The Fat Cat: A Danish Folktale
Author:
Illustrator:
Margaret Read MacDonald
Julie Paschkis
When mouse bakes 36 pies, cat eats them all, alarming mouse, "Cat, you sure are FAT!" Cat clomps off meowing. "Oh I'm Meow Meow Fat! 'Cause I'm a hungry, hungry cat!" Cat eats a wash lady, a company of soldiers, and the king on his elephant. Then he returns to eat his housemate, the mouse. Mouse, of course cuts their way out and sews up his greedy friend, who now reforms. "Oh I'm Meow Meow FLAT! 'Cause I'm an empty, empty cat!" After that cat always leaves something for mouse. And whenever folks meet cat they are careful to speak with respect. "Cat, you sure are fa...fantastic!" Or as one 4th grader called out... "Hey, that was a put up! Wasn't it?" Paschkis's painting of this fat fat cat is a show stopper!
Categories
Children's Books: Picture Books
Languages
Languages: Korean
Story origins: Denmark
Editions
Paperback
2007
Gitan Publications (Korean edition)
ISBN 978-89-7959-211-5
Hardcover
2001
August House (English edition)
32 pages
0-87483-616-6
Paperback
2001
August House (English edition)
32 pages
0-87483-765-0
Hardcover
2007
Gitan Publications (Korean edition)
978-89-7959-196-5
Quotes
MacDonald's text has the verve of language honed by frequent telling
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
I used FAT CAT for a "Growing" storytime this morning and had to write and tell you that the children just LOVED it! They laughed in all the right places. It's really a joy to have a book that "tells" so well.
Susan Anderson-Newham
The rhythmic and repetitious style will stimulate participation, even the first time around.
NAPRA Review, Sept/Oct 2001
A must for all libraries.
Top of Texas
MacDonald uses short, rhythmic refrains to keep this tale of a greedy at that lives with a mouse flowing.
School Library Journal , Jan 2002
Margaret Read MacDOnald's infectious energy combines with Julie Paschkis's folk-inspired gouache paintings to create a new retelling of a favorite comic cumulative tale.
Independent Publisher, Aug. 6, 2001
The crisp, charming text, is set off by Paschkis's cheery gouache folk art style illustrations.
Rambles: A Cultural Arts Magazine
The crisp, charming text is set off by Paschkis's cheery gouache folk art style illustrations.
Rambles, Oct 21, 2001 Donna Scanlon
Folk art illustrations dance across the pages of this colorful and rollicking version. Great source notes!
Children's Folklore Review, v. 25, 2003-2004, Gail de Vos and Merle Harris
This story will be a favorite read aloud and simply demands that listeners shout along.
Kirkus Reviews
The large, funny illustrations will carry well for a bigger crowd and, combined with refrains that invite chanting along, make this a surefire hit for reading aloud.
Booklist, Nov. 15, 2001
Awards
Parent's Choice Recommended
2001
Children's Core Collection, 2014
Children's Catalog 19th ed.
Best Books for Children, 7th ed.
Georgia Children's Picturebook Storybook Award short list
2003-2004