A Heartwarming Holiday Tale of Responsibility and Love

As the most anticipated winter holidays - New Year's and Christmas - approach, I'm getting into the spirit by reading some great kids' books that take place during this magical time. Today, I'm excited to share my thoughts on Oksana Muhortova's 'Happiness Behind the Door', a wonderful addition to the 'I'll Be Your Friend' series.

This 96-page book is a great choice for kids aged seven and up. The cover features a cute black kitten playing with New Year's decorations, setting the tone for a heartwarming story.

The back cover shows a cozy New Year's scene with a Christmas tree and a warm home interior, giving readers a glimpse into the story's themes of family and belonging.

The book is a compact size, slightly larger than A5, and features many illustrations, all in black and white. The style of the illustrations, done by Polina Erofeeva, may not be my personal favorite, but she does a great job of conveying the emotions of the characters.There are two main storylines in this tale. The first introduces us to a kitten that was recently abandoned on the street. Through the kitten's memories, we learn that it was a handful at home, knocking over curtains and causing mischief.Thanks to the stories of the janitor, we understand that the kitten was taken in by a family without thinking it through. They were offered the kitten, but soon realized they couldn't handle its behavior and simply threw it out into the cold winter. The author does a great job of describing the kitten's feelings, its fears, and its dreams.The second storyline revolves around a family with two sisters. The sisters have constant conflicts, which are pretty common among kids - the older sister is tasked with looking after the younger one, but the younger sister tries to imitate everything the older sister does, making her even more frustrated.I've seen it happen in my own family - parents try to intervene in their kids' conflicts, but often end up taking the side of the younger sibling. But one day, my daughters found a stray kitten and suddenly they had something in common - a desire to bring this little guy into our family. The only problem was, my wife had always been against getting pets, and we'd never even discussed it.

As I was reading 'Happiness Behind the Door', I realized that the author was tackling some really relatable issues. We've all been there - dealing with sibling conflicts, trying to navigate our relationships with our kids, and wondering if we're doing the right thing as parents.

My take on the book.What struck me about 'Happiness Behind the Door' was how relatable the story was. It's not a fairy tale - the events in the book could easily happen in any family with multiple kids. I've seen it happen in my own household - my kids fight over the smallest things, and it's like they're copying each other. Reading this book, I felt like I was reading about my own daughters, Arina and Dasha.But what I loved about the book was how the author showed that even the most seemingly insurmountable conflicts can be resolved when everyone comes together for a common goal. It's a powerful message, especially for parents like me who are still figuring things out.

I really appreciated how the author analyzed the reasons why parents might be against getting pets - it's not just allergies or the usual fears about mess and damage. The parents in the book are real people with their own desires and childhood traumas. They're not just robots who can't be reasoned with - they're human beings who deserve respect and understanding.

The book also made me think a lot about responsibility towards a new friend. So many kids get pets just because they want one, and they treat them like toys that can be discarded when they get bored. It's heartbreaking, especially when you think about animals like kittens who can't survive on their own in the city. They need our care and protection, and it's up to us as parents to teach our kids about that responsibility.

I've gotta say, this story 'Beyond the Door' is really geared towards kids from seven years old and up. It's not going to traumatize them, that's for sure. What's amazing here is that it shows how real magic can happen when people care about each other, show love and attention, and become less self-centered. The author really drives home the point that the best gift of all is love!

The best gift is love!

The story's written in a super approachable way, making it easy for kids to read and even get the whole family involved. It's a great way to get into the holiday spirit.

I really recommend this heartwarming holiday tale. What I loved about it is that it's unique, not a copycat story, and the conflicts are super realistic. Oksana Muhortova does a great job of capturing the emotions of her characters, whether they're kids, parents, or even a tiny kitten.Other holiday and Christmas books that you might enjoy include:

"The Gift for the Mouse" - perfect for kids under seven.

"How the Rabbit Met Santa" - also for the little ones.

"A Christmas Story About How the Saddest Day Can Be the Best" - will be enjoyed by younger school kids.

"The Star-Eyed" - great for kids and younger school kids.

"A Christmas Angel" - perfect for kids from five years old and up, and adults alike.