Review: The Cat is Flat on the Mat

‘Encouraging reluctant readers’ aside, Andy Griffiths’ books stand alone in regard to wit and cleverness that’s always so simply and deftly executed.

In The Cat on the Mat is Flat, Griffiths takes a simple concept – the cat on the mat, for one – and expounds upon it with a wit and flow many other writers may struggle with.

Therein lies the author’s success.

No matter how clever or unique or well-marketed a book, if it’s not written with cadence and flow, even the best prose can fail. If readers are tripping over words or struggling to comprehend badly edited text, they will simply give up. And that’s not what authors want, let alone publishers.

This is no such problem in The Cat on the Mat is Flat. Griffiths once again succeeds in the area of flow – as well as all the other elements listed above – and produces a fabulously fun nonsense book that will appeal to a variety of ages, despite its targeted 5 – 8 age range.

Therein, also, lies his success.

Packed into this tome full of giggles are such verse-like stories as Frog on a Log in a Bog, Duck in a Truck in the Muck and Pinky Ponky the Shonky Wonky Bonky Donkey.

Repetitive, rhythmic rhymes will not only enchant kids, they will most secretly and surreptitiously sneak around their mental faculties and give them a good lesson in phonics a the very same time. Yes, parents. Rejoice.

Title: The Cat on the Mat is Flat

Author: Andy Griffiths

Illustrator: Terry Denton

Publisher: Pan Macmillan, A$14.95RRP

Publication Date: 1 August 2006

Format: Paperback

ISBN: 9780330422604

For ages: 5 – 8

Type: Junior Fiction

Teachers' notes

You can buy this book online now at The Nile!