Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Comical cat's holiday special teaches kids about courage.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 3+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About Halloween!
What's the Story?
In THE CAT IN THE HAT KNOWS A LOT ABOUT HALLOWEEN!, Nick (voiced by Jacob Ewaniuk) and Sally (Alexa Torrington) are busy getting ready for trick-or-treating when Cat (Martin Short) pops in to help them plan their costumes. Lacking inspiration, the kids are swept away on a fun-filled adventure in the Thingamajigger with Cat to locate the Oooky-ma-kooky closet and the costumes it holds, but getting there is a little harder than they imagined. With detours into a dark forest, a spooky cave, and a haunted fun house, this story is filled with Halloween spirit, and it challenges Nick and Sally to face some of their fears along the way.
Is It Any Good?
Field trips are never as fun with anyone else as they are with Cat in charge, and this rollicking romp through all things Halloween is no exception. There are ghosts, monsters, and a few creepy-crawlies, plus some time spent exploring nature's changes in autumn and why they come about. Fun music, silly laughs, and a recurring gag that sees Fish attempting to scare Cat keep every moment lively.
Cat continues to be a font of useful information, not only about things such as leaves changing and thunderstorms but also about this story's theme of facing fears. Many of the scares Nick and Sally confess to will ring true with young kids who watch -- unexplained noises, dark rooms, getting lost, and so on. As the characters learn to conquer their fears, parents can reinforce the excellent lessons in The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About Halloween! by addressing some of their kids' own worries and, as Cat says, "Take charge and fix it!"
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about fears and character traits such as courage in The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About Halloween!. Kids: What are some of your biggest fears? Do you have to face them very often? What does it mean to have courage? Can you be scared and have courage at the same time? What are some other important character traits?
What Halloween traditions do you see represented in this story? What are some of your family's holiday traditions that mean the most to you?
Why is Cat such a popular character? Are there other Dr. Seuss characters that you especially like? Which book would you like to see made into a TV series or movie, and why?
Movie Details
- In theaters : October 28, 2016
- On DVD or streaming : September 6, 2016
- Cast : Martin Short , Alexa Torrington , Jacob Ewaniuk
- Studio : NCircle Entertainment
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Book Characters , Animals , Holidays , Arts ( Music and Sing-Along ) , STEM
- Character Strengths : Courage
- Run time : 60 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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