A Little Labradoodle Christmas

A Rhyming Picture Book About the Power of Family, Love, and Kindness (The Little Labradoodle 4)

You must sign in to see if this title is available for request. Sign In or Register Now
Send NetGalley books directly to your Kindle or Kindle app

1
To read on a Kindle or Kindle app, please add kindle@netgalley.com as an approved email address to receive files in your Amazon account. Click here for step-by-step instructions.
2
Also find your Kindle email address within your Amazon account, and enter it here.
Pub Date Nov 05 2024 | Archive Date Dec 31 2024

Talking about this book? Use #ALittleLabradoodleChristmas #NetGalley. More hashtag tips!


Description

Looking for a holiday tale that will bring smiles and inspire your child to spread kindness? A Little Labradoodle Christmas is the perfect addition to your holiday reading tradition.

When a grumpy old cat grumbles his way through the holidays, two playful Labradoodles and a kind-hearted little girl set out on a mission to change his mind. Together, they embark on a heartwarming adventure, determined to show the cat that Christmas is about more than just decorations and gifts—it's about love, kindness, and reaching out to those who need it most.

Perfect for children ages 4-8, this beautifully illustrated story promotes important messages about compassion, making a difference, and embracing the spirit of giving. Cozy up with your little ones and share this delightful holiday story that will warm hearts and inspire smiles.

Inspired by the imagination of 7-year-old Kairi and brought to life with the loving guidance of her Nana, April Cox, A Little Labradoodle Christmas combines the wonder of a child's perspective with the craftsmanship of a seasoned storyteller. As the fourth installment in The Little Labradoodle series, this charming tale will resonate with young readers and families alike.

Don't miss out on this heartwarming holiday tale! Order your copy today and share the magic of Christmas with your little ones.

Looking for a holiday tale that will bring smiles and inspire your child to spread kindness? A Little Labradoodle Christmas is the perfect addition to your holiday reading tradition.

When a grumpy...


Available Editions

ISBN OOOB0DKXJWQR5
PRICE $0.99 (USD)

Links

Available on NetGalley

NetGalley Shelf App (PDF)
Send to Kindle (PDF)
Download (PDF)

Average rating from 38 members


Featured Reviews

How wholesome and cute this festive book is! I enjoyed the poem flow through the story.

Kairi and the lab pups look so cute as they are excited with the holiday season.

I enjoyed reading and seeing the illustrations of how they were trying to get Casper into the festive season.

The end was heart warming and will put a smile on anyone’s faces and get you started into the Christmas season.

Little ones will find the true meaning of Christmas with this book..

Was this review helpful?

I felt like reading a children’s christmas book to give me some cute Christmas cheer. The pictures in this were so vivid. It’s about a girl and her dogs who find a grinch-y cat who hates Christmas. They convince the cat why Christmas is special. Very cute!

Was this review helpful?

This book is so sweet and heartwarming, perfect for the holiday season! One of the two main things that I really liked about this story was the character development that we get, even in a short book. We learn about Casper's backstory and why he's so grumpy around Christmastime. This "origin story" wasn't too dark, and gives the reader just enough information to really appreciate the entire story and its well-thought-out plot. The other thing that worked for this book was the message. The holiday season is one of the best times to celebrate and teach kindness, and this book does a great job of doing that. I hope that young readers will be able to follow in Kairi's footsteps and be kind to those around them, even if the journey is hard. Kairi works through challenges and obstacles, and ends up with success in the end, which is such an important thing for little ones to see in the books they read. Lastly, the illustrations were warm, crisp, and colorful, and captured the joyful Christmas spirit on every page.
Bravo!

Was this review helpful?

A lovely picture book for younger children to consider the meaning of giving at Christmas. Kairi and her pups decide to give a gift to a little someone they meet - but will they be able to bring the joy of Christmas to this stranger?
This is a well-written rhyming book and will delight many a young reader.

Was this review helpful?

A Little Labradoodle Christmas is about cat who gets a new family during the holidays. The illustrations are very sweet and Carson the cat gives all the grumpy cat vibes. He goes from being very anti-holidays, to a loved member of a family because a girl and some dogs took a chance on him. This would be a great read for early elementary kiddos!

Thanks to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for an eARC of this book for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Such a fun and sweet story. I love the themes and dogs becoming friends with the cat. Can’t wait to buy!

Was this review helpful?

Cute holiday story about love and acceptance! Great illustrations and a perfect holiday story for families to read together year after year.

Was this review helpful?

Cute little book. My niece loved it. She enjoyed pointing out all the rhyming words! The story had several animals which she enjoyed along with a Christmas theme.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to Net Galley for this e- copy of A Little Labradoodle Christmas by April M Cox in exchange for a honest review. This is a cute Christmas story similar to How the Grinch Saved Christmas. A little girl named Kairi and her labradoodles find a cat named Casper while on a walk and convince him to come live with them . He hates Christmas because he was abandoned the Christmas before. Can Kairi and the pups convince Casper to live with them and enjoy life? Read the book and find out.

Was this review helpful?

This is adorable!! I will have to gift a copy of this to my nephews. Such a cute and heartwarming story featuring a grumpy cat named Casper. I’m so glad that Casper ended up finding a great home, and that he now knows the meaning of Christmas!

Was this review helpful?

As the holiday season approaches, I've been reading more Christmas books and I love when I found one that not only tells a festive story but also teaches values. A Little Labradoodle Christmas, written by April M. Cox and illustrated by Remesh Ram, does exactly that.

This charming picture book centers around a young girl and her Labradoodles as they try to bring holiday cheer to a grumpy cat. The story unfolds through delightful rhymes that keep young readers engaged, while the vibrant illustrations capture the warmth and excitement of the season.

The main themes of the book—kindness, friendship, and family—are woven in a way that feels simple and accessible for children. By watching the young girl and her furry companions, children learn the importance of making others feel safe and welcome. In a world where kindness can sometimes feel scarce, A Little Labradoodle Christmas is a timely reminder of the power of small gestures and open hearts.

If you’re in search of a holiday gift that combines charm, wisdom, and the spirit of Christmas, this book is a wonderful choice. I haven't read the other books of the series but I'm sure all of them are cute. Make sure to add it to your holiday reading list!

Was this review helpful?

When a grumpy old cat grumbles his way through the holidays, two playful Labradoodles and a kind-hearted little girl set out on a mission to change his mind.
Together, they embark on a heartwarming adventure, determined to show the cat that Christmas is about more than just decorations and gifts-it's about love, kindness, and reaching out to those who need it most.

This is such a sweet story! I loved everything rhymed it made me think of Dr. Seuss. I think it’s an important message for all kids to be kind because we never know what someone is truly feeling or going through. I also love how the authors child collaborated with her on this idea.

Was this review helpful?

The perfect children's holiday read! I enjoyed reading this book to my son. The best part of this book was the illustrations and the message. I also loved the rhyming. A really cute holiday read for the little ones. A must read.

Was this review helpful?

This is a fun Christmas book for your preschooler <3 the Illustrations was so fun. when i was reading it to my toddlers i made a fun little game of asking them questions on what would happen next!

the story started when a grouchy cat is making his way through the holidays, two Labradoodles and a sweet little girl set out on a mission to change his mind about Christmas and what it's all about because it's not just about presents, decorations or food it's about being kind to one another, love and family.

thank you thank you for a copy BooksGoSocial i cannot wait to purchase this for my children!

Was this review helpful?

A Little Labradoodle Christmas by April Cox and Kairi Fullerton is an enchanting holiday story that will warm your heart and lift your spirits. The tale follows a lovable Labradoodle who brings joy and magic to a family during the festive season. The illustrations are beautifully done, capturing the essence of the holiday spirit and the adorable nature of the Labradoodle. This story is perfect for children and adults alike, with its charming narrative and heartwarming message about love, family, and the true meaning of Christmas. This is a timeless story that is sure to become a holiday favorite for years to come.
If you're looking for a delightful, feel-good read this holiday season, A Little Labradoodle Christmas is an excellent choice. It’s a story that not only entertains, but also reminds us of the joy and magic that the holiday season brings.
Thank you to BooksGoSocial for this copy in exchange for a review.

Was this review helpful?

Cute little christmas picture book following a cat who hates christmas! The little girl and her dogs show the cat what the meaning of christmas is, with some cute drawings and heartfelt messages. Kids will love these story full of cute and grumpy animals, and christmas joy!

Was this review helpful?

A Little Labradoodle Christmas, written by April M. Cox and Kairi Fullerton with beautiful illustrations by Remesh Ram, is a delightful tale of compassion and warmth that is perfect for the holidays.
The verse is lyrical and fun, complimented perfectly by the bright and adorable characters and scenes sure to bring a smile to the face of even the most determined grump. This book would make an ideal Christmas eve gift for the whole family to enjoy.
Thank you for the ARC of #ALittleLabradoodleChristmas to #NetGalley.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to April M. Cox, Kairi Fullerton, Remesh Ram, BooksGoSocial, and Netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy. Here follows my review of the book.

On a walk with her labradoodles shortly before Christmas, Kairi spies a grumpy Casper the cat, who appears to want to put a dampener on everyone’s fun. Having cajoled him home, Kairi and the pups try to involve Casper in festive activities, but he is having none of it. Why has Christmas got Casper feeling so glum? And can Kairi and co. do anything to change Casper’s mood?

Hats off to Nana April Cox and 7-year-old Kairi for their 4th installment of the labradoodle series. They have clearly found a winning partnership and some star leading characters to help bring their stories to life.

The charming little picture book can be a little choppy with its rhythm at times due to the authors trying to squash or stretch sentences into the rhyming couplets they have devised throughout the story. I did feel like I was tripped up often at times, particularly in the beginning. That said, the actual plot was considered and well-paced. I liked how we were introduced to Casper and how the narrative switched from being about Kairi and het pets to taking up the baton with Casper’s background.

More than anything else, I absolutely loved the illustrations. I’m not sure where the characters live and are celebrating the festive season because it was wonderfully bright and vibrant, if a little wet from the rain but the pictures were enticing all the same. There were collections of wonderful double spreads, single page pictures and even some pictures within pictures that supported the text perfectly. I think I would buy any book Ram illustrated just for the joy their vision gave me whilst reading.

I can imagine youngsters under 5 years of age giggling along to this and enjoying it all year round, especially at Christmas. I also love how it gives meaning to Christmas for children (sans the religious aspect). Overall, this is a cute book, and a wonderful read that would have benefitted from a more refined text to improve the rhythm, but readable just the same. A strong 4/5.

Was this review helpful?

Looking for a twist on the classic Christmas Carol version of a "Scrooge meets festive joy"? You've come to the right place. It's a heartwarming little story — if you're familiar with the trope you know that there's a backstory reveal and then a happy ending. Christmas is a great time to do some cozy reading, and this one makes the list. My only concern is that it's being called a rhyming story, and I felt that wasn't quite a bull's eye shot.

I absolutely love to see grandparents write books for their grandkids. I'm actively on the hunt for Christmas books now, and this one will definitely be added to that list.

Was this review helpful?

I received an ARC for #ALittleLabradoodleChristmas from #NetGalley

A girl and her two labradoodles went out for walk when they accidently splashed mud into an old cat. The thoughtful girl did her best to make the cat happy afterwards. This is a story of winter and Christmas time, when warmth is shared and laughter filled the heart. A beautiful reminder for all of us.

Was this review helpful?

A beautifully illustrated book about two frisky puppies and one very grumpy cat. It was Christmas time and two little puppies went out for a walk. They found mud puddles to splash in. And ran into a grumpy cat that did not like getting splashed. They apologized to the cat but their excitement for Christmas got the best of them. But Casper the grumpy cat does not like Christmas. Bah humbug. They want to make Casper happy so they invite him to their house for Christmas. They decide to use kindness to make Casper kind too. So Casper says sure to coming to their home. They bake cookies, but Casper doesn't like them. So they try decorating the tree, but Casper doesn't want a tree. They decide that Christmas isn't meant for a grump. And down came their tree. So they tried to find out why Casper was sad. He had been left alone last Christmas and this Christmas brought all those memories back. The puppies decided to be his family. The little girl begs to keep him because he needed a family. And with all the fun and family Casper realized what the big fuss was all about.

Was this review helpful?

This was a heart-warming, joyous book filled with the moral of 'everyone is included' at Christmas. The character Casper was endearing, despite his grumpy demeanour. The ending was very satisfying and in particular the illustrations were beautiful and a welcomed addition to support the great plot of this story. I nearly cried at the end- what an emotional journey! I am positive this book will be enjoyed by children for many Christmases to come.

Was this review helpful?

A beautifully illustrated rhyming Christmas tale. Kairi and her puppies have quite an adventure upon their walk in the rain when they come across an angry cat. When they bring the cat into their home, the adventure continues, and family fun ensues. A lovely story of inclusion and tenderness for the holidays.

Was this review helpful?

This was a super cute rhyming text about some humans and labradoodles who take a grinch under their wing to share the spirit of Christmas.

Was this review helpful?

Scrooge the Cat, er, Casper the Cat, has no use for Christmas. No matter what Kairi and her dogs do, Casper isn't swayed by their argument of how wonderful the holiday season is. Brought to us from the minds of a grandmother and grand-daugher team of April M. Cox and Kairi Fullerton, this is a charming story of acceptance and inclusion, albeit it isn't easy. It's also a subtle nod to the all too common habit of some of getting an adorable kitten or puppy for Christmas, then abandoning it the next year for a new version. As it turns out, it's only when Kairi realizes Casper's back story, he's a once loved, now homeless cat, and stop trying to force him to be joyful that things turn for the better. Will Casper find a forever home, perhaps with Kairi and her dogs and family? Given the title, I'm sure you know the answer to that.

I loved the illustrations. Kairi and the two dogs are initially shown in bright, colorful settings while Casper's presence is seen in darker, more somber tones. That, of course, changes over the book. The rhythmical narration mostly works, luring in children to enjoy the story and fun illustrations, many of which run to a double spread. Kudos to illustrator Remesh Ram for so nicely capturing the emotions and growth of bond between Casper and his new-found friends, friends he didn't realize he needed. I liked that it was only when Kairi accepted Casper where he was, angry, hurt, lonely, and distrustful, that they were able to find a bond. That's a good lesson for us all, not to try too hard to make things about our own wants and needs but to listen to others. The inclusion of Kairi's human family at the end, who seem an interesting mix, adds to the sense of family and togetherness. Thanks #BooksGoSocial for introducing me to this series early. I can't believe I've missed it until now.

Was this review helpful?

A heartwarming story of love and joy during Christmas. Kairi and her labradoodle pups go out to have fun but a grumpy cat doesn’t want them to have any fun. Kairi and the pups decide to bring grumpy Casper home. Eventually he sees the kindness to him and that he is loved. The illustrations are wonderful and young kids will truly enjoy this book.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.

Was this review helpful?

This is a sweet little story about a girl and her dogs who invite a grumpy kitty into their family for Christmas.

What I really liked about this book is how sweet the pups and little girl are. They didn't have to extend a welcome to a grumpy kitty, but they did. The lesson that readers can learn from this is quite joyful and needed in current times. I found myself falling in love with grumpy Casper every time he was on the page.

The illustrations were very bright and fun, and they almost remind me of the style that was popular in 80s cartoons. That gave the book a bit of a retro feel that this millennial really appreciated. The flow of the writing felt a little jumbled at times, but that happens with books with a rhyming scheme.

The end of the book had a QR code for a gift that ended up sending me a budget template. I'm not sure how that would translate into a gift for children. I also received a coloring book that was really nice and my daughter is excited to color it.

Was this review helpful?

My daughter (5) and I very much enjoyed this book. The story had her thinking and talking about those who don't have as much as we do. She loved the pictures, and was especially happy when the kitty got his bow. She stated it was a 5 star book, and I agree. Seeing that the main character was based on a real little girl and that she helped write the story was something that caught my daughter's attention. When I asked her if she would like to read the book again she said "not right now, but maybe Saturday" (Saturday being her favourite day when she does her favourite things, so that was a vote towards it going into the regular rotation). The gift at the end was nice and we will be reading the additional book. I read this book as a free digital version through Netgalley.

Was this review helpful?

Adopting the Magic

This was such a sweet book. It really drove home doing what you can to make someone (animal or persons) day. Her and her dogs were absolutely precious. This was my first exposure to this series and authors. I think this would make a wonderful gift. This has great potential to be a conversation starter about kindness, showing love and the extension of family.

The illustrations were so vividly executed. It was like looking at scenes from an actual animated movie.

I received a free copy of this book from April M. Cox, Kairi Fullerton and BooksGoSocial. I am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

Cute little read great pictures
A good cute read for children
I would totally recommend
So pleased the cat ended up happy

Was this review helpful?

Readers who liked this book also liked: