Ruth Brown (1) (1941–)

Found abandoned as a tiny kitten at Christmastime, Holly the cat is taken in by a human family who name her in honor of the season, and welcome her into their home. Timid at first, Holly soon grows comfortable, growing up and becoming a mother cat herself, as well as a most beloved member of the family...

I discovered Holly: The True Story of a Cat while searching for Christmas stories about cats, and recognizing English author/illustrator Ruth Brown's name, immediately requested it from my library. As it happens, the Christmas connection is fairly slight, confined to the fact that Holly is discovered during the holidays, and limited to one or two scenes with a seasonal setting. That being said, I was not disappointed with the book, enjoying the heartwarming story of a homeless cat finding a home and family, and finding the artwork, done in acrylics, watercolors and charcoal pencils, beautifully expressive. Recommended to young cat lovers, and to picture book readers who enjoy (as I do) stories about animals finding a home.… (mere)