The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That! is an animated musical educational children's television series feature starring Martin Short as The Cat in the Hat. The series premiered on Treehouse TV in Canada on August 7, 2010, also airing on YTV and Nickelodeon Canada on weekday mornings from 2012 to 2013, and on PBS Kids and PBS Kids Preschool Block in the US on September 6, 2010; it also aired on CITV and Tiny Pop in the UK, and Disney Junior India. The series is based on Random House's Beginner Books franchise and The Cat in the Hat's Learning Library, itself based on the 1957 children's book The Cat in the Hat.
The series was produced by Portfolio Entertainment, Random House Children Entertainment, and Collingwood O'Hare Productions, in conjunction with KQED, PBS, Treehouse TV, and Kids' CBC. The first season has 40 half-hour episodes and ended on September 17, 2012.
In early 2012, the series was renewed a second season of 20 episodes, which premiered on September 10, 2012. After the second season finale, the series stayed in a hiatus until it started a third and final season containing 20 episodes. The third season premiered on March 2, 2018.
In September 2018, the series was canceled after three seasons before the finale aired on October 14, 2018. 80 episodes (160 segments) were produced. Since the show ended, reruns continued to air on the 24/7 PBS Kids channel through March 1, 2026. However, very few PBS stations continue to carry the series.
Season 3 of The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That! is available to stream for free on Tubi and Pluto TV.
Contents
Premise
In the show, The Cat in the Hat leads neighbors Nick, Sally (and sometimes the Fish and Thing One and Thing Two) on a variety of adventures in his "Thinga-ma-jigger", a Seussian contraption that can sprout wings to fly, pontoons, booster rockets, change size and do just about anything else necessary to further the adventure. Each episode is prompted by a question posed by either Nick or Sally at the beginning of each episode (along with the "Travelling Song" — a rock-'n'-roll song, with The Cat in the Hat saying a varied quote from Dr. Seuss that ends with a vowel —), that in turn inevitably leads them around the world to make natural science discoveries.
Like other programs on PBS Kids (such as Curious George and Sid the Science Kid), the show focuses on promoting science literacy for preschoolers.
Characters
Main
The Cat in the Hat (voiced by Martin Short) is a knowledgeable, adventurous, anthropomorphic cat. He loves to discover the world and act as Nick and Sally's guide, and he frequently speaks in rhyming patterns reminiscent of the Dr. Seuss character on which he is based. He is much wiser and less of a trickster in this incarnation.
Nicholas "Nick" Brown (voiced by Jacob Ewaniuk in seasons 1 & 2 and Deandray Hamilton in season 3) is a Jamaican-American boy and Sally's next-door neighbor and best friend. He replaces Sally's brother Conrad (who is also the unnamed narrator in the original book).
Sally Walden (voiced by Alexa Torrington in seasons 1 & 2 and Halle Nunes in season 3) is a blonde-haired girl and Nick's next-door neighbor and best friend.
Fish (voiced by Robert Tinkler) is a moderately pessimistic fish who is based on the fish in the original story and whose color is changed to red. However, in the first 2 seasons, he appears to belong to the Cat instead of Sally or Nick as depicted in this incarnation, until season 3, when he lives back with Sally or Nick; he is also much more cooperative, and sometimes joins the Cat's adventures.
Tinkler also voices Thing One and Thing Two, a pair of blue-haired humanoids in red suits who are the Cat's helpers. They speak their own language and sometimes join the Cat's adventures.
Supporting
Mrs. Brown (voiced by Tracey Hoyt), Nick's mother who appears in some episodes and, whenever Nick asks permission to go on an adventure with the Cat, the answering voice is heard; she speaks with a Caribbean accent.
Hoyt also voices Joan Walden, Sally's mother who appears in some episodes and, whenever Sally asks permission to go on an adventure with the Cat, the answering voice is heard.
Home media
NCircle Entertainment released DVDs from October 25, 2010 to June 27, 2016: each being in region 1, subtitled in English and Spanish; approximately 60 minutes (with a few exceptions); in Dolby Digital, in 5.1 surround and Dolby surround stereo in Spanish. Also, each has the bonus segments from the show.
Wings and Things
Show Me the Honey
Migration Vacation
I Love the Nightlife
Oh Give Me a Home
Many Ants Make Light Work
Up and Away
A Plan for Sand
Whale Music
Flower Power
Dress Up Day
Bath Time
Tales About Tails
Sticky Situation
Trees Company
Rain Game
You Should Be Dancing
A Tale About Tails
Told from the Cold
Snowman's Land
Flight of the Penguin
A Long Winter's Nap
Reindeer Games
Surprise, Little Guys
Awards
2012 Parents' Choice Award – Winner in Television
2012 Cynopsis: Kids !magination Awards – Winner, TV Series based on books
2012 Cynopsis: Kids !magination Awards – Winner, Song for a TV Series
2012 Kidscreen Awards – Recognized, Best Integrated Promotion
2012 Teachers' Choice Awards – For the Classroom: "Wings and Things" (DVD NCircle Entertainment)
2012 Young Artist Awards – Nominated, Best Performance in a Voice-Over, TV or Feature Film Young Actor
2012 Parents' Choice Award – Best Website
2012 Kidscreen Awards – Finalist, Best Companion Website
2012 Cynopsis: Kids !magination Awards – Honorable Mention, Website for a TV Series or TV Special
2012 Webby Awards – Website, Official Honoree
2011 – Nomination, Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program (Martin Short)
2011 Daytime Emmy Awards – Nomination, Outstanding Original Song in Children's & Animation
2011 NAPPA Awards – "Told from the Cold" (DVD NCircle Entertainment)
2011 WGC Screenwriting Awards – Winner, Animation
2011 Young Artist Awards – Nominated, Best Performance in a Voice-Over, TV or Feature Film Young Actor
