The Cat in the Hat (The Cat in the Hat, #1) by Dr. Seuss

The Cat in the Hat (The Cat in the Hat, #1) Reviews

• 
  Nataliya

  This "kids' book" is, in my opinion, a nightmare-quality horror story. Why, you ask? What's scary about a funny-looking cat? *shudder* Well, what's so scary about these cute things?
  
  
  (Well, there actually is nothing scary about that last one. That still doesn't make it any less of a nightmare.)
  
  Sometimes I have nightmares where everything goes wrong, but I am helpless to do anything about it. What's worse, the voice of reason is gone. Well, that pretty much sums up the plot of this book. As a horror story, it gets solid 3 stars. Quick, somebody call Stephen King!
  
  Two kids are left alone on a dreary rainy day - which by the way is a perfect setting for a horror story. (Sidenote: I am not that outraged with the mother leaving the kids unsupervised. In Eastern Europe parents do it all the time. And we survived ). Suddenly a stranger barges in and insists that the kids join him in his games (*cue ominous music here*). And he refuses to leave.
  
  Yeah, if this creature barged into my house, I'd be curled up in a ball in a corner, wailing and wetting myself.
  
  
  
  The sentient fish, who appears to supervise the kids and is the sole voice of sanity here, sensibly protests (He should not be here. He should not be about. He should not be here When your mother is out!) - and immediately gets physically threatened and abused. Terrified, it demands the abuse to stop - "This is no fun at all! Put me down! [...] I do NOT wish to fall!" - and narrowly avoids death. Hilarious, right?
  
  Not to mention that, for a fish, seeing a cat is like you answering the doorbell just to greet a Grim Reaper.
  
  
  
  Next, the terrifying delinquent Cat unleashes Things (perfect name for horror creatures) who wreck havoc on the house. Then the Cat cleans up and vanishes. Basically there is zero evidence left of this horrific intrusion even if the kids tried to tell. But likely the poor little victims will keep quiet. And who knows what will happen the next time the Cat shows up, knowing there are no consequences...
  
  *shudder* / *ominous music* / *Nataliya keeps her light on at night to avoid nightmares*

  "Should we tell her The things that went on there that day?"

  YES. YOU SHOULD, KIDS. ALWAYS. PLEASE DO TELL YOUR PARENTS!
  ----------------------
  Ok, enough about the story. 1 star rating for lazy writing and lazy rhyming. Apparently, the author spent months coming up with a long poem that is almost fully monosyllabic. Here is the issue. If children are old enough to read this long poem by themselves, they should be able to read more than a syllable at a time. I know I did. Let's not be condescending to kids - they are capable of a lot if we give them the benefit of the doubt.
  
  Now, rhyming. I guess you run out of words quickly if you are limited to single syllables but still need to maintain the poetry rhythm. Still, it's not a justification for pathetic excuse of lines that go "Cold, cold wet day", "Sit! Sit! Sit! Sit!", "We sat there we two", "The sun is not sunny", "Fun that is funny", "So so so..." That is just lazy. Just because the story is for kids does not mean it's okay for the writing to be subpar.
  
  The story has enough exclamation points to drive you mad. "And then something went BUMP! How that bump made us jump! We looked! Then we saw him step in on the mat! We looked! And we saw him! The Cat in the Hat!"
  To quote (and take slightly out of context) the great Terry Pratchett,

  "Multiple exclamation marks are a sure sign of a diseased mind."

  ---------------------------------
  Yeah. Not a fan of this one. Maybe it's because I am a few decades past the target audience. Maybe it's because the book scares the bejeezus out of me. 2 stars total for the horror potential (which is higher than my initial 1-star rating, so yay?). Sorry, kids.
• 
  Valerie

  I like that at the end of this book, when the mother comes home and the text reads:
  
  Should we tell her about it?
  Now, what SHOULD we do?
  Well...
  What would YOU do
  If your mother asked YOU?
  
  My daughter always looks up at me and says: I would tell you.
  
  But I don't believe her. I think it's quite possible that the Cat in the Hat has already been here, and she's just telling me what I want to hear.
• 
  MischaS_

  I never really read anything by Dr Seuss when I was younger (only recently I read Grinch). And I just remember how I've always seen his books being mention in YA and wondered what's that about.
  
  And I still don't know why only two of his books were translated into Czech (if I can trust Czech version of Goodreads).
  
  Anyway, this was quite fun and quick read. But the important question is if anyone ever did a horror version of The Cat in the Hat because it's just asking for it, isn't it?
• 
  Alex

  Seuss's most cynical political work describes the cycle of every generation: first you hate the machine, then you rage against the machine, then you forgive the machine, then you become the machine.
  
  
  
  Sally and her brother, who, like Dostoevsky's
  sick man and Ralph Ellison's
  Invisible Man, will remain unnamed, join with the force of revolution, embodied by the Cat in the Hat. Together they recruit agents of change and chaos - the furious Things One and Two - to dismantle the oppressive world built by their parents.
  
  
  
  The ensuing freedom proves too much for them, though. They turn against the Cat, and finally they capture and cage Things One and Two. Meanwhile the Cat in the Hat literally becomes the machine:
  
  
  
  His promise of anarchic freedom is a facade. In fact he is an agent of stasis, and everything is put neatly back just as it was. The revolution will be reset. Sally and her brother have become what they rebelled against. The idealism of another generation is crushed under the weight of convention. And what will you do, when your mother asks you?
  
  
• 
  Alejandro

  Without a doubt one of the signature Seuss' books
  
  
  THE SCHRODINGER'S CAT IS OUT OF THE HAT
  
  He should not be here.
  
  He should not be about,
  
  He should not be here,
  
  When your mother is out,
  
  It was a tale hard to rate,...
  
  ...and I imagine how shocked must be for many of you, when you notice my 3-stars' rate.
  
  Three stars?! For The Cat in the Hat?! The very tale that it’s an emblem about Dr. Seuss’ work?!
  
  Well, before calling the Zooks and Yooks to begin a war against me, let me explain my personal struggles with the tale.
  
  While I like to think that I still have a young heart, I can’t deny that I am an adult, and sometimes my adult mode entered in high alert and suspicion…
  
  …we have a stranger adult person (yes I know, he’s a cat, but work with me!) who breaks into a private house without permission, and offering to children to play with his “things”, and while he cleans his mess (most likely erasing any evidence to be used by the police), you are left uncertain if the kids will tell their mother about the whole incident (inciting to lie to parents).
  
  I don’t know you, but I found this quite creepy and I’d be worried if that dang cat would be left alone with my children!
  
  Yes, I know, it’s Dr. Seuss’ charming world of tales, and The Cat in the Hat would never harm a kid, but you wouldn’t know that, if this would happen in our messy world, so I am left worrying about what kind of message can get kids out from this tale…
  
  …Trust in strangers with funny hats and don’t tell truth to your parents?
  
  Again, it’s Dr. Seuss and I am sure that he didn’t want to give that message, but since The Cat in the Hat became such popular character loved by many, I wonder what was the expected role of this feline one when the story just got out.
  
  But just in case, my personal clear message is: Kids! Stay in school, don’t do drugs and don’t let strangers in your houses (much less if you’re alone!) and don’t get up in their cars neither! (I can’t get more clear than that! Geez!)
  
  A relevant fact is that Dr. Seuss wrote this book as his first one to help kids to learn how to read, using only 223 words from the basic vocabulary used by children in the First Grade of Primary School.
  
  Yes, I know, I was unfair with this tale, but I couldn’t deny my adult worries while reading it!
  
  By the way, the fish is an unsung hero!!!
• 
  James

  Book Review
  Everyone's heard of
  SEUSS (Dr) (I hope). 4 stars to
  The Cat in the Hat, an adorable children's book full of little amusing pictures and rhymes.
  
  Kids love the absurdity. It's an opportunity for the reader to use different voices... to dress up... to be free and fun and just enjoy reading.
  
  Though it could be used as a way to teach kids about rhymes, as well as what's real and not real... my recommendation with this one is to just HAVE FUN! Act out all the scenes. Make it a fun Saturday experience with your kids, friends, nephews, nieces, cousins.
  
  Teach kids to enjoy reading.
  
  
  
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• 
  Tina Haigler

  This book is a classic and there is absolutely nothing I can say that hasn't already been said by countless reviewers. You really can't go wrong with Dr. Seuss, and there's a reason people from all generations are familiar with this book. This book is, put quite simply, just tons of fun to read. It doesn't matter if you are a child or an adult. Almost all of the words are sight words, so it's easy enough to read for beginners. The story is wonderfully silly, and there's a great rhythm to the rhymes that is characteristic of Dr. Seuss' books. I would highly recommend this for children 4 to 8, but it's also great practice for older kids who need help recognizing and learning rhythm in poetry.
• 
  Fergus, Quondam Happy Face

  Where are you, Christmas -
  Do you remember
  The one you used to know?
  I'm not the same one
  See what the time's done!
  Is that why you let me go?
  Faith Hill
  
  A tot's Yuletide joy and innocence can erode like a limestone cliff. Until there is nothing left!
  
  You can blame global warming, but some of us blame sin...
  ***
  
  The Cat in the Hat is a transmogrifed Saint Nick, with his candy cane striped hat. He even has two of his elves with him - Thing One and Thing Two. They bode no earthly good for bored kids, like these two.
  
  They wreak hellish havoc with their parent's home. It's as if Black Peter, not Santa, is all these tots merit!
  
  Get it? The Cat in the Hat is Commercialism. It is SPOILING our kids. What happens when a bored mom tasks the kids with cleaning their room? Well, it has now become a job for a Thing One and a Thing Two - who get even with their parents with a different room - now as transmogrified and heavy-metallic as that cat!
  
  You see, bored commercialism turns even kids into things. Without bona fide personhood.
  ***
  
  But even now, all is not lost.
  
  For the very God that turned us into Things (after we ate that Apple) now wants to give us a second chance:
  
  In the Nativity of a Saviour.
  ***
  
  This Christmas, kids, Don't wish for something you can't have.
  
  Wish for what you CAN get...
  
  Ordinary Faith!
• 
  Kelly (and the Book Boar)

  In honor of Dr. Seuss' birthday I post an annual review of one of his works. Normally they fart sunshine and rainbows, but today we're going to spend a minute with the book that makes me want to . . . .
  
  
  
  
  I know this is a classic and it's Seuss and no one is supposed to blaspheme when it comes to his good name, but come on. Two kids who are stupid enough to let a creepy effing CAT in their house only to nearly demolish the place obviously are not mature enough to be left home alone on a rainy day. I know, I know, it's just a "cute" story, but sometimes you gotta call out the ridiculous. Right, Ron????
  
  Anyfarts, happy Read Across America Day! Read this to your kids. They'll love it.
  
  
  
• 
  Whitney Atkinson

  I don't remember ever reading Dr. Suess (I'm sure I did, only it was SO long ago), so this just put me in such good spirits! I remember how giddy these made me feel, and the rhyming is just so whimsical, no books can compare to these. I'm collecting all of Dr. Suess's work and this was just such a classic, great place to start. I love the art and the story combined!
• 
  Archit

  
  
  
  

  
  
  Ding dong,
  I can be a magician.
  
  I can be anything,
  But an alsatian.

  
  
  The illustrations! The uproarious juggles of the feline and the mess that he leaves about.
  
  Though the high-tech gadgets bailed the cat out but Sally and her brother should heed to the wise Goldfish in further editions :D
  
  A total riot for children with working parents and who just manage to not bring the house down - with or without the cat.
  
  PS : I am one such kid.
• 
  Jon Nakapalau

  HOW COULD I HAVE FORGOTTEN THIS BOOK! Just had the pleasure of reading it to my friends 4 year old daughter over the weekend at a birthday BBQ - the smile on her face - MAGIC!
• 
  Lyn

  What else can be said of this all time children's classic except that it is as enjoyable to read as an adult?
  
  I have three boys, two grown now, and all three have listened to me read this to them and perhaps there was a while when I could have read it in my sleep (and may have!) If you ever go to Universal Studios theme park in Orlando, check out the Cat in the Hat ride. Good times!
  
  
• 
  Ahmad Sharabiani

  The cat in the hat, Dr. Seuss
  تاریخ نخستین خوانش: ششم ماه جولای سال 2011 میلادی
  عنوان: گربه کلاه به سر؛ نویسنده: سوس، برگردان: امیرحسین میرزاییان؛ مشخصات نشر: تهران، گیسا، 1389، در 61 ص، مصور رنگی، شابک: 9786009161843، گروه سنی: الف، ب؛ موضوع: شعر فارسی ترجمه شده از انگلیسی
  در داستان گربه کلاه به سر؛ پسرکی همراه خواهرش در خانه تنها و بی حوصله هستند؛ تا اینکه گربه ای عجیب و غریب وارد خانه میشود و با کارهایش باعث میشود که حوصله آنها اصلا سر نرود! نوه ی خواهرم هانیه عاشق این کتابهاست، هر بار که میآیند، پیش از آمدنش دخترم اگر یادش رفته باشد، با هم میروند و برمیگزینند، با ایشان قرار گذاشته ام بار دیگر که آمدند باید داستانش را برایم بگوید، از حفظ داستان را میخواند. ا. شربیانی
  
• 
  ♥ℂĦℝΪՖƬΪℕÅ

  4 SOLD Cat in the Hat ★'s
  
  “The sun did not shine. It was too wet to play. So we sat in the house. All that cold, cold, wet day.”
  
  The Cat in the Hat is probably Dr. Seuss's most popular children’s books he's ever created. It featured a cat who wears a hat that is a troublemaker and he tries to show two bored little kids how to have fun on a rainy wet day when you can't play outside but it has disastrous results. Cat makes mess after mess. This story was soo funny and all the rhyming is so much fun :) The rhyming makes for reading out loud very entertaining when reading it to kids. One of the things I like most in this classic children's story is the illustrations, they are bold and bright. The coloring is excellent, it mostly consists of red, white, blue, and of course black. Dr. Seuss's illustrations always stand out from other books because of this reason. The lesson is really pretty simple, it's about honesty. I also really like the ending part where the children are thinking if they should tell their mother what happened while she was away. I would recommend this book to anyone :D
  
  “I know it is wet and the sun is not sunny, but we can have lots of good fun that is funny.”
  
  *I also, really really enjoyed the movie :)*
  
• 
  Grace (BURTSBOOKS)

  All i've read this past week is children's books and I'm not even mad about it
• 
  [S] Bibliophage

  What I like in this classic children's story is the illustrations and the rhyming which will be very entertaining to read for kids. I like the ending part where the children were thinking if they will tell their mother what happened while she was away.
  
  
  
  The lesson is very simple which is about honesty. But if we will see it in broader perspective, adults like teachers or parents who read this children's book to kids will also be reminded about it and to always practice it.
  
• 
  Stacey

  Loved this one and I passed my love on to my sons. Unfortunately as they got older they enjoyed the movie more.
• 
  Dana-Adriana B.

  Such a fun read. It's all about rhymes, rhythm and repetition. Easy read for children. And the illustrations are great.
• 
  Sandi

  I really can't stand this book. It's one of those my son had me read over and over when he was little. Seriously, what kind of mother leaves her young children home alone? Who is this cat? Why is he such a troublemaker? Is it okay that they do all that rotten stuff just because it all gets cleaned up before mom gets home? What kind of trouble will this brother and sister be getting into in their teens. This is a very disturbing book.
• 
  Prabhjot Kaur

  The Cat in the Hat is probably one of the most iconic Dr. Seuss books. It is well written and teaches the kids rhyming whilst being fun in my opinion.
  
  It is a story about two kids staying home without their parents and then enters a strange cat. The story is a bit creepy if you think too much about it but as a kid, I didn't pay that much attention to it and liked all the illustrations.
  
  5 stars
• 
  Willow

  ****½
  
  This book has always given me the impression that Dr. Seuss is a master mischief maker. He has this smarmy Cat barge his way into these poor kid's house (when their mother isn’t home) and then he proceeds to make a colossal mess. It’s all very distressing.
  
  In fact, as a child, I don’t think I found this book amusing at all. It preyed on all my worst fears like being ‘home alone,’ having pushy strangers take control, and scary ‘clown-like’ accessories like monster hats. I much preferred Suess’ nonthreatening
  One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish.
  
  As an adult though, I find this fanciful tale wonderfully satisfying. There’s an old fairytale feel to it that reminds me of sprites coming in and rearranging the furniture. There’s also a whimsical message that says, ‘quit being so uptight…things will work out.’ The movie Risky Business has the exact same story and the exact same premise with Lana being the Cat and the classic line, “Sometimes you just have to say, what the f%*#.” :D
  
  So all in all, while I don't think this is the best kid's book, I'm rather fond of it as an adult.
  
  
• 
  Anne

  Well what would you do if your mother asked you?

  
  ME WHILE READING THIS
  
  
  ME AFTER READING
  
  
  I swear I don't know why this made me laugh so freaking hard. I really don't. I mean the story was funny, the rhyming so fun, but it didn't warrant my hysterical outbursts. But I'm not surprised, I always find myself laughing inappropriately. For example;
  MY FRIEND SWEARS THE THINGS RYAN SAYS IN THESE GIFS ARE EITHER CUTE OR HOT. PHILLIPE FROM CRUEL INTENTIONS IS HOT
  
  
  
  
  ME
  
  
  
  OH STAHP.
  
  I'm seriously starting to think it's a disorder.
  
  But it did cross my mind, that the reason I find this funny is because I could relate to the story. Everyone can, I think. It reminded me of so many incidents during my childhood years when my mother would go out for a while, and I and my very spirited and fidgety brothers would turn the house into an amusement park. And then hours later when we realize our mother would be coming home anytime soon, enter us in flash mode trying to make reparations to fallen curtains, picking up everything we scattered around and chucking the rest into a cupboard whenever we ran out of cleaning time. I really liked this story, It's fun but a little bit sad that I'm only experiencing Dr. Seuss books now. I'm so going to read this to my kids someday.
  
  #Dr.Seussbookbinge
• 
  ij

  I was never a fan of Dr. Seuss books. My mother purchased this book and I read it to my younger siblings. They seemed by like the colorful pictures and rhyming verses.
  
  It was a fun book for younger children so I, later, purchased it and read to my kids.
• 
  Ronyell

  “The Cat in the Hat” was one of Dr. Seuss’ most popular children’s books ever created. The book featured the stove pipe hat feline troublemaker who tries to show two bored kids how to have fun on a rainy day with disastrous results. The Cat in the Hat has forever remained to be one of the most popular figures in children’s literature ever!
  
  Dr. Seuss’ superb rhyming text is as creative as it is funny. He easily finds the perfect rhyming of each word while telling a story through his rhymes. Dr. Seuss’ illustrations are also excellent in this book as the coloring in this book mostly consists of red, white, blue, and black. Dr. Seuss’ illustrations always stand out from other children’s books and the illustration that stood out the most was the image of Sally being pulled by one of the kite strings as Thing One and Thing Two are playing recklessly in the house. Most children’s do not put images of children being pulled by something that could endanger them, but “The Cat in the Hat” does it so delicately that it is not really a threat to the book’s young audience. This image also showcases that when the boy emphasizes that what the Things were doing was not fun at all, he shows Sally being forcefully pulled in by the Things’ riotous antics.
  
  “The Cat in the Hat” is known as the cult classic from Dr. Seuss and deserves this honor. The book strongly emphasize the consequences of letting a stranger into a house while the adult is away and how the boy finally comes to his senses to realize that both he and Sally could get in trouble with their mother if he does not stop the Things from destroying the house. “The Cat in the Hat” is a greatly treasured book that will remain to be popular for many years.
  
  Review is also on:
  Rabbit Ears Book Blog
  
• 
  Ken

  I'd not read any Dr. Seuss books as a kid, but know of their massive popularity (through the movies) thought we'd start collecting them for my daughter.
  
  These are such fun, striking images with distinct colours alongside playful rhymes makes for such a fun reading experience.
  
  Who wouldn't be excited about a cat arriving at your door on a dull rainy day.
  Its easy to see why these are so popular, I'm definitely going to get some more!
• 
  Michael O'Brien

  One of four books my 4-year old daughter picked out today. She loved it. She laughed and I think it made reading fun for her ---- hopefully a development that will continues as she grows up. Definitely sets the standard for kids' books!
• 
  Bradley

  Great rhymes, great story. Still one of the best for kids.
• 
  Sophia Triad

  A strange cat invades the house of little Sally and her brother. With their mother away and with only a little fish to object and to become the voice of reason, the Cat in the Hat can do basically whatever he wants.
  
  This is basically a silly story without deeper meanings.
  
  Don't wonder why the children are left alone in the house or why they let the cat in.
  And in a similar way do not wonder why the cat wears a hat ( maybe because it rhymes??) and how it is possible for the fish to talk (maybe because it is funny that one of the most quite animals can actually talk and present some valid arguments??).
  
  Anyway, this is an excellent book for children who have just started reading.
  My favourite part is the appearance of Thing One and Thing Two!
  
• 
  Wren (fablesandwren)

  When your friend comes over with eight Dr. Seuss books, you read them.
  
  Everyone knows this one, it is probably his best work.
  
  
  
  Cat in the Hat. The Cat that comes over, ruins your house, gives your pet fish a heart attack and let's your kids do whatever they want because you aren't home.
  
  Lots of rhymes. Lots of funny. Lots of things that hop like a bunny.. I'm stopping. I am not a Seuss. I wish I was a Seuss. Then I could only talk in rhymes, which would be kind of fun.