The Cat in the Hat
by Dr Seuss

The Cat in the Hat is a mischievous creature who pops up one rainy day to entertain two bored children left home alone with their pet fish. He juggles and drops things and makes a fine mess - to the disapproval of the fish who, taking upon itself the role of a stand-in parent, nags the kids to get rid of the intruder.

And it seems the fish is right; the children panic when they suddenly see mom at the door. She's about to come in, and the house is a wreck. But the Cat is more than equal to the occasion and cleans everything up in a jiffy. Then off he goes, just as mom enters and asks, "Did you have any fun? Tell me. What did you do?"

The story ends with this question: "What would you do if your mother asked you?" This is a good discussion starter for exploring issues like meeting strangers or letting them into your home, sharing secrets with family members, and striking a balance between safety and adventure. Should the children have let the Cat into the house? Should they have listened to the fish and gotten rid of the Cat? Should they tell their mom the whole story - and would she even believe them?

If you are looking for funny poems that will hold the attention of kids, The Cat in the Hat is a sure winner. Children love the idea of creating chaos in the house and get a thrill from the growing suspense, as it becomes clear that punishment is inevitable once Mother comes home and discovers the mess; they laugh or sigh with relief over the surprise ending, when the Cat puts everything to rights at the last moment, thereby saving the kids from mom's wrath.

This is kids' poetry that's fun and easy to read. The vocabulary is limited to about 220 basic words but these simple words, together with the lively beat and catchy rhymes, make the book a joy for kids to read by themselves. In fact, this all-time favorite has not only helped generations of children learn to read, it has also given them a love for rhyme and poetry.

One of the most popular children's books of all time, with over 8 million copies sold. Get your copy from:

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