Fat Cat

by James Sage, Russell Ayto (Illustrator)

Farmers Big and Bluster are bickering over who has the biggest and best cornfield. Meanwhile, Farmer Smarts is quietly confident that his is the best, but he's not saying anything until one day, the farmers find mice all over the fields

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

32 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2002

Reviews

[Ilze · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now that Leonie's in Grade 00, they get to have a "Library Day". All the children bring the books they had the week before and put them on the carpet and each week they get to bring a 'new' book home. This was one of Leonie's first ones: A really cute little story about how a farmer's crops are saved thanks to a cat that comes and gobbles up all the mice. The reason it's so vErY FAT is that it has some kittens. These are sold to the farmer's neighbours and they, too, can do something about the destruction the mice are causing.
When we went to the Public Library last week, what should we find on the reading table but "Farmer Smart's Fat Cat" - Leonie was Thrilled! Now she can read it all over again and that's enough reason for me to mark it a 4.

[Elliot Gomm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fat Cat by James Sage and Russell Ayto

This book is aimed either to be read to a reception or year one class, or for year two or three pupils to read independently. It includes some great images that are colourful, funny and engaging for younger pupils.

This book also has a fantastic backstory and moral about sharing and using common sense that children of all ages will appreciate and be able to learn from. It has some brilliant expressive text that children of all ages will be able to learn from.

[Christina Simpson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fat Cat is about 3 farmers who all have corn fields. They find that mice are eating the corn and try to invent a nice catching machine. One farmer doesn't, but still manages to have no mice eating his corn. The other farmers discover that he has a cat chasing the mice away (Fat Cat). Fat Cat then is found to have kittens which the farmer shares with the others.
I would use this book for Lower key stage 1.
The moral of sharing and kindness is a central point which will be a good talking point for PSHE.
The endpapers are contrasted, which would also be great to talk about with children.
There could also be a point for Design & Technology about them creating a mouse catcher!

[Hana Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fat cat is a lovely book about three farmers who each have there solutions to an ever growing mouse/rat infestation. Two farmers create ridiculous inventions to solve this issue while one just gets a cat. A plan arises to steal the cat when it suddenly becomes clear why this cat is soooo fat... she is pregnant and gives birth to kittens.

The illustrations are great, bright and have tonnes of hidden gems when you look beyond their main features. It has some rhyme and some really great themes. I know my class really engaged with this book when I read it to them as a TA. Even those who have read it before have really enjoyed its humour.

[Kristanne Duncan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very cute and funny book! Three rival farmers all thinking their farm is the best. But when mice start eating only corn from two of the farmers fields they wonder what secret the third farmer has up his sleeve. This story is filled with humorous dialogue between the farmers and amusing comments by the mice. The illustrations only add more to the story with comical drawings such as the farmers and the mouse traps they invent. Although this story may not be one to teach a lesson, sometimes that is ok. This would be a fun book to read with children anyway!

[Becca · Rating 2 out of 5]

Farmer Smart's Fat Cat portrays a lot of jealousy and rivalry. There is not much to teach from this cute and humorous story, but the outcome is quite realistic. The farmers get what they each want, and think of themselves as the best again. It is a funny way to show modesty and jealousy altogether. I would read this book to 2nd grade and below, probably.

[Sharon Maroldi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story with a theme that could work for any age. As innovative and brilliant and (unnecessarily complex) a solution that you can devise can often be usurped by the simplest answer. In this case, two farmers compete to build elaborate mousetrap to protect their crops. The "Smart" farmer gets a fat cat. Guess which is the most effective...

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun story of three neighbouring farmers battling to rid their cornfields of mice. Of course the best solution is the simplest. The drawings are great and have a nice feel to them- except the cornfields look too much like fields of wheat.

[Dee-Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

The storyline of this book was good, but I found it distracting all the little comments throughout ... maybe it would be good for children who can read themselves, but it distracts from the story when you are reading aloud.

[Cai · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three farmer neighbours believe that their farms are the best until one day when mice take over the fields. The three farmers then try different tactics to get rid of the mice.

Great quick book that reminds me of the story book I use to read as a child.

V @ 6 months old.

[Tricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

amusing story of three farmers and how they deal with mice infestation. great ending--girls really enjoyed the book.

[Thuraya Batterjee · Rating 3 out of 5]

فين كتابنا
الي يكتبولنا قصص خفيفه زي دي؟

[Izzibella · Rating 1 out of 5]

good