There are so many things to like about Scholastic's My First Collection Featuring Splat the Cat, particularly if you are a fan of children's literature. Caldecott Medal winners, Booklist Editor's Choice awards, and ALA Notable Book and Video winners--these are stories worth reading, viewing, and enjoying.

The collection includes 14 stories on three DVDs. There are a variety of stories about furry friends featuring Splat the Cat, including Hondo and Fabian, Picnic, and Leo the Late Bloomer. There's also a collection of stories about fine-feathered friends, including The Story About Ping (a fun little classic about a naughty duck on China's Yangtze River), Goose, The Most Wonderful Egg in the World, Duck on a Bike, and Rosie's Walk. The third DVD contains some really good selections that rhyme: The Napping House, Each Peach Pear Plum, Drummer Hoff, Bear Snores On, and Wild About Books. 

Scholastic tends to produce quality products, and this collection is no exception. Retaining the original stories and illustrations, the DVD sets each story to music and features excellent narration by celebrated actors such as Catherine O'Hara and Laura Dern. A read-along feature is also included. Early readers can read the text along with the narrator, which I find particularly appealing and motivating for my youngest students and beginning readers. There's a Spanish version of The Story About Ping, and don't be surprised if you find your children fascinated by that! I discovered mine watching the Spanish version. When I asked why, they replied, "Because we like it!" But of course. 

My First Collection Featuring Splat the Cat is 1 hour and 40 minutes long and is recommended for 2 to 6-year-olds, but don't discredit it for your slightly older students. I catch mine in there, fascinated right along with the little ones. Because the stories are children's books, they are easily divided and watched in short spurts, excellent for a brief rest time or quiet morning activity.

If my kids are going to tune into something on the television, I'm definitely okay with it being these delightful classic children's tales. A little hint from one mom to another: if you've got a kiddo right about the age where naps are few and far between, My First Collection Featuring Splat the Cat is a calm, sweet, and worthwhile quiet-time activity.