oday’s Christmas Book Advent Calendar features ‘The Christmas Day Kitten’ by James Herriot – a story about love and loss around Christmastime.

James Herriot’s writing is a particular comfort read of mine and his heartwarming tales around his busy veterinary practice in Yorkshire are the perfect cozy books to read around Christmas.

Last year, a friend on Instagram recommended ‘The Christmas Day Kitten’ by James Herriot as a lovely festive picture book. The reason that I like it so much is because it doesn’t read as a child’s tale but as a simple story told by Herriot with a focus on a message that is meaningful during this time of year. Complemented with detailed and beautiful drawings by the illustrator Ruth Brown, ‘The Christmas Day Kitten’ is a lovely addition to our library of Christmas books.

‘The Christmas Day Kitten’ is a story about Mrs Pickering, who lived in a beautiful sprawling Yorkshire farmhouse. The owner of three beautiful Basset hounds, James Herriot was often called to Mrs Pickering’s house to attend to her beloved dogs. When he visited he couldn’t help but notice a scrawny cat who stayed a little while by the fireside and often disappeared, shortly afterwards. When asked about her disappearance, Mrs Pickering remarked that ‘Debbie’ was a stray who came and went – where she exactly lived, nobody knew.

One Christmas morning, James Herriot was called most urgently to Mrs Pickering’s home to attend to the not the Basset hounds – but Debbie. This is the story of what happened to Debbie and the heartwarming present she left for Mrs Pickering that Christmas Day.

As always, Herriot’s stories have that twist that makes our eyes well up and our hearts feel full of emotion.

This is a wonderful little tale and the beautiful illustrations and simply penned lines are a beautiful gift to the reader. My favourite illustration from the book is that of Herriot driving through the snow filled streets of the deserted market square on Christmas morning. The hills are clad in deep swathes of snow and though the shops are closed, merry lights are twinkling in the shop windows.

Are you a James Herriot fan? If so, can we ever forget ‘Uncle James’s fabulous annual Christmas hamper, stuffed with all sorts of goodies from Fortnum and Mason?