Where would we be without Bookstart / Booktrust? For those who don't know, this is an amazing organisation that aims to put a book in the hands of every child in England and Wales - and C was the lucky recipient of "Splat the Cat" by Rob Scotton as her Bookstart book.

Back in the earliest days of the blog when we relied heavily on our local library for books, C actually having a book of her own was vitally important - there's nothing quite like having a shelf of books which you know are yours, and you can read at any time.

As you can probably imagine, the original "Splat the Cat" got read time and time again as a bedtime book, always turned into something of a performance piece because I could not resist doing a ton of really silly voices for Splat (who came out sounding like Lenny Henry's squeaky brummie accent), his Mum (a softer more understanding voice) and his teacher Miss Wimpydimple (A quavery-voiced old dear with the best intentions).

Splat is about to go to 'big school' for the first time, and his tail is wiggling with worry. He decides to bring along a friend, his long-suffering mousey companion Seymour who ends up tucked into Splat's lunchbox.

Splat isn't keen on school at all until he realises that maybe it's not quite as scary or as bad as he first thought - and perhaps Splat might even be able to teach other cats that mice are NOT food, they're friends!

Rob carried on with the series in a whole collection of books that are hugely popular with young readers, largely thanks to his fantastic illustrations and simple entertaining stories.

We were always a little puzzled by what happened by the time "Splat the Cat: Fishy Tales" came out.

With the books rebranded as "Based on the creation of Rob Scotton", we always wondered if there had been some sort of titanic 'falling out' between Rob and his publisher, as they demanded he serialised Splat stories rather than working on other stuff (Rob also created the Russell the Sheep books, which we never quite got round to reading alas).

"Splat's Fishy Tales" is also in our keepers pile regardless, and still a ticklishly entertaining tale based around Splat's school trip to an aquarium - and Splat's rather coy infatuation with 'the love of his life' - his classmate Kitten - and his rivalry with class bully Spike.

These are still fantastic little books. One or two are a bit hit and miss ("Splat Says Thank You" is a bit too saccharine for us but still has some wonderful illustrations in it). But back to the top of the review and that whole Bookstart thing, we really don't realise how lucky we are in this country to have such a wonderful organisation promoting reading for fun with kids, rather than basing their reading material and curriculum on academic achievement and fronted adverbials (which is just a rubbish way to encourage kids to love books IMHO).

Original Review Links: 

Splat the Cat

Splat the Cat - Fishy Tales Based on the Creation of Rob Scotton (HarperCollins Children's Books)

Splat Says Thank You! by Rob Scotton (HarperCollins Children's Books)

Secret Agent Splat by Rob Scotton (HarperCollins Children's Books)

Love, Splat

Booky Advent Calendar Day 8 - 8th December 2013 - "Merry Christmas Splat" By Rob Scotton (HarperCollins Children's Books)

Our favourite brummy-accented cat(well he has a brummy accent when we read it aloud) returns for a superb Christmas story that makes me giggle (because I recognise a lot of Splat's behaviour at this time of year) and makes Charlotte chortle (because poor Splat is so anxious to please, he can't help making mistakes!)

Splat worries that he's going to end up on the naughty list one Christmas, so to over-compensate, he decides to be as helpful as possible around the house. Unfortunately, accident-prone Splat is about as helpful as a breezeblock when it comes to the washing up. He's not much good at decorating the christmas tree either, and don't even ask about clearing the path of snow.

Poor Splat. The more he tries to help, the more mess he makes so as he forlornly heads off to bed on Christmas Eve, with his rather rotten sister teasing him that he won't get a present after all (little sisters are like that, aren't they!), Splat's tail wiggles wildly with worry as usual.

A sleepless night passes, as Splat listens out in earnest to hear Santa arriving with his sleigh.

The next morning when Splat wakes up, does he find a present waiting for him after all?

You'll have to read the book to find out! This is one of our favourite "Splat" books, it's funny and charming and very well observed (has Rob Scotton got a younger sister who was a bit of a brat when she was younger, by any chance?)

A thoroughly entertaining book to pop on your christmas list!


Charlotte's best bit: Splat going "SPLAT!" when he tries to clear the path of snow.

Daddy's Favourite bit: I secretly enjoyed evil little sis. What a rotter!

Oh Splat! What on earth has happened to you? Splat the Cat has been a character that Charlotte has grown up with. Ever since we got our first Splat the Cat book (with a fantastic Booktrust Bookstart pack) we've been in love with Splat and Seymour, as they've worked their way through several adventures - starting school, falling in love and even playing detective.

We were worried that Rob Scotton's purrrfect feline creation was starting to slide off the boil with the previous book "Splat Says Thank You" which felt jarringly lightweight (we described it as feeling like a "greatest hits" album). In "Fishy Tales" again there's this odd feeling that Rob has pretty much had it up to here with his fabulous furry fuzzy creation, and it's time to move on.

So what's Splat up to this time? He's off on a class visit to an aquarium. Once again Splat is hopelessly head over heels in love with Kitten - But always waiting in the wings is the rather annoying know-it-all Spike, who is also vying for Kitten's attention. Splat tries to impress Kitten with his knowledge of all things piscine, but Spike always contradicts and overrules Splat (didn't we all know a kid like that at school?) so once again it's up to Kitten to decide where her heart truly lies.

With tail still wiggling wildly with worry, we wanted to love this to bits as much as we have previous Splat books but there was just something missing. In fact, it seemed odd that the cover describes the book as being "Based on the Creation of Rob Scotton", as if the author-illustrator was trying to point out that the original idea was his, but Splat has since become a hollowed out version of his former self. Eee-OW!

Poor Splat! Let's hope the wonder-kitty falls on his feet with the next book, please say there'll be one!


Charlotte's best bit: Splat the Catfish!

Daddy's Favourite bit: We did manage to squeeze out a bit of love for this but it really did feel like something had gone horribly awry during its creation. Awww! Come on Splat, you're better than this!

(Kindly sent to us for review by HarperCollins Children's Books)

We feel like we've been through thick and thin with our favourite fuzzy-haired feline, Splat the Cat. Ever since we were first introduced to Rob Scotton's moggy hero back when we were given the first Splat the Cat book as part of a Bookstart pack, we've loved his adventures with Seymour (the black-olive-nosed mouse!)

The latest Splat book, "Splat Says Thank You!" is a rather touching celebration of the strong friendship Splat and Seymour share. What does Splat do when his best friend is one poorly little mouse?

What any good friend would do - Splat rallies round and creates a book specially for Seymour, telling him all about the times he's been there to help Splat through good times and bad.

We loved this - it was almost like a 'greatest hits' compilation, or those christmas episodes of your favourite sitcom where they play all the best bits from previous episodes as flashbacks (finding all the bits of your favourite Splat book as they crop up in the story is all part of the fun!)

A lovely but not overly sentimental book - and best of all, I could still do the daft 'Brummie' Splat voice while reading it, even after all this time. Thanks Splat!

Charlotte's best bit: Finding the bit where Splat was in love with a beautiful kitty. Awww!

Daddy's favourite bit: The realisation we'd somehow missed a Splat book or two (the school play? How did we miss that one!). Time to hunt them down!

(Kindly sent to us for review by HarperCollins Children's Books)

We originally discovered Splat the Cat through the excellent Booktrust "Bookstart" programme. Splat the Cat was one of Charlotte's free books and we reviewed it way back in the mists of time (good grief, I think I needed a proofreader back then, who the heck was Gerald the Mouse?!?)

We've loved Rob Scotton's books ever since and have faithfully tuned in to each new Splat episode with glee.

So what's our favourite wiry-haired moggy up to this time? When Splat's collection of ducks starts to mysteriously go missing, Splat emulates his favourite TV hero and turns into Secret Agent Splat. Aided and abetted by the mysterious 'S' (or as we've come to know him, SEYMOUR not Gerald - with his rather fantastic black-olive nose!) Splat decides to lay a trap for the mysterious duck thief.

A photograph is taken of the thief's ear which gives a few clues but it takes a rather nerve-jangling confrontation before Splat finds out the real reason for the missing ducks...

You'll have to read the book to solve the mystery yourself. Rob Scotton is back on form with a brilliant Splat book that is full of fun and absolutely gorgeous illustrations (how DOES Rob get Splat's fur looking so durned brilliant!? I've tried and tried and tried to draw fur like that to no avail!)

One puzzling mystery. Splat sprouted a sister (In Merry Christmas Splat!) and now has an older brother who seems to have mysteriously appeared!

Charlotte's best bit: Splat's super duper secret weapon. POW! And of course Seymour's new friend (is so cute!)

Daddy's favourite bit: Rob Scotton's brilliant illustrations, oh and of course the chance to do a squeaky brummy accent for Splat all over again. Hooray!

Love, Splat


Written and Illustrated by Rob Scotton


Amazon Link: £4.99


Published by HarperCollins Children's Books

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Who remembers their first day at school? Most adults probably won't but if you've got preschool kids who are a little worried about their first day in class, Splat the Cat is probably more worried than any of them put together. 
Rating: 4 out of 5