Greedy Cat is not happy. His home is different. A strange tree is where his favourite chair used to be.

There are gifts under the tree, but none of them smell delicious.

An old lady scowls at him, shooing him from his own lounge.

And worst of all… there is nothing in his bowl to eat!

When presents are finally opened, there is much excitement in the air, except for Greedy Cat. He’s not impressed by his present or not being able to sit at the table. The old lady is an Aunt and she seems to have taken over his family! Things are just not the same and Greedy Cat doesn’t like it at all.

As his family eat their Christmas dinner without sharing any with him, Greedy Cat wreaks his revenge!

Greedy Cat stories by these two icons of NZ Children’s Literature have been well loved favourites of kiwi kids for decades. Greedy Cat’s Christmas is a welcome addition to his collection of adventures.

Joy Cowley’s rhyming text is paired with the soft palette of Robyn Belton’s illustrations of a family at Christmas. Young readers will recognise all the signs of Christmas day. Stockings, a tree, and the presents underneath.

The story perfectly captures many households where an extended member of family joins them, but doesn’t understand the dynamics of the household. Greedy Cat is spoilt by his loved ones, but an older aunt wants to install new rules for him on her visit. Things are uncomfortable for a bit, until things settle back to normal.

Greedy Cat’s grumpy face is priceless and so is his revenge.

Author – Joy Cowley

Illustrator – Robyn Belton

Picture Book

(2022, Copy Press, Cat, Animals, Christmas, NZ, New Zealand, Aotearoa, Family Dynamics, Bossy Aunty, Series, Revenge, Christmas presents, Christmas pudding, Humour, Funny)