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Splat the Cat – Scholastic Storybook Treasures {Review}

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We had the chance to check out Scholastic’s My First Storybook Treasures DVD collection, a 3-DVD set featuring over a dozen stories. The series was created specifically to support early literacy skills and a love of reading in pre- and early readers. Together the 14 stories in this collection have won more then 15 awards, including the Caldecott Medal, NAPPA Gold, and American Library Association Notable Books. 

The first DVD, Splat the Cat… and other Furry Friends, features four stories, Splat the Cat (written and illustrated by Rob Scotton), Hondo & Fabian (written & illustrated by Peter McCarty),  Picnic (written and illustrated by Emily Arnold McCully), and Leo the Late Bloomer (written by Robert Kraus and illustrated by Jose Aruego). 

My three year old daughter LOVES this DVD.  The first time we sat down together to watch Splat the Cat, I was called out of the room. I returned in time for the end of the story. She was bubbling with excitement.  “Splat the Cat had his first day at school! He has a mousey friend!  I want to watch the next episode so he can have his SECOND day at school.”

Oops.  I had to let her in on the fact that there was so second episode of the Splat the Cat show.  I explained to her how this is a special DVD, each story on here is from a different story book, and watching the DVD is like having someone read the story to you. We then sat and watched the other three stories. She loved them all.  She enthusiastically talked to me about cat and dog friends Hondo and Fabian, and their daily routine.  During the wordless Picnic, she narrated to me, interpreting the story of the mouse family’s day out as it went along.  She loved how Leo the Late Bloomer learned to read. She even enjoyed the special feature, an interview with Rob Scotton the author/illustrator of Splat the Cat.

Rob Scotton’s beautiful art looks even cuter animated.

A couple of hours after we watched the DVD she approached me and told me, “Mom I’ve been thinking about that Spat the Cat storybook DVD… Well I’m thinking… we should get the books.  If there is a book that goes with each story, we should get all of those books so that we can sit and read them by ourselves sometimes and so we can sit and read them together with the TV sometimes.” Wow. That whole love of reading thing that they were aiming for with this series is clearly working!

I was really impressed with this video. Each story has been beautifully adapted from the book version. The animation is fantastic.  Each story has a unique animation style that is true to the original story book illustrations. The story-telling from celebrity guest narrators John Keating, Jeff Brooks and Mary Beth Hurt is compelling and enjoyable.  Also I think the suggested age range of 2-6 years is spot on. 

This DVD has gotten added to G-Girl’s pile of favourites, and is getting watched over and over again.  Overall I would definitely recommend the My First Collection.  You can purchase the DVDs from the My First series direct from Scholastic via their NewKideo site. Splat the Cat … and Other Furry Friends is available on it’s own, or as part of the My First Collection Box Set.  (Purchase via the NewKideo site is US only. In Canada the DVD is available on Amazon.ca as well as Chapters.)

Disclosure: I received a free My First Collection box set for review purposes. My opinions are my own and were not influenced by the company, or by the free product received.

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Comments

  37. Amy C says

    I Follow @MapleLeafMommy on Twitter and tweetedhttp://twitter.com/#!/Butterfly_012/status/73836576668532737green123apple@gmail.com

    Reply

  101. Eljva Roberts says

    May 30 –I visited 'My First Collection Box Set' and chose 'Bear Snores On' as the one I would like to read.el03ro

    Reply

  103. Elva Roberts says

    May I 'liked' Scholastic on Facebook; and yes, I can spell my name sometimes!–edotmdotroberts@hotmaildotcom

    Reply

  117. gkbccb says

    I "like" scholastic and wrote on their wall that you sent me + tagged you (do i get bonus pts for tagging? LOL – jk! )

    Reply

  176. Manduhh says

    I'm excited about seeing The Napping House with my daughter it looks like a funny story! but of course since she's a cat fan she'd love Splat most!amandasecord (at) gmail (dot) com

    Reply

  179. Manduhh says

    already Publicly follow Maple Leaf Mommy on Google Friend Connect amandasecord (at) gmail (dot) com

    Reply

  287. Kristie says

    The Most Wonderful Egg in the World sounds cute since my kiddos like to help me collect eggs from the barn :-)khmorgan_00 [at] yahoo [dot] com

    Reply

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