The Cat who Ruined Thanksgiving

Sherrida Pope's The Cat who Ruined Thanksgiving is a funny holiday story for 6 year olds told by a very put-out cat.

What happens

Genevieve is not just a cat. She's the ruler of the house, the supreme master of the household (in her own opinion, anyway).

But today everything has gone wrong. Nobody has put out her morning milk. Her favourite windowsill cushion has been swapped for a basket of mini pumpkins. And every single member of the McConway family keeps telling her she's ruining Thanksgiving.

So Genevieve decides Thanksgiving is the enemy. And enemies have to be defeated!

Her plan? Get rid of the turkey.

Getting back into the house takes a seesaw made from a wheelbarrow and a plank, a very nervous owl called Arthur and one spectacular crash in the garden. It's slapstick in the best way. Genevieve's big dramatic thoughts are a treat as well ("Prepare to die, fiend!" she thinks, glaring down at a raw turkey).

It's also rather sweet. Genevieve isn't really a bad cat. She's hungry, and a bit hurt that nobody seems to want her any more. Lots of children will know that feeling when a big family day takes over the house and the grown-ups are too busy to notice them.

Then the guests arrive, including an elderly great-aunt who hasn't had a cat to cuddle in years. The ending is warm and gentle and just right.

It's an American story, so Thanksgiving is the big event. If your reader hasn't come across it before, it's easy to follow. It's basically a huge family dinner with a turkey in the middle! There are five short chapters, so it works well as a bedtime read over a couple of nights.

What to read next

Got a reader who loves a cat with attitude? Marshmallow Pie The Cat Superstar is another one who's sure the world revolves around him. He insists on his very long full name, and his owner Amelia has big plans to make him famous.