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(4)
K-3
Splat the Cat thinks he's getting a new sibling and is shocked when his mom instead brings home a baby crocodile. After learning that his family is temporarily watching Urgle, Splat devotes himself to being a great "big brother," helping care for the cute croc. While the story is slight, endearingly goofy illustrations featuring the perpetually manic-looking Splat provide plenty of laughs.
(3)
K-3
I Can Read Book series.
Illustrated by
Robert Eberz.
Text by Laura Driscoll. Cat Splat gets to bring his class's chicken eggs home for the evening. The chicks hatch overnight, though, and Splat has his paws full keeping track of twelve fluffy, active babies. Beginning readers will get lots of practice reading words in the "-ick" family (e.g., chick, pick, lickety-split); the comical illustrations of Splat chick-wrangling are a kick.
(4)
K-3
Splat wants to be crowned scariest cat at school, but it's not looking good: his witch's broom is broken, so now he's in a homemade spider costume with colorful socks for legs. A comedy of errors during Mrs. Wimpydimple's ghost story gets him the prize. The story's humor relies on its illustrations, in which the frizzy, always-frazzled cat is as emotive as usual.
32 pp.
| HarperCollins/Harper
| April, 2015
|
TradeISBN 978-0-06-229419-7$16.99
|
PaperISBN 978-0-06-229418-0$3.99
(4)
K-3
I Can Read Book series.
Illustrated by
Robert Eberz.
Text by Laura Driscoll. Lovable, frazzled cat Splat is a good problem-solver, whether he is mopping up a giant ice cream disaster (I Scream) or saving the day with his preparedness on a Cat Scouts trip (Hotshot). Occasional internal rhymes within the simple texts will help new readers through the fairly slim stories. Energetic, humorous illustrations by Eberz (in Scotton's style) always steal the show. Review covers the following I Can Read Book titles: Splat the Cat: I Scream for Ice Cream and Splat the Cat and the Hotshot.
(4)
K-3
I Can Read Book series.
Illustrated by
Robert Eberz.
Text by Jacqueline Resnick. Splat's mouse friend Seymour's brother, Brice, is coming to visit, and the high-strung cat is so excited he's losing sleep. Splat prepares an awesome surprise for Brice, but it backfires--or does it? The slight text sometimes feels tied down by its internal rhymes, but the sound repetition should help new readers. The illustrations (in Scotton's style) humorously convey action and emotion.
(4)
K-3
I Can Read Book series.
Illustrated by
Robert Eberz.
Text by Laura Driscoll. Lovable, frazzled cat Splat is a good problem-solver, whether he is mopping up a giant ice cream disaster (I Scream) or saving the day with his preparedness on a Cat Scouts trip (Hotshot). Occasional internal rhymes within the simple texts will help new readers through the fairly slim stories. Energetic, humorous illustrations by Eberz (in Scotton's style) always steal the show. Review covers the following I Can Read Book titles: Splat the Cat: I Scream for Ice Cream and Splat the Cat and the Hotshot.
(4)
K-3
I Can Read Book series.
Illustrated by
Robert Eberz.
Text by Alissa Heyman. Splat the Cat's best friend, mouse Seymour, feels lonely and sad as Splat leaves him out of things and makes up excuses to avoid him--but Splat is just planning Seymour's surprise party. Of course, all is forgiven at party time. The slight story's premise isn't very original, but short sentences sprinkled with internal rhymes and silly, bright illustrations are suited to emergent readers.
32 pp.
| HarperCollins/Harper
| May, 2014
|
TradeISBN 978-0-06-211599-7$16.99
|
PaperISBN 978-0-06-211597-3$3.99
(4)
K-3
I Can Read Book series.
Illustrated by
Robert Eberz.
Text by Alissa Heyman (Dad)/Amy Hsu Lin (Up in the Air). Things don't always go as planned, yet Splat always lands on his feet. In these outings, Splat and friends go to a fair and try to bring something special back for Kitten, and Splat does a father-son three-legged race at Cat School Game Day. There's lots of repetition and internal rhyme in these slim stories. The perpetually frazzled kitty's energy comes through in the silly illustrations. Review covers these I Can Read Book titles: Splat the Cat: Up in the Air at the Fair and Splat the Cat Makes Dad Glad.
(4)
K-3
I Can Read Book series.
Illustrated by
Robert Eberz.
Text by Alissa Heyman (Dad)/Amy Hsu Lin (Up in the Air). Things don't always go as planned, yet Splat always lands on his feet. In these outings, Splat and friends go to a fair and try to bring something special back for Kitten, and Splat does a father-son three-legged race at Cat School Game Day. There's lots of repetition and internal rhyme in these slim stories. The perpetually frazzled kitty's energy comes through in the silly illustrations. Review covers these I Can Read Book titles: Splat the Cat: Up in the Air at the Fair and Splat the Cat Makes Dad Glad.
(4)
K-3
I Can Read Book series.
Illustrated by
Robert Eberz.
Text by Amy Hsu Lin. The Cat Gang wants Splat to join their band, but he doesn't play an instrument--until he discovers just the right sound by accident (Bang). Splat combs the beach looking for the perfect shell for his grandpa and gets some surprising help (Whale). The slight stories are mostly vehicles for the silly onomatopoeia and the wacky, exaggerated illustrations of the frazzled kitty. Review covers these I Can Read Book titles: Splat the Cat: A Whale of a Tale and Splat the Cat with a Bang and a Clang.
(3)
K-3
Excited to see the penguins at the zoo, Splat is hugely disappointed when mouse Seymour's presence on the school trip scares an elephant into the penguin pool, closing the exhibit. Seymour makes it up to Splat by housing the homeless birds temporarily in Splat's very own bathtub. The fuzzy, googly-eyed cat is just as endearing as ever in his silly new escapade.
192 pp.
| HarperCollins/Harper
| March, 2013
|
TradeISBN 978-0-06-213383-0$11.99
(4)
K-3
Texts by various authors. Illustrations by various artists. This collection, based on Scotton's characters, includes two picture books (Back to School, Splat!; The Perfect Present for Mom & Dad) and four easy readers (Splat the Cat Sings Flat; Good Night, Sleep Tight; Splat the Cat and the Duck with No Quack; Splat the Cat Takes the Cake), plus two appended games. The silly stories are slight; the quirky illustrations have an oddball appeal.
(4)
K-3
I Can Read Book series.
Illustrated by
Robert Eberz.
Text by Amy Hsu Lin. The Cat Gang wants Splat to join their band, but he doesn't play an instrument--until he discovers just the right sound by accident (Bang). Splat combs the beach looking for the perfect shell for his grandpa and gets some surprising help (Whale). The slight stories are mostly vehicles for the silly onomatopoeia and the wacky, exaggerated illustrations of the frazzled kitty. Review covers these I Can Read Book titles: Splat the Cat: A Whale of a Tale and Splat the Cat with a Bang and a Clang.
(4)
K-3
I Can Read Book series.
Illustrated by
Robert Eberz.
Text by Amy Hsu Lin. Eager for snow, Splat decides to create his own from ice cubes, feathers, and a fan. When that doesn't work, he tries to persuade the snow to fall by dressing in his snowsuit and waiting with his sled. The thin story's brief sentences sprinkled with rhymes will benefit new readers. Colorful illustrations of the furry, wired cat are bound to produce giggles.
(4)
K-3
I Can Read Book series.
Illustrated by
Robert Eberz.
Text by Amy Hsu Lin. In Takes the Cake, emulating his favorite TV show character, Super Cat, Splat accidentally breaks his TV--then enters a baking contest to win a new one. Name of the Game finds Splat frustrated by always losing games with friends, but he discovers "playing alone was not much fun" either. The stories are slim, but the familiar kitties are enjoyably silly. Review covers these I Can Read Book titles: Splat the Cat: The Name of the Game and Splat the Cat Takes the Cake.
(3)
K-3
Splat discovers that someone is tampering with his toy duck collection: each day a duck goes missing; the next it's returned--without a beak. To solve the mystery, he transforms into Secret Agent Splat. He nabs the culprit, only to discover that all is not what it seems. The humorous series' recognizable illustrations pair its fluffy cat with a collection of kooky wooden ducks.
32 pp.
| HarperCollins/Harper
| October, 2012
|
TradeISBN 978-0-06-197874-6$16.99
(3)
K-3
Splat the cat's friend, Seymour the mouse, isn't feeling well. Splat tries to cheer him up by reading to him from a "Friendship Book" in which Splat thanks Seymour for all the times he was a good friend. Splat's funny recollections are made more so by the mixed-media illustrations: vibrant and expressive, they highlight the friends' obvious affection for each other.
(4)
K-3
I Can Read Book series.
Illustrated by
Robert Eberz.
Text by Amy Hsu Lin. Splat the Cat puts on his brand-new roller skates, but the sunny day quickly turns to rain. Chaos ensues as Splat tries to maneuver around the house--still in his skates. As usual, textual and visual silliness reign over storytelling, but kids will enjoy the hijinks, which include Splat dancing to his favorite song "Meow Rock" and spilling Little Sis's pink-frosted fishsticks.
(4)
K-3
I Can Read Book series.
Illustrated by
Robert Eberz.
Text by Amy Hsu Lin. In Takes the Cake, emulating his favorite TV show character, Super Cat, Splat accidentally breaks his TV--then enters a baking contest to win a new one. Name of the Game finds Splat frustrated by always losing games with friends, but he discovers "playing alone was not much fun" either. The stories are slim, but the familiar kitties are enjoyably silly. Review covers these I Can Read Book titles: Splat the Cat: The Name of the Game and Splat the Cat Takes the Cake.
(3)
K-3
In his latest romp, cat Splat and his nemesis, Spike, bond over a mutual fear of the water when they take swimming lessons. Most of the story is from Splat's perspective; there's a quick switch to Spike's point of view that is somewhat jarring. However, the art--featuring puffball kitties with dorky expressions and even dorkier swim attire--offsets any missteps.