It's Christmas in Slinky Malinki's house and the rapscallion, mischievous cat is most curious about the Christmas tree. With its reindeer, ribbons, baubles and bells, it's too tempting a treat for Slinky not to investigate. So Slinky Malinki, with mischievous glee, creeps out from the shadows to climb up the tree . . . The book is written for pre-school children, with rhythmic, rhyming text. It has become a best-selling bedtime storybook in New Zealand.

One day I look forward to delving in deeply to Lynley Dodd’s perfect scansion, but for now I’ll point out the following techniques, also used by T.S. Eliot: Mann, Brittany; Beach, Andrew (25 July 2015). "Slinky still cat's whiskers at 25". The Press. New Zealand. p.A7. Slinky Malinki (Book Review)". Magpies: Talking About Books For Children. Magpies Magazine. March 1993. p.37 . Retrieved 10 September 2019.

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Told through playful rhymes and watercolour illustrations, this hilarious classic story has delighted children for generations. My two children love this story, in fact it’s their favourite of the Hairy Maclary books we have. As with the other books, the rhyming in the story is...

Slinky Malinki is on the prowl at night looking for items to add to his heaping stash. He steals whatever he can find from slippers to teddy bears. One night he steals more than ever and gets busted by his human family.

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After the 2000 US presidential election had been described as a 'schmozzle', Dodd's use of the word 'shemozzle' in this book was discussed in US media, [16] with the following verse quoted: I borrowed this book from the library when my little boy was a toddler, not realising it would become one of my most treasured memories of a book. I adore this poem, and the artwork is perfect. It isn't an easy book to get hold of (at the time of writing) although we do own another in the Slinki Malinki series. Lynley Dodd is an award-winning author/illustrator who lives in New Zealand. She is enormously popular for her rhyming stories of the unforgettable HAIRY MACLARY and his friends. She worked as a teacher before beginning to write her own books in 1974. I must say that i love rhyming books! not only do they amuse children but more laughter is created when a verse ends with a rhyming word they weren't expecting to hear. The rhymes flow in a vividly manner bringing the story to life. The art does a very good job of showing what the characters and settings look like and offer a satisfying ending for the mischievous and thiefing cat.