Splat the Cat: A Whale of a Tale

Splat the Cat: a Whale of a Tale based on the bestselling books by Rob Scotton, text by Amy Hsu Lin, illustrations by Robert Eberz. Harper, 2013. ISBN 978-0-06-209024-9

Reader's Annotation: Splat and his family are spending the day at the beach, and Splat wants to find a shell to share with his Grandpa. When all Splat can find are broken shells, can he use his ingenuity and the help of a new-found friend to find that perfect shell? 

Summary: Splat the cat can't wait to look for shells when he and his family arrive at the beach, but first he must help his family get settles, and then it is time for lunch. Splat demonstrates tremendous patience through all of the delays, and then rushes off to find a shell that sounds like the sea to share with his Grandpa back at home.

At first, Splat can only find broken shells, and then he realizes that the shells are broken because they are being dropped from the sky by a seagull. Splat chases after the gull in an attempt to catch a shell before it hits the sand, but in his racing back and forth, he forgets to look where he's going, and falls right off the end of a dock.

A friendly whale surfaces and raises Splat out of the water, and Splat has an idea: could the whale help him find a shell?

Critical Evaluation: For children beginning to read independently, the I Can Read collection of books is well-known for providing interesting titles at a variety of clearly defined reading levels. Children familiar with Scotton's Splat the Cat picture books will be happy to discover that they can now read about Splat on their own.

This title is classified as Level 1, Beginning Reading, and has short sentences, plenty of sight words, and a small amount of text on each page. The text is printed in a large typeface and is laid out to include extra space between each line, in order to make it easier to read. Many words are repeated throughout, and there are several phonograms such as -ell and -ail that are used frequently, which also aid beginners in sounding out and recognizing new words.

The illustrations are full of action, and the expressions on the faces of the characters speak volumes. With plenty of humor, and a nicely paced plot, this story will hold the attention of young readers.

Age or Interest Level: Ages 4 to 6

Lexile Level: 380L

Awards: ---

Why Included? Splat is a lovable character that children will root for. His enthusiasm is contagious, and his adventures irresistible. This is a great series for emergent readers.