About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is beginning to show interest in the 'secret' joy of giving rather than just receiving. As the holidays approach, young children often feel the urge to participate in family traditions but may not know how to express their affection through a tangible gesture. This interactive story provides a gentle, low pressure model for how to think about someone else's needs and preferences. Nicky the kitten spends the story visiting various farm animals to gather ideas for his mother's Christmas gift. Through the lift-the-flap format, children are invited to join Nicky's curiosity and decision-making process. It is a developmentally perfect choice for toddlers and preschoolers, as it reinforces animal sounds and names while introducing the foundational concept of empathy: considering what would make someone else happy. It is a sweet, secular celebration of the bond between a child and a parent.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
None. The book is entirely secular and focuses on the universal experience of gift-giving and family love.
Ideal Reader
A three-year-old who is starting to understand that other people have different tastes and desires than they do, especially one who loves 'hide and seek' style play.
