Mr Putter and Tabby Pour the Tea

   Mr. Putter and Tabby Pour the Tea by Cynthia Rylant

Illustrator: Arthur Howard

Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers

Date of Publilcation: March 30, 1994

ISBN #: 00152009019

Pages: 44

Theme: Family, Friendship

Format: Print, Beginning Chapter Book, Fiction

Ages: Grade 1-3

In the first in the series, Mr. Putter and Tabby Pour The Tea, we are introduced to Mr. Putter an elderly man who is lonely and wants to spend the rest of his life with a companion, a fury companion. He makes his way to an animal shelter and finds an older tabby cat to take home with him. They start their day sharing muffins and tea and end the day with Mr. Putter telling Tabby all his wonderful and full of life stories. By the end of the book, Mr. Putter and Tabby are inseparable and can’t imagine their life without each other. Join in on a truly fantastic story and learn all about Mr. Putter and Tabby.

Cynthia Rylant, Newbery and Caldecott award winning author has created several beginner chapter books like Poppleton and Henry and Mudge, but her series that explores the life of Mr. Putter and finding an old cat, their adventures together make these stories warm, cozy and children and parents wanting to read them again and again.

In one of her most loved, Mr. Putter and Tabby, Cynthia Rylant’s creates “wonderful stories that allow you and your audience to share the reading…the stories are light and have a twist that make it fun for adults and children alike.” (PBS Tracker) The simplicity of Mr. Putter’s life and finding Tabby to share his experiences with is the perfect combination for young readers to fall in love with reading. Mr. Putter an old man is looking for company, after going to an animal shelter to find an older cat to fit his personality, Mr. Putter brings home an old tabby cat and they become lifelong friends. Sharing muffins, scones and tea, Mr. Putter and Tabby become friends and can’t imagine life without one another.

Rylant’s work in the first book of the series is wonderful and full of charm. “Rylant’s text reflects admirable concern for brevity and meticulous consideration of every word. They are in perfect sync with Howard’s expression sketches…” (Publisher’s Weekly) I couldn’t agree more with this review, Cynthia Rylant is a master at storytelling and Arthur Howard’s illustrations completely complement the text and storyline. A fun and engaging read for parents and kids, Mr. Putter and Tabby is sure to become a classic. A great beginner series to introduce to elementary school age children in preparation for early literacy skills and finding the enjoyment of pleasure reading.

I was not introduced to this series until I started working in the Children’s Department at the local library when parents and kids kept coming to me to find Cynthia Rylant beginner books. Once, I was acquainted with the characters, I couldn’t help but read all the Mr. Putter and Tabby books we had.