The Cat on the Mat is Flat

My first grade boy loves being read to (harry potter, science books, beautiful picture books) but is reluctant to read on his own unless he is asked to in school or for his requisite 15 minutes of nightly reading. I took this book out of the library because I thought the rhymes were hilarious. He has picked it up, read it on his own without being asked and then picked it up again and reread all his favorite parts. In the same day! And yes he loves capt. underpants (sigh) and Jon Scieska (yeah!).

This book is enjoyed by both my 4 year old and 7 year old. The 4 year old loves to listen to the stories and enjoys the picture illustrations, and the 7 year old used this book to become more comfortable with the decoding process of reading. The illustrations are humerous and keep the children interested in wanting to read the stories. I'm glad I found this book.

Think Dr. Seuss with revenge. If you like goody-goody and predictable endings, this is not for you. The cat attacks the mouse, who strikes back. Dr. Seuss style rhyiming, with a crazy plot line in each short story. Kids will be giggling the whole time, assuming dad can keep a straight face in order to get through it. My kids ages 4-7 LOVED it, begged for it to be read every night for 2 weeks. Mom was not as hot on it, though she warmed up to some of the later stories. Think bedtime stories for someone who wants to have a little fun with the kids before sleep, not to settle them down.

I purchased this book to use with 2nd graders who were behind in their reading skills and they loved it. The silly stories kept the attention of those who usually don't enjoy reading and made it fun for them. I highly recommend this book for any young reader.