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Space Cat (I Can Read Book 1) by Cushman, Doug (2006) Paperback
Space Cat and his trusty robot, Earl, are forced to land their rocket on a strange planet. Space Cat has to find more fuel to get home. Will he ever blast off again?
Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
121 people are currently reading
62 people want to read
About the author
Doug Cushman
186 books17 followersDoug Cushman has illustrated more than 100 children’s books, 20 or so of which he has also written. Among his many honors, Doug has gained a place on the New York Times Children’s Best Sellers list and on the 2003 Children’s Literature Choice list. He has received a National Cartoonist’s Society Reuben award and a 2004 Christopher Award for his book illustrations.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
July 22, 2016
This is rare: an easy reader with a science fiction theme. Though Doug Cushman has illustrated many more books than he's authored, his reputation as a writer is also sterling, and Space Cat is one of his most intriguing concepts. Dreamed up at age ten when Doug Cushman already aspired to someday write books for kids, Space Cat is the odyssey of a galactic feline voyager seeking to return home to Earth after an expedition in deep space. But rocketship travel has dangers and complications that put this homecoming in jeopardy, and completing the trip will require more courage and quick thinking than Space Cat realizes. The suspenseful part of his journey has not yet begun.
After a space rock collides with the ship, cracking the fuel tank, Space Cat must navigate an emergency landing on a strange planet. The unscheduled stop was probably for the best; Space Cat's personal robot, Earl, was cooking up fish and jelly noodles for a snack, and his noodles always taste like glue. Upon landing, Space Cat disembarks to inquire about a fuel source for his ship while Earl stays behind to repair the breached tank, but the only one who can authorize a fuel donation is King Zorp, and he's in no mood to be generous with his planet's finite resources. King Zorp has important plans, and they require mass quantities of fuel. None can be spared to help send Space Cat back to Earth.
King Zorp leads Space Cat on a tour of his machine room, pointing out devices that clean water and air. These devices need every drop of fuel available to run smoothly. Space Cat understands, but he has to go home; he can't stay on a foreign planet for the rest of his life. Suddenly King Zorp's expensive machinery goes haywire, nuts and bolts coming loose, heavy pieces of fine-tuned equipment threatening to dislodge and crash to the floor. Who can save the king's ecological experiments? Perhaps Space Cat can, a resourceful interplanetary traveler whose quick brain is apt to come up with a solution to any serious calamity. But will King Zorp be grateful enough for Space Cat's intervention to allow him what he needs to return home?
Doug Cushman tells an amusing tale. Space Cat, Earl, and King Zorp each have distinct personality and temperament, and their story is very different from most easy readers. Books set in outer space for kids just learning to read are not common, and I appreciate it. I might well give Space Cat the full two stars, and I recommend it for those who want an atypical training reader. Space Cat fits that criterion to a T.
After a space rock collides with the ship, cracking the fuel tank, Space Cat must navigate an emergency landing on a strange planet. The unscheduled stop was probably for the best; Space Cat's personal robot, Earl, was cooking up fish and jelly noodles for a snack, and his noodles always taste like glue. Upon landing, Space Cat disembarks to inquire about a fuel source for his ship while Earl stays behind to repair the breached tank, but the only one who can authorize a fuel donation is King Zorp, and he's in no mood to be generous with his planet's finite resources. King Zorp has important plans, and they require mass quantities of fuel. None can be spared to help send Space Cat back to Earth.
King Zorp leads Space Cat on a tour of his machine room, pointing out devices that clean water and air. These devices need every drop of fuel available to run smoothly. Space Cat understands, but he has to go home; he can't stay on a foreign planet for the rest of his life. Suddenly King Zorp's expensive machinery goes haywire, nuts and bolts coming loose, heavy pieces of fine-tuned equipment threatening to dislodge and crash to the floor. Who can save the king's ecological experiments? Perhaps Space Cat can, a resourceful interplanetary traveler whose quick brain is apt to come up with a solution to any serious calamity. But will King Zorp be grateful enough for Space Cat's intervention to allow him what he needs to return home?
Doug Cushman tells an amusing tale. Space Cat, Earl, and King Zorp each have distinct personality and temperament, and their story is very different from most easy readers. Books set in outer space for kids just learning to read are not common, and I appreciate it. I might well give Space Cat the full two stars, and I recommend it for those who want an atypical training reader. Space Cat fits that criterion to a T.
July 27, 2022
surpring turns…didn’t see that coming
I could not possibly have predicted the outcome of this book.
I loved the illustrations and vivid colors.
Go all in and do the voices too. I gave king Zork a high pitched squeaky voice, it was quite fun.
I could not possibly have predicted the outcome of this book.
I loved the illustrations and vivid colors.
Go all in and do the voices too. I gave king Zork a high pitched squeaky voice, it was quite fun.
March 16, 2021
This one's just okay for me, but my 2.5 year-old niece and nephew love it.
April 7, 2022
my kids review
My 7 yrs old said: “ I liked how the Space Cat saved the machine from exploding”
My 5 yrs old said: “ it was funny when Earl put spaghetti on the toaster”😜
My 7 yrs old said: “ I liked how the Space Cat saved the machine from exploding”
My 5 yrs old said: “ it was funny when Earl put spaghetti on the toaster”😜
September 18, 2023
book is good
My grandson loved reading the book. It was a fun book. Think it needs to be able to adjust the pages automatically without needing to handle the way it is.
My grandson loved reading the book. It was a fun book. Think it needs to be able to adjust the pages automatically without needing to handle the way it is.
February 12, 2024
The book made me crave for noodles. There is emphasis on using this book for independent reading however my daughter made me read while she looked at the pictures.
December 4, 2015
Summary: This is a cute science fiction story for young readers about a space cat and Earl his companion. The characters are flying in space when they hit a space rock and damage their fuel tank. They stop on a planet with King Zorp as the ruler. He does not want to give any fuel away because he needs it for his planet. Space cat helps him by saving his machine with sticky spaghetti. The King gives him the fuel he needs to get back to his planet.
Characteristics that support the genre: The story takes place in space and other planets. Through space travel, the characters encounter an adventure.
Writing mentor traits:
Organization-The author grabs the attention of the reader by introducing a Space Cat and his friend Earl exploring the world of space travel. The two have a problem, how are they going to get back to their planet? In the middle of the story, the author portrays different situations that they have to find a solution for. In the end, they find the solution with the gluey spaghetti and can travel home.
Sentence fluency-Some sentence structures are read over again. This helps the reader become familiar with the words and build their fluency as they read further.
Conventions- The author use dialogue among the characters to convey a conversation level of the readers. The author also uses a variety of punctuation and capital letters to emphasize the expression in the message. Presentation- The story is for beginner readers with about 30-40 words on a page as well as an illustration to represent the story. The words are easy to follow in a neat and creative fashion.
Integration into the classroom: Depending on your reading level, this book focuses on beginner readers. Great book to have your leveled readers experience. I would follow the book as a shared reading activity in a small group. You could also have the kids pick out the sight words and concentrate on them as you read together.
Other suggestions: I would have this book as a take home that parents and/or guardians can read with the student. It could be in a choice of books for the student to read at their reading level. This book is an "I Can Read!" series book on level one which is appropriate for primary grades.
Characteristics that support the genre: The story takes place in space and other planets. Through space travel, the characters encounter an adventure.
Writing mentor traits:
Organization-The author grabs the attention of the reader by introducing a Space Cat and his friend Earl exploring the world of space travel. The two have a problem, how are they going to get back to their planet? In the middle of the story, the author portrays different situations that they have to find a solution for. In the end, they find the solution with the gluey spaghetti and can travel home.
Sentence fluency-Some sentence structures are read over again. This helps the reader become familiar with the words and build their fluency as they read further.
Conventions- The author use dialogue among the characters to convey a conversation level of the readers. The author also uses a variety of punctuation and capital letters to emphasize the expression in the message. Presentation- The story is for beginner readers with about 30-40 words on a page as well as an illustration to represent the story. The words are easy to follow in a neat and creative fashion.
Integration into the classroom: Depending on your reading level, this book focuses on beginner readers. Great book to have your leveled readers experience. I would follow the book as a shared reading activity in a small group. You could also have the kids pick out the sight words and concentrate on them as you read together.
Other suggestions: I would have this book as a take home that parents and/or guardians can read with the student. It could be in a choice of books for the student to read at their reading level. This book is an "I Can Read!" series book on level one which is appropriate for primary grades.
March 29, 2012
Space Cat is about Space Cat and his robot, Earl who wanted to return home to earth. On their way home, a space rock hits their rocket and made a hole in the fuel. They stop by a nearby planet to fix the hole and get more fuel. They land on King Zorps planet and Space Cat asks him for fuel in order to get back home. The king said no because he had many plans and he needed all the fuel possible. One of the king’s plans was a machine that helps clean water, but as the king was showing Space Cat the machines the machine started to breakdown. To the rescue, Space Cat fixed it and in return the king gives Space Cat fuel to get back home.
The age range for this book is primary because this book is meant for beginner readers to improve their reading skills. The words are simple, yet they help the children with their skills.
There are many pictures throughout the book explaining what the child is reading. The drawings seem to be cartoonish and many children enjoy cartoon figures. The colors range from cool to warm colors and stand out to the reader. Texture is used throughout the book; especially the cat looks smooth and fluffy. The characters and objects in the story are outline in black.
The style of art used in this book is impressionistic art because the pictures in book emphasize on light and color, creating an impression of reality.
I would recommend this book to beginner readers who are still developing on their reading skills. The words are simple and not hard to understand. The pictures are great and flow with the story. Also, children enjoy reading books that take them to a "different world" where they can use their imagination.
The age range for this book is primary because this book is meant for beginner readers to improve their reading skills. The words are simple, yet they help the children with their skills.
There are many pictures throughout the book explaining what the child is reading. The drawings seem to be cartoonish and many children enjoy cartoon figures. The colors range from cool to warm colors and stand out to the reader. Texture is used throughout the book; especially the cat looks smooth and fluffy. The characters and objects in the story are outline in black.
The style of art used in this book is impressionistic art because the pictures in book emphasize on light and color, creating an impression of reality.
I would recommend this book to beginner readers who are still developing on their reading skills. The words are simple and not hard to understand. The pictures are great and flow with the story. Also, children enjoy reading books that take them to a "different world" where they can use their imagination.
Read
February 14, 2017This book is a good read for young students. Especially as a fun and light hearted introduction to space, the planet, and maybe even renewable resources!
October 16, 2013
Space Cat by Doug Cushman is a science fiction book about a cat that, while trying to get home, runs out of fuel and is stuck on a different planet. The king of the planet is using the planet’s fuel for his machines and doesn’t want to give Space Cat any. However, when the king’s machines starts to fall over and Space Cat thinks of a way to keep the machine from tumbling down, the king rewards him with the fuel he needs to get back to earth. This book was a very silly short-read that did not have much substance to its story line. Barnes and Noble recommends this book for children ages four to eight.
April 2, 2012
Cat lovers, robot enthusiasts, and experienced space travelers are not the only people who will love this book. Space Cat will also appeal to anyone who has tried to be tactful about wanting to leave an alien planet, or has had to decide whether to encourage an amateur chef. And if your spacecraft has ever been damaged and you've had to get directions from alien plants, or ask a giant green bird-king for some rocket fuel, then this is the book for you. One caveat: people who are overly literal about obeying the prime directive may find this book unsettling!
May 9, 2015
Clearly a transitional book.
Lots of words on a page (Some pages over 40 words)
Use of dialog
Strong use of punctuation (commas, periods, quotation marks, and explanation marks
Most pages have pictures but not every one
illustrations are also small and less necessary for comprehension of story
Lots of words on a page (Some pages over 40 words)
Use of dialog
Strong use of punctuation (commas, periods, quotation marks, and explanation marks
Most pages have pictures but not every one
illustrations are also small and less necessary for comprehension of story
Read
May 11, 2012This is a cute little book that will be sure to grab kids attention! This read would be great for showcasing the science fiction genre! Cat lovers will also be sure to enjoy this! Recommended for children who are starting to read chapter books.
February 22, 2008
I think my son likes this better than I do.
July 9, 2009
This was a silly story, but our youngest loves cats, so I thought she might like it. It was creative, but not as interesting as some of Mr. Cushman's other stories (like Aunt Eater).
October 7, 2011
mommy says: These I Can Read chapter books are great for new readers but not fun to read aloud.
February 21, 2013
I read this book with a ESL kindergartener and he loved reading this book. The story caught his attention and it was fairly easy for him to read.
June 1, 2013
My new reader loved working her way through this. Rockets, funny creatures, and a robot who can't cook were perfect for her entertainment.
April 13, 2016
a midlevel early reader about a silly cat and his robot in space. Fun adventures involving spaghetti.
September 8, 2016
super important information: The robot is secretly space cats mom
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews