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Fat Cat: A Danish Folktale
Have you ever heard the saying, Your eyes are bigger than your stomach? Well, Cat's stomach is bigger than a lot of things. He is always hungry, and living with culinary-inclined Mouse, who makes thirty-five pies in one day, just makes it worse. Fat Cat swallows everything in sight, including the washlady and her washtub, a troop of soldiers and their swords, even a king and his elephant! But when Cat swallows Mouse and her sewing basket, that's the last straw. Tiny Mouse cuts to the heart of ....
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 25, 2001
About the author
Margaret Read MacDonald
79 books76 followersFollow
Biography
Dr. Margaret Read MacDonald travels the world telling stories....always on the lookout for more great folktales to share. She shapes these found stories into tellable tales which anyone can share with ease. Filling her folktale collections with these delightful tales, she creates perfect read alouds for you and your family. MRM wants everyone to experience the joy of a beautifully told tale. She hopes you will read them a few times...then put down the book...put down the electronic device...and just TELL the story to your children!
Some of her favorite folktales she expands into picture books...hopefully with delightfully readable language while will roll right out of your mouth. Share them with your children and then....act the tales out! Revisit the tales by TELLING them! At bedtime. While on the road. Fill your pockets with great stories to share wherever you go.
Joining her Folklore Ph.D. with her 30 plus years as a children's librarian, Margaret brings folktales to life in playful, lilting language which should delight both reader and listener.
See her performance schedule at: www.margaretreadmaconald.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
May 22, 2016
I have read almost every folktale from every country around the world, but I have rarely read any folktales from Denmark and this is one of the first folktales I have read from Denmark. “Fat Cat: A Danish Folktale” is a Danish folktale (as said in the title) that is retold by Margaret Read MacDonald along with illustrations by Julie Paschkis and it is about how a greedy cat ends up eating everything and everyone in his path! “Fat Cat: A Danish Folktale” is a truly hilarious tale that every child will love!
Now I had read an earlier version of this tale by Jack Kent many years ago, but it has been so long since I had read that version that I do not remember much about it, so I cannot really compare the two versions together in this review. In this version, Margaret Read MacDonald's writing is simple yet hilarious at the same time as she repeatedly uses the phrase stated by Cat:
“Oh, I'm meow, meow FAT!
Cause I'm a HUNGRY, HUNGRY CAT!”
And that phrase always cracks me up because the cat is always saying he is fat, but it is his way of warning people about how he could eat them up if they upset him. I also found the idea about a small cat eating everything in his path to be extremely odd yet interesting at the same time since there is no way that a small cat can eat everything up in a small amount of time and since this is a folktale, the oddity of the Cat's situation is to be expected. I really loved the character of Mouse as she is extremely resourceful especially during Cat's rampage and I loved how she resolved the problem at the end and despite Cat's greedy nature, Mouse always treats Cat with kindness which truly showed what a great friend she really is to Cat. Julie Paschkis' illustrations are extremely hilarious, especially of the orange cat growing bigger and bigger every time he eats something and how his green eyes are of different shapes since one eye is round while the other eye is narrow which sort of gives Cat a crazed look throughout the book. It was also interesting on seeing how the background is basically all white spaces which clearly made the characters stand out more in their situations.
Parents should know that the scenes with the cat eating everyone might upset smaller children, especially if small children do not like seeing scenes of people being eaten by some kind of creature. Also, there is a brief scene where someone is cut up ( although I will not reveal who it is) however, this scene is not that graphic and it probably would not be too troubling for children, but still parents should be mindful of this scene before they read this book to their children.
All in all, “Fat Cat: A Danish Folktale” is a truly wonderful book about the consequences of being too greedy and the importance of treating other people with respect that many children will learn from easily. I would recommend this book to children ages five and up due to the cat eating people up and due to the brief violent image.
Review is also on: Rabbit Ears Book Blog
August 12, 2010
I heard Peter tell this story at a preschool storytime and he was fabulous. I'm very jealous. So... I checked the book out and plan to copycat him as soon as I possibly can. (I also catch myself singing the fat cat song at random moments = FUN!)
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February 28, 2016Title: Fat Cat: a Danish Folktale
Author: Margaret Read MadDonald
Illustrator: Julie Paschkis
Genre: European Folktale
Theme(s): Folktales, animals—cats, animals—mice, folklore, Denmark
Opening line/sentence: “A cat and a mouse kept house.”
Brief Book Summary: A cat and a mouse are living together, but the cat is always hungry. He eats the mouse and then proceeds to eat the mouse and all the other friends that call him fat. At the end of the day the mouse saves the day.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:Kirkus Reviews, September 1, 2001 (Vol. 69, No. 17) Bright-color folk illustrations add zest and bounce to this tale told in many countries. Mouse, who lives with cat, is always busy cooking or sewing. This day, she makes 35 pies and the cat swallows them up, declaring, "I may be FAT, but I'm still a HUNGRY CAT!" Out the door he goes, saying, "Oh, I'm meow, meow FAT! 'Cause I'm a HUNGRY, HUNGRY CAT!" He meets in succession a washerwoman with her washtub, a company of soldiers brandishing swords, and a King on an elephant. Each of them exclaims "My, CAT! You sure are FAT!" to which the cat replies, "I may be FAT but I'm still a HUNGRY CAT!" and SLIP SLOP SLUURP! Cat swallows them down. "BURP!" When he arrives home, he eats his friend, the mouse, who happens to be sewing. She snips her way to freedom and orders, "Everybody OUT!" Because they are friends, she spends the day sewing up Cat's tummy. "Oh, I'm meow meow FLAT! 'Cause I'm an EMPTY EMPTY CAT!" says the cat. The tale ends: "And now, whenever folks meet Cat they are careful to speak with respect." The story will be a favorite read aloud and simply demands that listeners shout along. Plenty of white space sets off the pictures and heightens the art. There are, indeed, 35 pies depicted on a double page spread and the green-vested golden cat becomes satisfyingly huge as he swallows each person with their accouterments. As expected from this scholarly storyteller ("The Storyteller's Sourcebook", etc.) there is a note identifying the motif of the tale and citing other variants. 2001, August House, $15.95. Category: Folktale. Ages 4 to 7. © 2001 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.
(PUBLISHER: August House (Little Rock AR:), PUBLISHED: 2001.)
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: Janice M. Del Negro-The Bulletin of the Center for Children s Books, November 2001 (Vol. 55, No. 3)
A fat cat eats way more than his share in this lively retelling of a familiar Danish folktale. MacDonald s text has the verve of language honed by frequent telling, and her words fall trippingly off the tongue: A cat and a mouse kept house. You can see this was not a good plan. Cat was always hungry. Mouse was always cooking. Cat starts off with thirty-five pies, but they just whet his appetite, and he goes on to eat a washerwoman and her clothes, a company of soldiers, a king on an elephant, and even his friend Mouse, who saves the day with her scissors, needle, and thread. Frequent opportunities for participation include the Cat s refrain (I’m meow, meow FAT! Cause I m a HUNGRY, HUNGRY CAT! ), gastronomical expressions ( SLIP! SLOP! SLUUURP! and BURP! ) and the exclamations of unknowing future snacks ( MY, Cat! You sure are FAT! ), all of which will easily pull young listeners along. The illustrations are equally alluring: the titular ginger cat goes from generous to gargantuan proportions, taking over not only all the available food but all the available space on the pages as well. Clean white pages lend a crisp austerity to the layout, displaying playful compositions with whimsical perspectives against an uncluttered backdrop. Those who miss Jack Kent s The Fat Cat (BCCB 9/71) will welcome this vivid retelling; those unfamiliar with the tale will appreciate MacDonald s bringing it to their attention. Detailed source notes are included. Review Code: R -- Recommended. (c) Copyright 2001, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. 2001, August House, 32p, $15.95. Ages 3-6 yrs.
(PUBLISHER: August House (Little Rock AR:), PUBLISHED: 2001.)
Response to Two Professional Reviews: Both reviewers provide a quality synopsis of the story. They also mention the repetitive phrase, “I’m meow, meow FAT! Cause I’m a HUNGRY, HUNGRY CAT!” along with the “BURP” and other onomatopoeias that the cat uses while and after eating his friends. Both reviewers agree that this story would be a good read aloud that would hold the interest of young children (ages 3-7). They also talk about the spread of the illustrations and their accuracy.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: The book has some repetitive passages that students will remember and perhaps participate in the reading of this book as a read aloud. The illustrations in the book are also very accurate. On the page where it says that the mouse baked 35 pies, there are 35 pies on the page. There is adequate white space but the images are large enough for a group of children to view during a read aloud.
Consideration of Instructional Application: I would use this book as a read aloud during a folktale unit. The repetitive sentences could be used as vocal responses for the class to say while the text is being read. But I might also use this book during a lesson on bullying. The cat can’t help that he is always hungry or that he is fat. He views his friends as making fun of him and so he eats them. While the lesson would be not to fight back and definitely don’t hurt your friends, students could learn a discuss better ways to handle any peer to peer bullying.
Author: Margaret Read MadDonald
Illustrator: Julie Paschkis
Genre: European Folktale
Theme(s): Folktales, animals—cats, animals—mice, folklore, Denmark
Opening line/sentence: “A cat and a mouse kept house.”
Brief Book Summary: A cat and a mouse are living together, but the cat is always hungry. He eats the mouse and then proceeds to eat the mouse and all the other friends that call him fat. At the end of the day the mouse saves the day.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:Kirkus Reviews, September 1, 2001 (Vol. 69, No. 17) Bright-color folk illustrations add zest and bounce to this tale told in many countries. Mouse, who lives with cat, is always busy cooking or sewing. This day, she makes 35 pies and the cat swallows them up, declaring, "I may be FAT, but I'm still a HUNGRY CAT!" Out the door he goes, saying, "Oh, I'm meow, meow FAT! 'Cause I'm a HUNGRY, HUNGRY CAT!" He meets in succession a washerwoman with her washtub, a company of soldiers brandishing swords, and a King on an elephant. Each of them exclaims "My, CAT! You sure are FAT!" to which the cat replies, "I may be FAT but I'm still a HUNGRY CAT!" and SLIP SLOP SLUURP! Cat swallows them down. "BURP!" When he arrives home, he eats his friend, the mouse, who happens to be sewing. She snips her way to freedom and orders, "Everybody OUT!" Because they are friends, she spends the day sewing up Cat's tummy. "Oh, I'm meow meow FLAT! 'Cause I'm an EMPTY EMPTY CAT!" says the cat. The tale ends: "And now, whenever folks meet Cat they are careful to speak with respect." The story will be a favorite read aloud and simply demands that listeners shout along. Plenty of white space sets off the pictures and heightens the art. There are, indeed, 35 pies depicted on a double page spread and the green-vested golden cat becomes satisfyingly huge as he swallows each person with their accouterments. As expected from this scholarly storyteller ("The Storyteller's Sourcebook", etc.) there is a note identifying the motif of the tale and citing other variants. 2001, August House, $15.95. Category: Folktale. Ages 4 to 7. © 2001 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.
(PUBLISHER: August House (Little Rock AR:), PUBLISHED: 2001.)
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: Janice M. Del Negro-The Bulletin of the Center for Children s Books, November 2001 (Vol. 55, No. 3)
A fat cat eats way more than his share in this lively retelling of a familiar Danish folktale. MacDonald s text has the verve of language honed by frequent telling, and her words fall trippingly off the tongue: A cat and a mouse kept house. You can see this was not a good plan. Cat was always hungry. Mouse was always cooking. Cat starts off with thirty-five pies, but they just whet his appetite, and he goes on to eat a washerwoman and her clothes, a company of soldiers, a king on an elephant, and even his friend Mouse, who saves the day with her scissors, needle, and thread. Frequent opportunities for participation include the Cat s refrain (I’m meow, meow FAT! Cause I m a HUNGRY, HUNGRY CAT! ), gastronomical expressions ( SLIP! SLOP! SLUUURP! and BURP! ) and the exclamations of unknowing future snacks ( MY, Cat! You sure are FAT! ), all of which will easily pull young listeners along. The illustrations are equally alluring: the titular ginger cat goes from generous to gargantuan proportions, taking over not only all the available food but all the available space on the pages as well. Clean white pages lend a crisp austerity to the layout, displaying playful compositions with whimsical perspectives against an uncluttered backdrop. Those who miss Jack Kent s The Fat Cat (BCCB 9/71) will welcome this vivid retelling; those unfamiliar with the tale will appreciate MacDonald s bringing it to their attention. Detailed source notes are included. Review Code: R -- Recommended. (c) Copyright 2001, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. 2001, August House, 32p, $15.95. Ages 3-6 yrs.
(PUBLISHER: August House (Little Rock AR:), PUBLISHED: 2001.)
Response to Two Professional Reviews: Both reviewers provide a quality synopsis of the story. They also mention the repetitive phrase, “I’m meow, meow FAT! Cause I’m a HUNGRY, HUNGRY CAT!” along with the “BURP” and other onomatopoeias that the cat uses while and after eating his friends. Both reviewers agree that this story would be a good read aloud that would hold the interest of young children (ages 3-7). They also talk about the spread of the illustrations and their accuracy.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: The book has some repetitive passages that students will remember and perhaps participate in the reading of this book as a read aloud. The illustrations in the book are also very accurate. On the page where it says that the mouse baked 35 pies, there are 35 pies on the page. There is adequate white space but the images are large enough for a group of children to view during a read aloud.
Consideration of Instructional Application: I would use this book as a read aloud during a folktale unit. The repetitive sentences could be used as vocal responses for the class to say while the text is being read. But I might also use this book during a lesson on bullying. The cat can’t help that he is always hungry or that he is fat. He views his friends as making fun of him and so he eats them. While the lesson would be not to fight back and definitely don’t hurt your friends, students could learn a discuss better ways to handle any peer to peer bullying.
January 29, 2019
I cannot properly express how much joy it gives me when picture books include scholarly notes in the back about story motifs.
December 17, 2016
MacDonald surely does know how to tell a tale, and to choose an illustrator up to the task of enhancing her text. The pictures here are just as outlandish and fun as the story. I love the design, especially in the beginning, when the reader has to rotate the book to see everything. And I love the ending, which is almost like an epilogue; the book doesn't just end when the adventure is over, but shows how characters and relationships have developed.
Bonus, as is also usual for MacDonald, there is a careful author's note.
Bonus, as is also usual for MacDonald, there is a careful author's note.
March 8, 2016
This folktale just didn't grab me about a cat that keeps getting insulted by different people so he eats them until he eats his friend mouse who cuts her and everybody else's way out and then sows cat back up. Cat learns to share with mouse and everyone else learns to be polite.
February 29, 2016
Great illustrations, as is usual from Paschkis, but the telling of the tale did not seem to flow or make enough sense.
October 13, 2015
Title: Fat Cat
Author: Margaret Read MacDonald
Illustrator: Julie Paschkis
Genre: European Folktale
Theme(s): Selfishness, generosity, kindness, sharing, friendship
Opening line/sentence: A cat and a mouse kept house, you can see this was not a good plan.
Brief Book Summary: This book starts off with a mouse living with a fat cat that was selfish and not only ate all of mouse's cooking, but also ate everyone, including mouse. The mouse ends up taking a stand and cutting itself along with everyone else who got eaten out of the cat's stomach, but was nice enough to recognize it's friendship with the cat to sew back up the it's stomach. From then on, the cat always shared it's food with the mouse and became known as a "fabulous" cat instead of a "fat" cat.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: Kirkus Reviews
Bright-color folk illustrations add zest and bounce to this tale told in many countries. Mouse, who lives with cat, is always busy cooking or sewing. This day, she makes 35 pies and the cat swallows them up, declaring, "I may be FAT, but I'm still a HUNGRY CAT!" Out the door he goes, saying, "Oh, I'm meow, meow FAT! 'Cause I'm a HUNGRY, HUNGRY CAT!" He meets in succession a washerwoman with her washtub, a company of soldiers brandishing swords, and a King on an elephant. Each of them exclaims "My, CAT! You sure are FAT!" to which the cat replies, "I may be FAT but I'm still a HUNGRY CAT!" and SLIP SLOP SLUURP! Cat swallows them down. "BURP!" When he arrives home, he eats his friend, the mouse, who happens to be sewing. She snips her way to freedom and orders, "Everybody OUT!" Because they are friends, she spends the day sewing up Cat's tummy. "Oh, I'm meow meow FLAT! 'Cause I'm an EMPTY EMPTY CAT!" says the cat. The tale ends: "And now, whenever folks meet Cat they are careful to speak with respect." The story will be a favorite read aloud and simply demands that listeners shout along. Plenty of white space sets off the pictures and heightens the art. There are, indeed, 35 pies depicted on a double page spread and the green-vested golden cat becomes satisfyingly huge as he swallows each person with their accoutrements. As expected from this scholarly storyteller (The Storyteller's Sourcebook, etc.) there is a note identifying the motif of the tale and citing other variants. (Folktale. 4-7)
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: MacDonald, Margaret Read Fat Cat: A Danish Folktale
32 pp. August 2001. ISBN 0-87483-616-6
(3) K-3 Illustrated by Julie Paschkis. The cat in this tale eats everything in sight: thirty-five pies, a washerwoman, a company of soldiers, a king riding on his elephant, and even his friend Mouse. It is Mouse with her sewing kit who opens up Cat's stomach, lets everyone out, and sews him back up again. The paintings with their folkloric touches contain funny details, and documentation about the folktale is provided.
Response to Two Professional Reviews: The paintings in this book definitely reflect a folktale, as both reviews address. It's interesting how Kirkus Reviews point out the 35 pies depicted in the illustrations, as the story does tell of the cat eating 35 pies. The reviews seem to address the illustrations the most, as the illustrations are the main indication that this book is a folktale.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: The book illustrations don't have any scenery, as the characters are all featured on a white background. The only time the background is not white is when the characters are featured in a black, ominous space, also known as the cat's stomach. The characters have a lot of expression, which draws in the reader. The colors also play a role as they help the reader make connections on who the cat will be causing trouble in the story (such as the green sweater the cat wears that matches the mouses green bowl and the green/orange on the king's saddle).
Consideration of Instructional Application: This story teaches students good lessons such as how important friendship is and how being the "bigger person" like the mouse can be rewarding. It also teaches how indulging too much can be detrimental. This story is repetitive, and so the children can read along after hearing the teacher read a few pages in.
Author: Margaret Read MacDonald
Illustrator: Julie Paschkis
Genre: European Folktale
Theme(s): Selfishness, generosity, kindness, sharing, friendship
Opening line/sentence: A cat and a mouse kept house, you can see this was not a good plan.
Brief Book Summary: This book starts off with a mouse living with a fat cat that was selfish and not only ate all of mouse's cooking, but also ate everyone, including mouse. The mouse ends up taking a stand and cutting itself along with everyone else who got eaten out of the cat's stomach, but was nice enough to recognize it's friendship with the cat to sew back up the it's stomach. From then on, the cat always shared it's food with the mouse and became known as a "fabulous" cat instead of a "fat" cat.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: Kirkus Reviews
Bright-color folk illustrations add zest and bounce to this tale told in many countries. Mouse, who lives with cat, is always busy cooking or sewing. This day, she makes 35 pies and the cat swallows them up, declaring, "I may be FAT, but I'm still a HUNGRY CAT!" Out the door he goes, saying, "Oh, I'm meow, meow FAT! 'Cause I'm a HUNGRY, HUNGRY CAT!" He meets in succession a washerwoman with her washtub, a company of soldiers brandishing swords, and a King on an elephant. Each of them exclaims "My, CAT! You sure are FAT!" to which the cat replies, "I may be FAT but I'm still a HUNGRY CAT!" and SLIP SLOP SLUURP! Cat swallows them down. "BURP!" When he arrives home, he eats his friend, the mouse, who happens to be sewing. She snips her way to freedom and orders, "Everybody OUT!" Because they are friends, she spends the day sewing up Cat's tummy. "Oh, I'm meow meow FLAT! 'Cause I'm an EMPTY EMPTY CAT!" says the cat. The tale ends: "And now, whenever folks meet Cat they are careful to speak with respect." The story will be a favorite read aloud and simply demands that listeners shout along. Plenty of white space sets off the pictures and heightens the art. There are, indeed, 35 pies depicted on a double page spread and the green-vested golden cat becomes satisfyingly huge as he swallows each person with their accoutrements. As expected from this scholarly storyteller (The Storyteller's Sourcebook, etc.) there is a note identifying the motif of the tale and citing other variants. (Folktale. 4-7)
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: MacDonald, Margaret Read Fat Cat: A Danish Folktale
32 pp. August 2001. ISBN 0-87483-616-6
(3) K-3 Illustrated by Julie Paschkis. The cat in this tale eats everything in sight: thirty-five pies, a washerwoman, a company of soldiers, a king riding on his elephant, and even his friend Mouse. It is Mouse with her sewing kit who opens up Cat's stomach, lets everyone out, and sews him back up again. The paintings with their folkloric touches contain funny details, and documentation about the folktale is provided.
Response to Two Professional Reviews: The paintings in this book definitely reflect a folktale, as both reviews address. It's interesting how Kirkus Reviews point out the 35 pies depicted in the illustrations, as the story does tell of the cat eating 35 pies. The reviews seem to address the illustrations the most, as the illustrations are the main indication that this book is a folktale.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: The book illustrations don't have any scenery, as the characters are all featured on a white background. The only time the background is not white is when the characters are featured in a black, ominous space, also known as the cat's stomach. The characters have a lot of expression, which draws in the reader. The colors also play a role as they help the reader make connections on who the cat will be causing trouble in the story (such as the green sweater the cat wears that matches the mouses green bowl and the green/orange on the king's saddle).
Consideration of Instructional Application: This story teaches students good lessons such as how important friendship is and how being the "bigger person" like the mouse can be rewarding. It also teaches how indulging too much can be detrimental. This story is repetitive, and so the children can read along after hearing the teacher read a few pages in.
Read
October 13, 2015Title: Fat Cat: A Danish Folktale
Author: Margaret Read MacDonald
Illustrator: Julie Paschkis
Genre: European folktale
Theme(s): Friendship, Rhyme Schemes, and The Impact of Kind Words
Opening line/sentence:
“A cat and a mouse kept house.”
Brief Book Summary:
A cat and mouse are friends, and the cat begins to eat everything in sight. He eats people, objects, and animals, including the mouse. The mouse cuts a hole inside him and all of the people and animals flee. The mouse sews up the hole, and the cat is no longer fat and continues to stay in good health due to the kind words of everyone around him.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Horn Book Guide
32 pp. August 2001. ISBN 0-87483-616-6
(3) K-3 Illustrated by Julie Paschkis. The cat in this tale eats everything in sight: thirty-five pies, a washerwoman, a company of soldiers, a king riding on his elephant, and even his friend Mouse. It is Mouse with her sewing kit who opens up Cat's stomach, lets everyone out, and sews him back up again. The paintings with their folkloric touches contain funny details, and documentation about the folktale is provided.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
School Library Journal
K-Gr 4-MacDonald uses short, rhythmic sentences and repeated refrains to keep this tale of a greedy cat that lives with a mouse flowing. One day, he eats 35 pies. Then with a "slip slop, sluuurp," he proceeds to eat a wash lady and her laundry, some soldiers and their swords, the king and his elephant, and, finally, the mouse and her sewing supplies. Of course, Mouse cuts her way out and the others follow. After that, Cat eats more sparingly and others treat him with respect. Paschkis's folklike artwork has an open, uncluttered look. Individual objects curve along and around the pages on white backgrounds, lending focus to the feline as he becomes progressively larger after devouring each new morsel. One exception to this pattern is the spread that shows everything in the cat's stomach, all on a black background. It's dark in there! A page of notes explains the source of this story. Pair it with Jack Kent's The Fat Cat (Scholastic, 1971), a more humorous version, to show how different illustrated retellings can be.-Kathleen Simonetta, Indian Trails Public Library District, Wheeling, IL Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
Both of these responses identified the humorous illustrations that go along with the story. The School Library Journal noticed the how the objects the cat ate became smaller wrapping around the page as the cat became the main focus of each page. I found it strange that neither review acknowledged the rhyme scheme that followed the entire story, because I enjoyed the repetitive rhyming that occurred after each object/person he ate. Respect is inferred in each review because they both note that the mouse sews up the cat after he cuts him open because after all, they are friends.
Evaluation of Literary Elements:
The rhyme scheme throughout this book intrigued me because I could envision myself choosing this book as a read aloud in a classroom. It’s humor and repetitiveness would encourage the students to engage with the story and chime in chanting “Oh, I’m meow, meow FAT! ‘Cause I’m a HUNGRY, HUNGRY, CAT!” I also enjoy the bright illustrations, and the increase in size of the cat as he eats throughout the story. Each image is drawn neatly with bright colors, which makes it an optimal book to read to a class.
Consideration of Instructional Application:
For this book, the teacher could focus on rhyming for possibly a third or fourth grade classroom. The teacher could also focus on the friendship between the mouse and the cat, instead of the cat eating all of the objects. The teacher could address the kind words used in the last pages of the book, and why they are more appropriate and respectful to use towards others. This lesson could turn into a creative activity where the students could create their own rhymes with kind words.
Author: Margaret Read MacDonald
Illustrator: Julie Paschkis
Genre: European folktale
Theme(s): Friendship, Rhyme Schemes, and The Impact of Kind Words
Opening line/sentence:
“A cat and a mouse kept house.”
Brief Book Summary:
A cat and mouse are friends, and the cat begins to eat everything in sight. He eats people, objects, and animals, including the mouse. The mouse cuts a hole inside him and all of the people and animals flee. The mouse sews up the hole, and the cat is no longer fat and continues to stay in good health due to the kind words of everyone around him.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Horn Book Guide
32 pp. August 2001. ISBN 0-87483-616-6
(3) K-3 Illustrated by Julie Paschkis. The cat in this tale eats everything in sight: thirty-five pies, a washerwoman, a company of soldiers, a king riding on his elephant, and even his friend Mouse. It is Mouse with her sewing kit who opens up Cat's stomach, lets everyone out, and sews him back up again. The paintings with their folkloric touches contain funny details, and documentation about the folktale is provided.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
School Library Journal
K-Gr 4-MacDonald uses short, rhythmic sentences and repeated refrains to keep this tale of a greedy cat that lives with a mouse flowing. One day, he eats 35 pies. Then with a "slip slop, sluuurp," he proceeds to eat a wash lady and her laundry, some soldiers and their swords, the king and his elephant, and, finally, the mouse and her sewing supplies. Of course, Mouse cuts her way out and the others follow. After that, Cat eats more sparingly and others treat him with respect. Paschkis's folklike artwork has an open, uncluttered look. Individual objects curve along and around the pages on white backgrounds, lending focus to the feline as he becomes progressively larger after devouring each new morsel. One exception to this pattern is the spread that shows everything in the cat's stomach, all on a black background. It's dark in there! A page of notes explains the source of this story. Pair it with Jack Kent's The Fat Cat (Scholastic, 1971), a more humorous version, to show how different illustrated retellings can be.-Kathleen Simonetta, Indian Trails Public Library District, Wheeling, IL Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
Both of these responses identified the humorous illustrations that go along with the story. The School Library Journal noticed the how the objects the cat ate became smaller wrapping around the page as the cat became the main focus of each page. I found it strange that neither review acknowledged the rhyme scheme that followed the entire story, because I enjoyed the repetitive rhyming that occurred after each object/person he ate. Respect is inferred in each review because they both note that the mouse sews up the cat after he cuts him open because after all, they are friends.
Evaluation of Literary Elements:
The rhyme scheme throughout this book intrigued me because I could envision myself choosing this book as a read aloud in a classroom. It’s humor and repetitiveness would encourage the students to engage with the story and chime in chanting “Oh, I’m meow, meow FAT! ‘Cause I’m a HUNGRY, HUNGRY, CAT!” I also enjoy the bright illustrations, and the increase in size of the cat as he eats throughout the story. Each image is drawn neatly with bright colors, which makes it an optimal book to read to a class.
Consideration of Instructional Application:
For this book, the teacher could focus on rhyming for possibly a third or fourth grade classroom. The teacher could also focus on the friendship between the mouse and the cat, instead of the cat eating all of the objects. The teacher could address the kind words used in the last pages of the book, and why they are more appropriate and respectful to use towards others. This lesson could turn into a creative activity where the students could create their own rhymes with kind words.
November 19, 2013
This book is about a cat that lives with his friend Mouse who always makes food for Cat. Then one day Cat eats his usual large meal made by Mouse and leaves the house. Cat goes around eating everyone and everything in his sight. Toward the end of the book Cat is really fat and loses so much control that he even eats his friend Mouse! When in Cat’s stomach Mouse sees all the other people and things that Cat has eaten and decides to do something about it. She cuts a hole through Cat’s stomach and sets everyone free. Later, Mouse patches up his stomach and Cat finally learns to not eat everyone in sight!
The illustrations in this book were paintings and were very colorful and detailed. It is cool to notice how as the story progresses and Cat gets fatter and fatter that enough detail is put into the story to make his stomach bigger on every following page. Also, with every character Cat encounters the illustrator puts fear and despair in their faces as Cat is about to eat them.
This book contains a lot of repetition and rhyming which would be great for younger students who are beginning to learn to read. It would probably be best if this book was used as a read aloud, and then read multiple times again to the students to help them learn the words and fully understand the context.
With this book you could do a lesson plan on how it is unhealthy to be very overweight, and by eating right and exercising you can maintain a healthy weight.
The illustrations in this book were paintings and were very colorful and detailed. It is cool to notice how as the story progresses and Cat gets fatter and fatter that enough detail is put into the story to make his stomach bigger on every following page. Also, with every character Cat encounters the illustrator puts fear and despair in their faces as Cat is about to eat them.
This book contains a lot of repetition and rhyming which would be great for younger students who are beginning to learn to read. It would probably be best if this book was used as a read aloud, and then read multiple times again to the students to help them learn the words and fully understand the context.
With this book you could do a lesson plan on how it is unhealthy to be very overweight, and by eating right and exercising you can maintain a healthy weight.
February 25, 2018
Fat Cat is a variant of a Danish Folktale. It is a tale about Cat and Mouse. Cat is greedy and continues to eat because his neighbors and friends disrespect him by calling him fat. He's fat because he eats everything in sight, whether it is 35 pies, a washlady and her washbin, soldiers and their swords, or a king and his elephant. One day he ends up eating his friend, Mouse and her scissors, needle, and thread. Mouse is sick of Cat's greedy ways after being swallowed up by him. She takes her scissors and cuts a hole in Cat's stomach. Everyone is set free and once they are all out, Mouse takes her needle and thread to sew up Cat's tummy. He is flat and empty, but now shares with Mouse even if he is still hungry. Also, when folks see Cat flat, they speak to him with respect.
This book has a lot of repetition, so it is considered a cumulative folktale. It is geared for children ages 4-8. I've never heard of this folktale before, which makes me conclude that children wouldn't know of this story unless introduced to it. The illustrations fit the story and convey how fat Cat is getting and again when he is flat. I believe that adults and children alike can learn from this folktale about being greedy and learning to share with friends.
This book has a lot of repetition, so it is considered a cumulative folktale. It is geared for children ages 4-8. I've never heard of this folktale before, which makes me conclude that children wouldn't know of this story unless introduced to it. The illustrations fit the story and convey how fat Cat is getting and again when he is flat. I believe that adults and children alike can learn from this folktale about being greedy and learning to share with friends.
September 4, 2012
I read this book to my 10 year old cousin who loved the story. Primary children would enjoy this book because it is a easy read and children would laugh about how fat the cat get to be. This story told a great lesson to young children to treat their friends how they would want to be treated. We have all had a time in our life when we have been rude to a friend but they are still there for you when you need them the most. Treating friends with a little respect can go a long way. The text in this book was very simple and repeated the same lines throughout the story. This is a very easy read for children and the illustrations depict the text very well. The colorful drawings will help children learn the lesson of respect.
March 9, 2015
Personal Thoughts:
This Danish folktale was quite a tale. Full of humor and beautiful illustrations, this picture book is sure to enhance a child's imagination. The tale begins with a mouse and cat living together. The cat is greedy and goes throughout the story chanting a little rhyme that is sure to be remembered. The cat learns his lesson and has a change of heart with help from his mouse friend. This tale reminded me of "There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly."
Classroom use: (Grades 2-3)
-folk literature unit
-reinforcing manners (sharing, politeness, etc.)
-intro to creative storytelling and illustrations
This Danish folktale was quite a tale. Full of humor and beautiful illustrations, this picture book is sure to enhance a child's imagination. The tale begins with a mouse and cat living together. The cat is greedy and goes throughout the story chanting a little rhyme that is sure to be remembered. The cat learns his lesson and has a change of heart with help from his mouse friend. This tale reminded me of "There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly."
Classroom use: (Grades 2-3)
-folk literature unit
-reinforcing manners (sharing, politeness, etc.)
-intro to creative storytelling and illustrations
May 7, 2008
Summary (CIP): A greddy cat grows enormous as he eats everything in sight, including his friends and neighbors who call him fat.
Review: Lovely illustrations by a local artist add to this Danish folk tale. A fun read aloud, with lots of repetition, fun slurping sounds, and moral to boot.
Booklist agrees with me (or do I agree with them?),"The large, funny illustrations will carry well for a bigger crowd and, combined with refrain that invites chanting along, make this a surefire hit for reading aloud." Positive SLJ review.
Review: Lovely illustrations by a local artist add to this Danish folk tale. A fun read aloud, with lots of repetition, fun slurping sounds, and moral to boot.
Booklist agrees with me (or do I agree with them?),"The large, funny illustrations will carry well for a bigger crowd and, combined with refrain that invites chanting along, make this a surefire hit for reading aloud." Positive SLJ review.
June 7, 2013
Gobble, Gobble, Slip, Slop: A Tale of a Very Greedy Cat is another version of this story that I like slightly better, but in a pinch this one would do. This is one of those intriguing folktales that seem to almost identical versions from many different parts of the world; this one happens to be Danish.
September 21, 2010
Just like The Old Woman Who Swallowed a Fly, I found this a bit disturbing. Cats eating soldiers and elephants just not my cup of tea to begin with, but the cat getting a hole cut in its belly to let everyone out, unrealistic and icky. This was read at story time as part of letter C day. It made more since once I learned it was a folk tale, but still, I wouldn't pick it up again.
October 15, 2011
This book tells of a cat that eats everything including the washlady and her tub. Everyone that calls him fat, he eats. Mouse had scissors and cut everyone out of Cat's stomach. From then on, everyone refused to call Cat fat.
January 5, 2011
I really like it, but the kids in storytime did not seem to like it very much. Oh well - maybe I'll try again with an older audience one of these days.
February 10, 2011
We love this book because it is relatively short, it has a great rhythm for read alouds, it's hilarious and it reminds us of our fat cat.
September 18, 2012
this book is great. it's got funny noises and repetition that my 3 year old loved to do with me
October 18, 2012
retelling of a Danish folktale; repetitive phrases and sound noises make this a fun read-aloud; large, colorful illustrations
themes: cats, gluttony, mice
themes: cats, gluttony, mice
August 28, 2013
I didn't really like this book. I was surprised at first because the cat ate everyone and then everyone escaped, it was a little confusing.
November 20, 2017
A Danish folktale about a very hungry and greedy cat who learns the hard way that "Enough is Enough!" Delightful illustrations.
December 2, 2017
review: This book contains a character which is a fat cat. This fat cat eats everything in sight, even inedible things. The cat lives with a chef mouse so this makes the matters worse.
November 28, 2018
A great combination of repetitive-refrain text and perfect illustrations that enhance the story. Plot even held my adult attention. Will definitely be a hit for group read-alouds
September 16, 2018
A funny folktale for kids. It's part of my Folktales Around the World Unit.
October 1, 2020
While perhaps a bit of a stretch to classify this as being body positive, I think there's some case to be made for how the characters in Margaret Read MacDonald's retelling of this tale shift their behavior towards the eponymous Fat Cat! They go from basically characterizing him solely by his fatness and shaming him for it to learning their lesson and addressing him first for his fanciness and fabulousness. A silly and engaging retelling of this folktale.
Themes: Hunger, Animals, Cats
Age range: 3-8
Themes: Hunger, Animals, Cats
Age range: 3-8
August 24, 2021
It was ok. There’s something about it I didn’t like. It was weird that the the cat ate everyone and then when he was skinny thats when everyone starting to give him compliments. Did he get complimented because he lost weight, did he get compliments because they are scared of him now? I don’t really get it.
I was just very confused by this story. It didn’t flow very well and I’m not sure what the message or meaning was. Maybe it was meant to be funny? Except, it wasn’t.
The story reminded me of “The Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly” except it just didn’t flow as well and didn’t really rhyme.
I was just very confused by this story. It didn’t flow very well and I’m not sure what the message or meaning was. Maybe it was meant to be funny? Except, it wasn’t.
The story reminded me of “The Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly” except it just didn’t flow as well and didn’t really rhyme.
February 10, 2019
Fat Cat could never get enough to eat. He ate everything and everyone in sight until one day everyone in his belly were able to escape and take all of their belongings with them.
February 14, 2019
Folktales from around the world, including Sierra Leone, Ukraine, France, Denmark, Panama, Nigeria, etc. Delightful and fun.
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