Dear Santa

11/15/2018

Dear Santa, I Know It Looks Bad but It It Wasn't My Fault!
by Norma Lewis
ill Olivia Beckman

If you've ever gotten stuck in something, you know I'm the victim here.

It’s that time of year. Time to start making a wish list. Time to begin justifying all the reasons one is deserving of a Christmas gift. If you’re bending toward naughty rather than nice on the behavior scale, you will empathize with Scalawag. Mayhem seems to follow him everywhere he goes.

Ten days before Christmas:

The pet canary is missing,
There is cat poop in the neighbor's sandbox.
The cat's head is stuck inside an empty milk pitcher.

A week before Christmas:

Scalawag climbs up the holiday tree.
The tree topples over.
All the ornaments are shattered.
The tablecloth catches on fire.
Miss Violet is temporarily knocked unconscious.

Norma Lewis has her tongue firmly in cheek as Scalawag pens letter after letter to Santa. Attempting to justify his request for a Catman and Robin video game, his missives to St Nick are a countdown to December 25. He repeatedly explains to Santa that all these mishaps are not his fault. From this cat's point of view, these arguments based on his peculiar brand of logic are valid.

Oliva Beckman's illustrations capture this conniving feline and his waggish antics. Facial expressions and the body language of Scalawag, Violet, her friend Mitzi, and the canary amplify the humor.

Dear Santa, I Know It Looks Bad but It Wasn't My Fault is an excellent entertainment selection after a hectic day of holiday preparations. You don't have to be a pet owner to appreciate the sly humor. But just in case... Secure the bird cage, Watch out for candle flames. Purchase a backup set of ornaments.