In the first in a new series of easy readers, the lonely Mr. Putter finally meets someone to share his tea--and his stories. By the Newbery Medalist for Missing May. - (Baker & Taylor)Mr. Putter gets an old cat to share his life with him - (Baker & Taylor)
"The gentle, affecting first volume introduces elderly Mr. Putter, who decides that a cat will keep him from feeling lonely. Rylant’s texts reflect admirable concern for brevity and meticulous consideration of every word. They are in perfect sync with Howard’s expressive sketches, which slip abundant visual jokes into sunny, transparent watercolors and gouaches, and fluid pencil and pastel scribbles."--Publishers Weekly
- (Houghton)
Kirkus Reviews
~ Mr. Putter craves someone to share his muffins and tea and stories; sensibly ignoring the pet store lady's conviction that only ``cute,'' ``peppy'' kittens are worthy (``Mr. Putter himself had not been cute and peppy for a very long time''), he goes to the animal shelter and chooses an old yellow cat--a little deaf, and with thinning hair, like him. It goes without saying that the two become comfortable companions. Rylant's apt descriptions and artful repetitions set this easy reader and its sequel (Mr. Putter and Tabby Walk the Dog, ISBN: 0-15-256259-1) a cut above the competition, though not on a par with her own incomparable Henry and Mudge. Howard catches the story's appealing pathos, as well as its humor, in a practiced cartoon style. (Easy reader. 4- 8) Copyright 1999 Kirkus Reviews
Publishers Weekly Reviews
Two tales about companionship mark the highly propitious start of a new series. The gentle, affecting first volume introduces elderly Mr. Putter, who decides that a cat will keep him from feeling lonely. Only kittens are available at the pet store (`` `Oh, no one wants cats, sir,' said the pet store lady. `They are not cute. They are not peppy.' Mr. Putter himself has not been cute and peppy for a very long time''). At the animal shelter, however, he finds Tabby, a decidedly old yellow-and-white cat who needs a friend, too. In the second installment, quicker paced if less true to life, Mr. Putter and Tabby offer to take care of a neighbor's bulldog, Zeke, only to discover that Zeke isn't the darling ``little lollypup'' his owner believes him to be. Rylant's ( Missing May ; the Henry and Mudge series) texts, each broken into three short chapters, reflect admirable concern for brevity and meticulous consideration of every word. They are in perfect sync with Howard's expressive sketches, which slip abundant visual jokes into sunny, transparent watercolors and gouaches, and fluid pencil and pastel scribbles. Because the animals aren't strongly anthropomorphized, a sense of realism prevails, and the overall effect is sweet but never schmaltzy. Winsome and warmhearted, these books could become instant favorites. Ages 6-10. (Mar.) Copyright 1994 Cahners Business Information.
