Customer Reviews

Le Chat Chapeaute = The Cat in the Hat (French Edition)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I ordered this book to share with our two-year old son, who loves every single Dr Seuss book. We are raising him in French and English.
I was disappointed by the format: really too small for very young children and little hands, but as a native French speaker, I am delighted with the translation. And that is really what matters. I wish there were many more Dr Seuss books translated.

I was introduced to Dr Seuss by my husband a long time ago. Just got the French version of one of the books and thought it did a great job translating the humor and play of words.

Great little book.

Please note you can get a full size hardcover edition for LESS money.
This paperback "pocket" edition is TINY.

This is a great translation - they really translated the spirit of Dr. Seuss. There's a good rhythm, lots of rhymes and word play, etc. I grew up with Dr. Seuss in English and this translation feels like Seuss to me. I've seen another version of Chat Chapeaute that translates the original literally and it is terrible! Completely misses the point of Dr. Seuss.
My only complaint is that this book is paperback and it is small - difficult for my nearly 2 year old to hold while I read. The only big hardback version of Chat Chapeaute I have found was the literal translation version which I don't think is worth buying at any price, so we'll have to get by with this.

We have 3 French Dr. Seuss books now. Le Chat Chapeaute looks like a thin, paperback novel. The other two books, which were actually a little cheaper, are hardcover (exactly like the English hardcover Dr. Seuss books). While I knew this would be a paperback, I assumed it would be larger, like a picture book. The French is well-translated. My four year old likes it, but it's hard for her to hold the book while I read the story to her.

I really enjoy The Cat in the Hat and now I can share it with kids who only speak French!

I read the book to my daughter class (2nd Grades). The children really enjoy it. I will also suggest the book for teen who learn French.

I don't know how the other reviewers can say this is a good translation if they are comparing it to the original English version, even by a purported native speaker of French. As an example, the translation for the following:

The sun did not shine.

Was given by this book as:

Ce jour-la (with grave accent on the 'a'), il pleuvait.

This translates, approximately to:

That day it rained.

The correct French version should read:

Le soleil ne brillait pas,

Granted, I have just started to learn this beautiful language but its not too hard to see that, for instance, the translation for 'sun' is 'soleil'. If you want to learn correct French and believe, like I do, that children's books are a great place to start, then stay away from this book.