DVD Reviews: Splat the Cat

The Caldecott Medal.  NAPPA Gold.  American Library Association Notable Books.  The honors go on an on!  But your 3 year old will care nothing about this at all.  Your 3 year old will care about the outstanding stories on Scholastic’s new Storybook Treasures “My First” series.  This series, in Scholastic’s time honored tradition of teaching children how to read and offering only the best in stories to children, is amazing!  Fun!  And now Scholastic has included the Read Along function, which teaches your young child not only how to enjoy reading, but how to read itself!

I started reading at the age of 3 – and never stopped.  My sons read, all my grandchildren read, and read voraciously.  I believe that words and reading are essential to joy.  And to the future of our children!

My First Collection featuring Splat the Cat debuts May 10, 2011 and retails for $24.95.  For less than a family dinner at McDonalds, you can gift your child with these delightful, award winning stories on a 3 DVD set.  The set features 14 stories, beautifully adapted and narrated from the book version.  I reach for every child’s book with the Caldecott gold seal – I read them, love them, and pass them along to the grandkiddles!  They are always classics!

The DVD contains:

Four fantastic stories from aulthor/illustrator Rob Scotton present Splat the Cat!  Poor Splat!  It’s the first day of school – scary, scary – so Splat brings along his pal Seymour, a mouse.  He simply didn’t know that cats chase mice – how could he?  Seymour is his best friend!   The other “Furry Friends” include Hondo & Fabian, “Picnic” and “Leo the Late Bloomer.”  What great tales for every kids worries and fears – and tiumphs! 

What separation anxiety Ping should feel when he loses his family – but off he goes to find a new friend to help him find his family, with all kinds of adventures on the way!  This is great for those kiddie separation anxiety issues, teaching young children lessons about how sometimes a challenge can become a great adventure in the solution.  Other stories include “Goose,” “The Most Wonderful Egg in the World,” “Duck on Bike,” and “Rosie’s Walk.”  There is also a Spanish version of “The Story of Ping.” 

Both of these sections teach kindergartners how to cope.  And what fun they will have after they leave Mom’s arms.   A favorite scene in Splat the Cat occurs when Splat will simply not adhere to his teacher’s vague “because.”  Because WHY asks Splat.  What a great lesson to teach our children to think!!  And to start thinking as young children!  Loved it!

This last set of stories starts with a children’s classic, The Napping House by Don and Audrey Wood.  What a tiny flea can do to create chaos for Granny and Critters!  “Each Peach Pear Plum,” “Drummer Hoff,” “Bear Snores On,” and “Wild About Books,” completes the series. 

Like Disney, Scholastic sets up a series of lessons learned easily and happily as your 3 year old enjoys this absolutely delightful series of stories.  Leaving home and going off to school offers friends and adventures; questioning a teacher is okay; new friends are a GOOD THING!  Scholastic is the best thing that has happened to children’s reading since James Patterson’s beautiful website, ReadKiddoRead.com!  With simplicity, a true understanding of children, and an absolutely delightful ability to create a love of learning and reading in your young child’s life, this is a DVD set that will create a place of love in your home – and delight!  Read on little readers!  And learn how to love the mystical places that stories create.

Splat the Cat & Other Furry Friends  will be available beginning May 10th

Ratings are based on a 5-star scale

Overall: 5