The Cat on the Mat is Flat

Author: Andy Griffiths

Lexile Score: n/a

Genre: fiction, verse novel

Maturity level: 0th grade

Pages: 166   Chapters: 9  Average Chapter Length: from 6 pages to 25

Theme: animals, silliness (not exactly a book for deep discussions of meaning)

Project ideas: write some rhyming words, create your own chapter

First Line: The cat sat.

Main Character: different characters in each chapter

Review in 25 words or less:  If you have occasion to start beginning readers into chapter books, this would work.

Grade: B+

I can't give this an A, because for a book club, I'm just not sure what the discussion would be about.  Then again, I'm not a 1st grade teacher.  Maybe the beginning reader set would get heavy into the meaning of the flat cat's life.  Does the symbol of the Shonky Wonky Donkey's wonky leg allude to the plight of the pack animal?  Is Jack the yak a metaphor for American greed?

This is my introduction to Andy Griffiths, as far as I know.  (Though I'm not sure how I've missed "The Day my Butt Went Psycho")   It is an important book to take note of on the book club shelf, because it is a chapter book with actual plotlines written in the rhymes of easily decodable words - sight words, really.  If one of the main goals of book club is to push ourselves to higher thought, this may not be the choice.  But if we are looking for a book to build some confidence toward attempting longer chapter books, then this is the perfect stepping stone.  It is super fun, super silly, and super easy to read. 

More info and a free chapter to download here.

Comments

[breanna lee]

that sounds like a really kool book!
my friend jessica she is reading the book and she thinks its orsome
so im going to go too the library and get it
im good at fast ryming!