Fat Cat on a Mat

Usborne Phonics Readers

by Phil Roxbee Cox, Stephen Cartwright (Illustrator)

Combining a phonics-based text with a funny story, the books in this new series are aimed at beginner readers. The pictures give clues to the words and fold out flaps on some pages give children the chance to guess what will happen next'

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Kids, Cats, Fiction, 1st Grade, Teaching

16 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1999

Reviews

[Gerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Fat Cat on a Mat' is not only a lovely little story, it is phonics-based, especially written to help children learn to read. And to add to the enjoyment, there are fold out pages that reveal extra detail.

Fat cat (politically correct, I'm not so sure!) is black and white and is lazing around when he sees a bee. 'I don't like bees,' he shrieks and flees up a tree.The only trouble is, he doesn't like trees either and ends up being stuck out on a branch.

Big Pig is nearby, hears Fat Cat groaning and realises that he is stuck. The branch, on which there is a nest with some eggs in it, bends and the nest falls to the ground. But it lands on Big Pig's head and he wears it like a hat! 'Good catch,' says Fat Cat as he jumps down before saying that he must help the eggs to hatch.

The following day Fat Cat will not play, he simply lies on his rug, much to the disgust of Big Pig, Jake Snake and Ted. Nothing will entice him away. 'Stay away,' Fat Cat tells his friends. And after a while he leaps off the rug to reveal four delightful little chicks, hatched from the eggs.

Everyone agrees 'Clever Fat Cat!'

Good fun and lovingly illustrated by Stephen Cartwright and the children will love it.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another one of my random library book reads. This read is fantastic for the development of phonics, with the easy, repetitive, rhyming words, that assist the learner in being able to read comfortable on their own - or together with their teacher.

The story is about a cat, that is obviously fat - and is called lazy by his friends. He manages to get stuck in a tree, and eventually the cat falls out the tree, taking a nest with eggs in it to the ground. When the cat's friends see him just lying on a mat, they call him lazy after trying without success to lure him off the mat. It turns out that the cat would not leave the mat until the eggs had hatched.

[Mikall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great confidence builder. Lots of sight words and CVC words. DD was able to decode almost all of the words

[Lex Redding · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the rhyming and cute illustrations.

[Kayla Krause · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a silly but good book for young students! I love this book because it really helps students better understand phonics, rhyming, and blending.

[Little Champs]

2975

[Mon Terrés · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like to read this story to my students. I really like the illustrations.

[Lev · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked that Fat Cat was funny.

[Himanshu Sharma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really Cute

[KaitandMaddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maddie’s latest set of reads to Kait and I. She read it well.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish my cat was more like Fat Cat, she's so funny and kind. Some great rhymes here, and lovely illustrations as always. I wonder if Jake Snake appears in any other books?

[Dương Thục Nữ · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's so cute!!! In the end, some chicks are hatched.

[Sudaporn Obom · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is perfect for teaching kids about phonics. I also love the idea of finding a little duck on each page—it adds an extra layer of fun!

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cat causes a problem, and chooses to make the mistake right, even when his friends mock him and try to convince him to do otherwise.

[Mom_reading_childrens_books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful illustrations and fun to read aloud, like the rest of the series.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

ATOS 1.1

[Danie Cutter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book, easy words for children learning to read. Like the fact that while it uses phonics there are also "patterns" for the words eg Goose and Loose so is suited to pattern recognition methods of learning to read as well.

Have bought the whole series as daughter loves these. While the words are simple there's still enough of a story/action to keep her interested (just) while too many early reading books are three word sentences, one sentence per page and only a few pages per book.

This set of books is top of the learn to read books we've come across so far.

[Matthew Ridley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fat Cat is lazy on the mat. This book helps me not to be so lazy. Dad sometimes is just on his computer for - I don't know - like half an hour maybe sometimes I don't know. He shouldn't be lazy. He should be reading this book!

[Janice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good phonics readers.

[Kathrine Rogers]

Manners Week

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good learning to read book.

[Casey Trump · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again, another in my favorite series. So cute and rhyming. Easy for beginner readers. Predictable, wonderful pictures that pretty much go with every phrase.

[Holli · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a great phonics book. A fun story and interactive with flaps. There are a quite a few in the Usborne collection. But this is one my favorites!

[Liza · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy reader. Story using easy words that build off of each other.

[WSL Library]

x2

[Sarah A · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good phonics book telling a fun if very unbelievable story! Very nice and clear for my early reader.

[Stacie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Hoped this book was about yoga. Instead it was about a clumsy cat that gives up on life. Not the most inspired text for young people. Read in Plymouth MA at the spine center.

[Shazia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute.

[Cheyenne · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story doesn't make a whole lot of sense, but does rhyme.