The Cat in the Hat by Dr Zeuss

2016, first published 1956  
(click on image to view on Amazon)  

Dr Zeuss brings us The Cat in the Hat in 1958 (Zeuss 2016). The story starts off down beat. The children cannot go out to play because it i pouring with rain. Sinisterly they hear a bump and then a giant anthropomorphic cat appears wearing a a hat. He promises to show them some tricks  and points out that their mother will not mind at all. The children are not sure what to do. Their mother is not at home. This would probably not happen in the 21st century. Indeed at this point the 21st century reader may think of stranger danger. The gold fish speaks up and tries to protect the children: “No, no.

         Make that cat go away

          Tell the Cat in the Hat

          You do NOT want to play”(p12)

The cat makes a terrific mess after trying to hold too many things at once. The fish constantly admonishes him and to some extent the children. The cat brings in a mysterious red box. It contain two curious humanoid creatures (p33). The fish becomes even more concerned. The Things are mischievous. They fly kites in the house (p37). Indeed, the Things make a mess (39). Mother is on her way home.  The children become afraid and try to catch the Things (49). Fortunately the cat helps them to get their house tidy just in time for mother coming home.  

It was Zeuss’s aim to create fun books for children.

The book is 61 pages long. It is written in rhyme.  The pictures are in just black, blue red and white illustrate and supplement the story. The text uses a quite large adult font.