Splat the Cat by Rob Scotton

Splat the Cat written and illustrated by Rob Scotton (HarperCollins, 2008)

Bueller? Bueller? If you're a parent or guardian of a school-aged child, chances are that you've already experienced the day (or days) when your child just does not want to go to school. Maybe he's sick; maybe she's scared; or maybe he just wants a day off.

In Splat the Cat's case, he's afraid of his first day of school, and he tries every excuse to get out of it, but his mother is persistent. He must go to school. Splat reluctantly goes, but decides to take his mouse friend Seymour along in his lunch box. At school, Splat's teacher, Mrs. Wimpydimple talks about all of the AMAZING things cats can do, and he is very surprised to hear that cats chase mice. As you can only expect in these sorts of situations, Seymour escapes from the lunch box, and a chase pursues. Luckily, Mrs. Wimpydimple intervenes, and Splat realizes that school may not be so bad after all.

This is the type of book that can help ease a child's fear of school through a very funny story with equally funny illustrations. I can't find information about what medium Scotton used to create the illustrations, but to me, they look digitally rendered. Splat is a big fuzzball, and his facial expressions are hilarious. The illustrations are also richly detailed, and I keep finding new things each time I read the book. For example, when his mom combs Splat's hair, Seymour is holding a comb, peeking out from behind a jar of "Fur Gloop." On another page, you can see Splat's bookshelf with a picture of his dad and books that include such titles as, "I Love Fish." It's a book that I think both parents and children will enjoy reading over and over again.



Check out the author's site to see more of his work, including a cute Splat the Cat trailer, resources, and more.

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (July 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060831545
• ISBN-13: 978-0060831547
• Source: Bought at local bookstore
  

What Other Bloggers are Saying:

Renee's Reading Corner: "...a wonderful, funny tale and the illustrations are vibrant and colorful." (read more...)

Reader Views: “Splat the Cat” was an entertaining book with a fun storyline for preschoolers. The names in the book, like Splat the Cat and Mrs. Wimpydimple, made my children laugh out loud. The book is filled with wonderfully detailed illustrations that I enjoyed as much as my children. " (read more...) Note: I especially enjoyed the commentary the reviewer's children had on the book. Totally cute.

Books for Kids Blog: "Rob Scotton's edgy illustrations of Splat the quirky cat are a real hoot, and his positive message about surviving the first day of school should help ease that first-day anxiety." (read more...)

Miss Deb's Youth Fiction: "Splat has a soft, gently disheveled look, making him the perfect cat for this book. " (read more...)

Cheryl Rainfield: "...a throughly enjoyable and satisfying read, one that brings good feeling. It lets kids know that being scared is okay, that things can work out, that being different is okay, and that we can all behave differently than how we’re expected to–for the better." (read more...)

Young Readers: "This one is fun. Pure and simple. It's fun. It covers a wide range of emotions. And it's one that parents, children, and teachers can all relate to in one way or another." (read more...)

Young Adult (& Kids) Books Central: " For a book with humorous appeal that will have young readers returning again and again, check this one out! " (read more...)


The Reading Tub: "This is one of those rare first-day-of-school books that has year-round value. Yes, it is a great book to have for those first-day-of-school jitters for preschool and Kindergarten. First graders who read it for themselves will also find the story helpful." (read more...)

The Twelve Gifts of Birth by Charlene Costanzo

My baby girl just turned one, and it's only going to be a matter of time when she's not a baby but a little girl. I don't think I'm alone when I say that as a parent, I often wonder how I'm going to raise a strong, self-assured, and happy child. It's a daunting and sometimes frightening task to achieve what with bullying, poor body image, young children developing eating disorders, and so much more I read about in the news. I also know that however hard I may try, I can't shield her from everything, but it is my job to remind her often about how much she's loved and about her inner strengths, and I'm going to use The Twelve Gifts of Birth to help me.

Charlene Costanzo sent me an autographed copy of this touching book a couple of weeks ago, and it's already become one of my favorites that I've read to my daughter many times. The book opens up talking about how in fairy tales, princes and princesses always received gifts from wise women or fairies when they were born. These wise women longed to give these gifts to every child that was born, but were forbidden. Well...the time has finally come that ALL children inherit these twelve gifts when they are born. The rest of the book names these twelve gifts:

• Strength
• Beauty
• Courage
• Compassion
• Hope
• Joy
• Talent
• Imagination
• Reverence
• Wisdom
• Love
• Faith

As each gift is named, a short affirmation follows. For example,

"The first gift is strength. May you remember to call upon it whenever you need it.
The second gift is beauty. May your deeds reflect its depth. "

Accompanying the text are sepia-toned photographs by Jill Reger and illustrations by Wendy Wassink Ackison that give the book a magical, dreamlike feel.

What I like most about the book is its universal message that every person has these inherent gifts within them regardless of where they're from, what they look like, and even what they've done, and it's up to them to use them wisely and bring them out in others. While it's absolutely an excellent choice for any new or expectant parent, it would also make a great gift for anyone celebrating a milestone such as graduation, a new job, and for anyone who may be experiencing some sort of adversity.

This book bridges all religious boundaries and is appropriate for people from all walks of life. As stated in a letter from Charlene Costanzo, it's been used in baptisms, bat mitzvahs, funerals, schools, churches, and even prisons. It is a book that I will cherish and that I will give often as a gift and that I would recommend to any parent.


There are two other books in the series, The Twelve Gifts for Healing and The Twelve Gifts in Marriage. In addition, Charlene Costanzo has developed a website full of resources for readers, parents, and educators, including a free classroom curriculum.

The Giving Tree, Arts and Crafts

I'm posting this tonight because my little chica has a nasty virus. She's sleeping right now, so I thought I'd write while I was coherent and not covered in projectile vomit. I keep waiting for me or the hubby to get sick any minute.

Anyway, here are some arts and crafts ideas that fit nicely with The Giving Tree. Enjoy!

Life Cycle of an Apple:
Divide a piece of construction paper into four squares. Have your child draw the life cycle of an apple, one stage in each square (Seed, tree, blossom, fruit) If you have apple seeds, glue them on the paper.

Leaf Rubbings: Gather leaves from different trees. Place the leaves on a piece of paper and put another piece of paper on top of the leaves. With crayons, rub the leaves until the veins show up on the paper.

Leaf Poster: Take a walk with your child and gather leaves from different types of trees. Also gather other things you find that may have fallen on the ground like pine needles, acorns, and twigs. Glue different types of leaves on a poster and label the type of tree each one came from and decorate the poster with the other items you’ve found.


Parts of a Tree: Draw a picture of an apple tree and label the different parts, such as leaf, branch, twig, and trunk.

Twig Vase: Finally, if you're feeling particularly ambitious, check out this twig vase activity I found online.

The Giving Tree Learning Activities

Here are some learning activities you can use with your child as you read The Giving Tree. I'd love to hear your ideas.

Science:
Life Cycle of Apple: Talk about the life cycle of the apple, from seed to tree to blossom to fruit
Trees: Talk about the uses for trees, from oxygen to wood to paper; Identify the items in your house that are made of wood. Walk around the neighborhood or in a park and collect leaves from trees; identify different types of trees.

Nutrition:
Apples…get different kinds of apples, in different colors. Have him/her taste the different apples and identify his or her favorite. If you are a teacher or have a lot of kids, make an “apple pie chart,” charting everyone’s favorite.
Talk about the different products made from apples, such as applesauce, apple juice, apple butter, and apple pie.


Emotions:
Talk about the difference between happy and sad. Talk about other emotions.

Plant a Tree:
If you have the space and means to do so, plant a tree in your front or back yard. Explain the environmental benefits of planting trees.

Vocabulary:
Make an APPLE poem. Write APPLE down the side of a paper and have your child write a word about apples that corresponds with each letter. OR
Write 5 words that begin with the letters in apple.

Let me know what you tried and how it went!

The Giving Tree, Overview

The Basics:
Title: The Giving Tree
Author: Shel Silverstein
Publisher: HarperCollins
ISBN-10: 0060256656
ISBN-13: 978-0060256654
Recommended Reading Level: Ages 4-8

Synopsis:
The story begins with a tree and boy who are best friends. The tree loves the boy, and the boy loves the tree. The tree gives the boy everything he needs from a vine to swing on to apples to shade to sit under. As the boy grows older, he visits the tree less and less, and when he does visit, he wants more and more. Because the tree loves him so much, it gives him everything he asks for until nothing is left but a stump. The boy leaves and returns many years later as an old man. The tree/stump tells him it has nothing left to give, and the boy/man says all he needs is a place to sit. The tree is happy again and gives him a place to rest.

Initial Impression:
I chose this book to review because it's been one of my favorites for many years, and I absolutely love Shel Silverstein. Until I heard from some of you and did a little research, I had no idea that there were so many strong opinions about this book. Some love it, some hate it. Some say the boy is greedy and selfish and that children readers learn a horrible lesson. Others say it's the story of unconditional love...the kind of love a parent has for a child. Then there are those who compare the tree to Christ and his self-sacrifice.

My opinion? It's a great book...yes, it may not be the happiest book in the world and children could feel sad and sorry for the tree when they read it. However, I'm of the thought that we can't shelter our kids from the real world and always read them tales of happy bunnies and frogs and princesses who live happily everafter. Of course no parent wants to see thier children hurt or sad. I dread the day when my daughter comes home sad because someone else made fun of her. I dread the day when she gets rejected by a boy or doesn't get picked for the lead role in a play or something else she has her heart set on. But you know what? I also know that it will happen. She will be disappointed. She won't always be happy, and there will be times when she will be sad. I already got a taste of this the other morning when I dropped her off at daycare, kissed her goodbye, and heard her screaming for me down the hall as I left the building.

Will I read the The Giving Tree to her when she gets older? Absolutely. It makes you think. It sparks questions. It's beautifully written and tells a touching story of love, friendship, and yes...the dreaded disappointment we've all experienced.

Of course, that's my opinion. I'd love to hear yours.




Check back tomorrow for some reading tips and learning activities.

Next Week's Book: The Giving Tree

Here's a sneak peek into next week's book:

Publisher's synopsis:
'Once there was a tree...and she loved a little boy.'

So begins a story of unforgettable perception, beautifully written and illustrated by the gifted and versatile Shel Silverstein.

Every day the boy would come to the tree to eat her apples, swing from her branches, or slide down her trunk...and the tree was happy. But as the boy grew older he began to want more from the tree, and the tree gave and gave and gave.

This is a tender story, touched with sadness, aglow with consolation. Shel Silverstein has created a moving parable for readers of all ages that offers an affecting interpretation of the gift of giving and a serene acceptance of another's capacity to love in return.

Based on what I've heard from some of you already about this book choice, next week could get pretty interesting!