What Will Fat Cat Sit On?

by Jan Thomas

What will Fat Cat sit on? The pig? ( Oink! ) The chicken? ( Cluck! ) How about the dog? ( Grrrr. )

Everyone in this bumbling animal gang (understandably) hopes the victim will be someone else! Leave it to Mouse to come up with a brilliant solution that satisfies everyone, even Fat Cat himself. Filled with hilarious asides and an interactive question-answer format, this irreverent young picture book will delight toddlers who love to shout "NO!"

Genres: Picture Books, Storytime, Cats, Animals, Childrens, Humor, Fiction

30 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2007

About the author

When Jan Thomas isn't working on children's books, she's painting pictures, playing the drums, backpacking, or wrangling dust bunnies.

Reviews

[Betsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Systematically, a narrator asks a couple questions. For example: Will Fat Cat sit on the cow? As we're asked this, a gleeful feline gives a mildly panicked cow the eye. The cow, however, is assured that the Fat Cat will not sit on him (response: "Yee-haw!"). So will the Fat Cat sit on the chicken instead? In a bout of panic the chicken tries to distract us and suggest the pig. Fortunately neither will be sat on today (though if I were the pig I'd be harboring some pretty nasty thoughts towards that two-timing fowl). Other animals are threatened with the Cat's rump, until a mouse brings up the loony idea of the cat maybe trying a big comfy chair. Problem solved, all the animals give a sigh of relief. That is, until the narrator asks, "NOW, what will Fat Cat . . . have for LUNCH?" Exit cast of characters in a blind panic, stage left.

The plot may not sound like much on the outset, but this book is a born readaloud. Here are the first four pages, "Will Fat Cat sit on . . . the COW? Moo? NO! Fat Cat will not sit on the COW! Yee-haw!" Okay, now put the right amount of emphasis on each one of those words and then couple that with the pictures. If done correctly, this is hilarious. Nor does it hurt matters any that the pictures have a kind of thick-lined, madcap giddiness to them. It's Fat Cat's name in the title, and there's a reason for that. Whenever the book speculates on exactly which animal Fat Cat might plant his fanny on, the picture of our hero(?) just cracks me up. Take a look at the cover and you'll get a sense of what I mean. There he is, grinning wildly, an insane glint in his furry little eyes as he anticipates squashing someone beneath his magnificently huge posterior. The fact that cows and pigs are desperately afraid of Fat Cat is funny in and of itself, and you just have to love the book's timing.

Someone somewhere is going to tell you that Jan Thomas is the poor man's Mo Willems. Do not listen to the person who informs you of this fact. It is easy to glace at FAT CAT and make gross accusations of this sort. And I might concede that Harcourt would have been more reluctant to public "Fat Cat" had Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! not been the nationwide hit it turned into. I, however, trust that you are the kind of person who can tell a good book from a knock-off. What Jan Thomas has done here is create a book that upsets your expectations right from the start. My husband complained after reading the title that it would make sense if the chicken were threatened with premature sitting before the cow. I disagree. The fact that the larger animal freaks out over the threat of the cat is a much funnier opening than if it were a smaller critter involved. Thomas has an ear and an eye for visual comedy that is as funny to four-year-olds as it is to forty-year-olds. No small feat, I assure you.

Fat cats tend to make for good children's books. The Fat Cat Sat on the Mat by Nurit Karlin is a definite example of this, but it's hardly alone. Consider too Fat Cat: A Danish Folktale by Margaret Read MacDonald, Drat That Fat Cat! by Pat Thomson, or perhaps the equally manic/glassy eyed kitty in Farmer Smart's Fat Cat by James Sage. With this crew of great books available, "What Will Fat Cat Sit On?" is in good company. Arguably the best of the overweight kitty genre, this is a crowd pleaser and bound to be a children's librarian's new best friend. Funny furry stuff.

[Phil J · Rating 1 out of 5]

Teaching your kid the simple joys of fat jokes

If you took out all the jokes about the cat eating too much or squashing things that it sits on, there would be nothing left.

[Dee/ bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best kid books around. You can add sounds for the animals and keep kids laughing! Wonderful book!!

[Tricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

My 6yo read this book to me at bedtime! Even though he says it's too easy (it is below his reading level) he thinks the story is hilarious and enjoys the fact that he's the one reading. His 9yo brother also enjoys it - he thinks it's absurd that the animals all look so scared. And the dad of the family correctly predicted the ending.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE this book--the illustrations are so simple, but very expressive, and the dialogic style is excellent for story time and developing narrative skills. Plus you have to love the look on fat cat's face!

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great silly fun, perfect for reading to a group of preschoolers who will totally get the goofy humor. Will they love the cranky dog face as much as me? The horrified little mouse going "Eeep"? I think so.

[Dianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book—and all of Jan Thomas's books—have high appeal for my four-year-old. I love reading him books that make him giggle.

[Rachel Stine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Please don't sit on me! Sit on the chair instead. Please don't eat me!

[DiAnne Warfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

CADL FB Live story time, 9-21-2020

[Melody · Rating 2 out of 5]

I find my tolerance for marginally entertaining books goes up exponentially as my proximity to enthusiastic children increases. Had I read this on my own, I wouldn't have liked it much, but since I had people with whom to read it, it wasn't too bad. The illustrations are not at all my style, but they are emphatic.

[BiblioBeruthiel · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can really see how kids would very much enjoy Jan Thomas's books. They're colorful, silly, short, and have lots of opportunities for animal noises. I won't use them though. I just don't like them. They're empty of any substance (even minorly) and I dislike throwing the word "fat" around as a descriptor of what is pretty much a humanoid figure.

[Tams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned that my kids love this book and so I have read it about 50 times this week. It is fun to read out loud though because of all the animal sounds and emotion you can put into it. Which is why I think I have read it 50 times.

[Carmen Pugliano · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a fun book for kids to have on the shelves in a classroom for the students to read on their own. Students will find this book humorous and it is very easy to read for students who are struggling with reading.

[Savannah Crider · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is great for young elementary students grade K-1st who are just beginning to read. It is great for learning about simple animals and the noises they make. Children will love the illustrations and the word placements. It is very colorful and fun.

[Dana (thatisagreatread) · Rating 5 out of 5]

just plain HILARIOUS! I love fat cat!! :)

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Jan Thomas more and more with every book I read that is written and illustrated by her. Simple text and story line. Funny and appealing illustrations

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thomas' characters are humorous with terrific expressions. Readers are asked to guess where Fat Cat will sit. Great for teaching about predictions.

[Ian Camacho · Rating 3 out of 5]

My favorite part was, what will the cat have for LUNCH?!

[Sawy-o · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title is the best part of the book.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 3 out of 5]

What Will Fat Cat Sit On? by Jan Thomas. PICTURE BOOK. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2007. $10. 9780544850040

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Fat Cat is looking for a comfy place to rest, but all around him are animals who refuse to be his chair. Once he does finally find a good spot, he has a new question: What will he have to eat?

This is a cute but ultimately unmemorable picture book. Sensitive kids will likely worry about the fate of the poor mouse long after the last page.

Sydney G., K-6 Library Media Specialist
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...

[Naomi Leasck · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book was fine, not great, not bad. The protagonist cat goes through the list of the other animal characters deciding which one to sit on as rising action. Then the climax hits when he decides to not sit on any of the other animals. The falling action occurs when the cat has moved on from sitting on the animals and now states it’s time for lunch. The book concludes with the animals scattering, trying to avoid becoming fat cat’s lunch. This book is a great example of a cumulative tale.

[Sarah Alamer · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The story of ""What Will Fat Cat Sit On?"" shows that tiny individuals can generate enormous excellent solutions which Mouse demonstrated when he found a solution for all his friends. The lesson you learned shows that when friends become worried or scared we should develop creative solutions which create safety for everyone.
You can use Mouse's approach to find intelligent solutions which bring happiness to all people when they face problems at school or at home. We feel extremely proud about your development as a strong reader Sarah. "

[Ms. Shoshana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This isn't my favorite Jan Thomas book. It works and the audience usually enjoys it, but they basically enjoy anything with bright enough pictures and very few words that are mostly noises. I find the humor of the ending hard to convey to a large story time group, although it would probably work better one-on-one with a child.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

If a children's librarian had to input requirements for an author/illustrator to produce books to read to very young, wiggly children, Jan Thomas' work would surely meet every requirement. Pictures: funny! Font: large! Colors: vibrant! Faces: expressive! Thank you, Jan Thomas for creating these books.

[Kay Vanatta · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is magic! You know I love children's books, right?? Other than my inner grammar critic cringing at the preposition at the end of this question.... I'm in love. The story is simple.... cute repetitive... the characters adorable and engaging... I can envision enjoying reading this one over and over to lots of children! I will be looking for more by this author....

[MeganRuth - Alohamora Open a Book · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's hard not to like a Jan Thomas book. Simple text that beginning readers can read b/c it has a lot of sight words. However, the story is fun, and the ending is super fun. Therefore, great read aloud for 1st grade down to toddlers.

You can get a lot of crowd participation with this book.

[Edward Sojuwa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute kids book that has a pudgy feline called Fat Cat (duh!) trying to decide whether to sit on the cow, the pig, the chicken or the dog...or simply use the chair. I admit to wishing he'd sit on the chicken. A cat that big, you'd have instant chicken patties!!! Still, it's a fun little book with few words so little kids won't get over tired easily.
Three stars
Let Fat Cat Sit On THAT!!!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very fun and funny book, with multi-age appeal. I read this book to a group of parents and two-year olds and we all enjoyed it. The illustrations are big and simple and appealing to young kids. I know it would be even funnier to older kids, who would appreciate the absurdity.

[Savannah Domeyer]

This book asks questions trying to figure out what the fat cat will sit on. It asks if it will sit on different animals, but it won't. So then it asks if the fat cat will sit on a couch and it will. Then it wonders what it will have for lunch so then all of the animals run away.

[Ellie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Easy vocabulary (a lot of sight words) and the silliness is appealing to littles, but we should’ve skipped this one - it’s one big fat joke. We really liked “There’s a Pest in the Garden,” so we’ll give some of her other books a shot…