Why Cats Wash after Dinner Level 15-16

Why Cats Wash After Dinner is a traditional folktale from South Carolina that tells the clever story of a tiny mouse outwitting a hungry cat. Rich in narrative structure, this story opens with a classic folktale phrase and weaves a humorous yet thoughtful plot. The text includes blends (sh, st, cr, tr, fr) and letter clusters (str, squ) to build decoding and phonics skills. Direct speech is used throughout to teach dialogue conventions, and the close picture/text match reinforces comprehension. The presence of a small graphic beside each page number adds a visual cue that supports engagement and sequencing. With themes of problem-solving and cleverness, students are encouraged to explore character motivation and genre features. This story serves as a springboard for genre comparison, prediction, and detailed written responses about characters and emotions, making it ideal for guided reading in upper primary levels.

Educational Benefits:

• Enhances phonics with blends and letter clusters.
• Builds genre awareness through traditional tale structure.
• Supports analysis of character traits and story structure.
• Reinforces direct speech and punctuation usage.

Classroom Ideas:

• Compare the story with another folktale from a different culture.
• Practise reading with expression using the dialogue.
• Identify and sort word blends and clusters found in the text.
• Write a sequel imagining what the mouse does next.

Information:

• Ages: 8-10 years
• Size: 19cm x 16.5cm
• Pages: 16
• Reading Level: Level 15-16 (Orange)