SAMMY CLAWS, THE CHRISTMAS CAT. Written by Lucy Rowland. Illustrated by Paula Bowles. Harper. $10.99.

This is a fun book for the holidays written in rhyme that follows the rhyme scheme of “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.” It is the story of Santa Claus’s cat, Sammy Claws. Sammy “liked nothing better than having a SNOOZE…in a box… or a cupboard… or snuggled in shoes.” But he also had a secret ambition to go with Santa in his sleigh. He gets his chance when he accidentally falls asleep in a box and is wrapped up as a present. Fortunately for Santa, Sammy wakes up in time to foil the plans of a couple of burglars. Whimsical pictures have lots of details for children to explore.