Parents' Guide to

The Cat in the Hat Builds That

By Mieke VanderBorght, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 4+

Upbeat feline offers fun STEM exploration on- and offscreen.

App iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire Free Education
The Cat in the Hat Builds That Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this app.

  • The Cat in the Hat Builds That App: Screenshot #1
  • The Cat in the Hat Builds That App: Screenshot #2
  • The Cat in the Hat Builds That App: Screenshot #3
  • The Cat in the Hat Builds That App: Screenshot #4

Community Reviews

See all

There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.

What’s It About?

Kids start THE CAT IN THE HAT BUILDS THAT in a tree house where they can choose from three games. Sort items by color and shape with the Sorta-ma-gogo. Adjust the height of a slide and pour different substances on it (e.g., sand, butter) to slide down faster or slower with the Slidea-ma-zoo. And build bridges with differently sized pieces in Bridge-a-rama. Complete a certain number of levels to unlock a similar free play game -- e.g., experiment with building bridges -- in the tree house. Gameplay is rewarded with stars and decorative items for the tree house. There's also a free draw area where kids design and test ideas over templates of the game's machines, and ideas for offscreen play.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say Not yet rated
Kids say (1):

Fun games gently introduce some foundational science and engineering skills and let kids explore. Well-loved characters guide kids as they sort, build bridges, and adjust slides. Though the graphical feel is true to Dr. Seuss' whimsical style, the audio sometimes feels canned, with awkward pauses between some words. The games get more challenging as kids keep playing, which allows kids to stay on their toes. And the free-play games that open after kids pass a few levels let kids play however they want. There's lots of help and explicit instructions for navigation and gameplay. But the app's organization is a bit unclear, which may or may not affect kids' play experience. Some aspects of the games are mundane, while others are creative, unique features. For example, many preschool apps offer a sorting game, but not many allow kids to change the height of a slide and put different substances on it to experiment with momentum and surface friction. It's also nice that there are often multiple solutions to each challenge, and kids are encouraged to try multiple times to see what happens. To that end, The Cat in the Hat Builds That does offer something unique to the crowded field of preschool apps.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about STEM concepts in The Cat in the Hat Builds That. Encourage kids to verbalize as they experiment. How long are those bridge pieces? What happens when you make the slide taller or put sand on it?

  • Give kids opportunities to experiment offscreen. Build bridges, towers, slides, and more with blocks, boxes, or whatever you can get your hands on. Explore the suggestions in the app's tree house for new ideas.

  • Talk to your kids about branding. Are they more interested in these games because of The Cat in the Hat? Why or why not?

App Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended app lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate