have a beginning, a middle and an end. This book forgot the end. Three stars as I did like the hat, the mouse and the flashing light.
January 2, 2022
Armas lugu koerast Kipper, kelle jõuludeks valmistumise loost on õppida nii väikestel kui suurtel.
December 28, 2022
Dolcissima fiaba natalizia per imparare l'inglese.
December 18, 2021
Another lovely Kpper book. Very festive and enjoyable.
December 7, 2013
Mick Inkpen has created one of the best-loved characters in picture books- Kipper. Always popular, Inkpen's colourful, bold pictures are great for sharing either 1-1 or in a group, and the stories are touching and humorous.
Kipper's Christmas Eve is no exception. Both children and adults are charmed by the simplicity of the Kipper books, and in this tale he is preparing for Christmas Day. The young audience will be able to appreciate the festive routines of collecting a tree, opening presents and novelty fashion. The large illustrations enhance the tale and are full of life and energy.
The only negative is that it is quite a long story for the target age range, and I have found that some children aren't able to concentrate long enough to enjoy the whole book. However, Kipper and his friends are a staple of any children's library.
Kipper's Christmas Eve is no exception. Both children and adults are charmed by the simplicity of the Kipper books, and in this tale he is preparing for Christmas Day. The young audience will be able to appreciate the festive routines of collecting a tree, opening presents and novelty fashion. The large illustrations enhance the tale and are full of life and energy.
The only negative is that it is quite a long story for the target age range, and I have found that some children aren't able to concentrate long enough to enjoy the whole book. However, Kipper and his friends are a staple of any children's library.
December 9, 2011
Kipper's Christmas book gets off to a great start. ""Which is best?"" said Kipper to himself. ""Christmas Day? Or Christmas Eve?... Presents? Or expecting presents?"" That's such a great question. Is expecting presents better than actual presents? Often the expectation of an event or a holiday is more than half the fun of the real thing. Kipper decides of course (the title gives it away) prefers Christmas Eve and expecting presents.
December 16, 2011
Kipper wants to know which is better-Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?
June 8, 2014
I didn't enjoy this as much as I enjoyed Kipper. It's okay for a seasonal book but I preferred the original.
December 10, 2014
neither me nor the kids were feeling this one. Dare I say a little too simple
November 27, 2016
Very cute story and gorgeous animation. Lots of text together, so it might be tricky to keep your child on the page while you read it all. Probably more geared towards a 3 year old.
September 20, 2014
Very popular with my children as bedtime stories throughout December.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews