The Cat in the Hat (
1957) is a book in rhyme about a
fictional cat created by
Dr. Seuss. He appears to conduct a reign of terror one rainy day while two children's mother is away. Bringing with him Thing One and Thing Two, his zany antics make quite a to-do. He does every trick a naughty child might wish, vainly opposed by a conscientious fish. The mischief he does makes quite a big mess, but he cleans the house up on his way out, as you'd guess.
He made a return appearance in The Cat in the Hat Comes Back (1958).