“I’ll pick the most perfect pumpkin ever,” he promised.

While mowing the lawn, Rob Scotton saw a cat on the fence post take a huge tumble and SPLAT, land right on its face. That one incident, which to most of us would have just passed by, became to Rob Scotton the spark of inspiration for his humorous, character-driven stories, Splat the Cat! Pull up a pumpkin and join us for a tail of Splat:

Introducing Our Featured Friend: Splat the Cat and the Pumpkin-Picking Plan by Rob Scotton

As fall is on a roll, so is Splat, literally. After “helping” his mom rake leaves, (AKA, jumping in the pile) she sent him to Farmer Patch’s pumpkin patch to pick out a pumpkin. Splat and his accomplice, Seymour, enjoyed the hay-bale maze and the cup of apple-and-fish cider.

Then Splat remembered: he was supposed to pick out the perfect pumpkin.
“The perfect pumpkin should be big, orange, and round,” he told Seymour.

After finding just the right one, there was one problem: the pumpkin was too big for his wagon so he decided to ROLL it home! “Help!” Splat yelled, as he rolled down the hill. Then he realized he could steer the pumpkin with his feet. Splat, Seymour and their giant, big, orange, and round pumpkin rolled over a bridge, between the traffic and right through his front gate . . . to his mom who was finishing raking the leaves.

Splat and Seymour were sprawled on top of their giant pumpkin, smiling at mom.
“Well done!”

Inviting You to Become FRIENDS with Splat the Cat:
Feel, Relate, Imagine, Explore, Navigate, Develop, Share

Select a couple of questions and activities to do with your kids or class:

F– How do you feel when autumn comes? Excited about the cooler weather and fall activities, sad about summer coming to a close, happy about the holidays approaching . . .?

R– Can you relate to Splat’s and Seymour’s challenge of finding just the right pumpkin to decorate. What do you look for when you are picking out your pumpkin? How do you like to decorate your pumpkin? Check out 40 pumpkin projects from Country Living for ideas:
http://www.countryliving.com/crafts/projects/pumpkin-decorating-1009#slide-5

I– Imagine you get to be at Farmer Patch’s Pumpkin Patch with Splat and Seymour. What activities and/or treats could you add to the pumpkin patch adventure?

E– Explore a pumpkin patch, hay-bale or corn maze, and/or a fall festival in your area.

N– Navigate through these mazes and do some math too (print off):
coolmath-games.com/mazes-to-print-out-01.html

D– Develop a piece of pumpkin art!

S– Share your favorite fall recipe. Here’s one we make each fall in honor of my mom:

Grandma Primo’s Pumpkin Bread
3 1/2 Cups of Flour
3 Cups of Sugar
1/2 Tsp. Salt
2 Tsp. Baking Soda
1 Tsp. Cinnamon
1 Tsp. Nutmeg
1 Cup Oil
4 Eggs
2/3 Cup Water
1 Tsp. Vanilla
2 Cups Pumpkin (1 can)
1 Cup Nuts- Optional
*We like to double the recipe to make extra for gifts and/or freeze them.

Mix all dry ingredients in one bowl; Mix all wet ingredients together in another. Then blend them all together. Divide batter into 3 bread loaf pans or into 36 muffin cups.

350 degrees, 40min-1 hour for bread loaves, 12-20 minutes for muffins

Fourth generation baking pumpkin bread!

Illustrations:

http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/splatthecat

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