Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite

More than anything else, Cindi wants a playmate for Christmas – the four-legged, furry kind. That and snow. But how can she tell everyone what she wants? After all, she is a dog. She decides she must do what human children do and ask Santa Claus. But how? She can’t write, read, text, Instagram, or any of those things. But she can go to the Santa Claus parade with her human family and meet Santa in person – that’s the best way to tell him what she wants for Christmas. Imagine the surprise her human family has, and Santa, too, when she bounces off her human mom’s lap and runs to Santa’s sleigh to make her request.

Beverley Reichman’s picture book story, Cindi’s Christmas Kitten Surprise, is a heartwarming story that will touch the hearts of young readers, especially those who love dogs and cats. Told in the loving spirit of Christmas, this is Cindi’s story and it’s told in the third person narrative from Cindi’s point of view. The language is simple so a young reader can easily follow along. The plot shows how the dog rationalizes her dilemma and comes up with a reasonable solution to solve her problem of how to get in touch with Santa and make her Christmas wish known. The illustrations are bright and colorful and help the story move forward. This is just a happy, charming Christmas story – no hidden messages, just a sweet story about a sweet dog and a desire to have a furry friend. Beautifully told and illustrated.