  | Full Text Reviews: School Library Journal - 08/01/2015 Gr 1–3—Mr. Putter and his trusty cat, Tabby, adore their friends, Mrs. Teaberry and her rascally dog, Zeke. They enjoy one another's company and often celebrate holidays and accomplishments together. When it is time to celebrate Mrs. Teaberry's birthday, Mr. Putter and Tabby brainstorm a perfect gift for their green-thumbed friend: a trip to the conservatory! Being quiet and still becomes too much to bear for the energetic Zeke, who runs wild, quickly followed by his friend Tabby. The adults become flustered. However, the enthusiasm of their canine and feline companions yield unexpectedly funny results. The simple pencil, gauche, and watercolor illustrations beautifully reflect the warm relationship among the four close characters. There is a nice balance between intriguing text and creative pictures, making this a wonderful choice for developing readers. VERDICT Fans of this beloved series will welcome this new volume into their collection, and it will make an excellent choice for storytimes about pets and friendship.—Maria Alegre, The Dalton School, New York City - Copyright 2015 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Booklist - 08/01/2015 Determined to make Mrs. Teaberry’s birthday special, Mr. Putter takes her to the conservatory along with her dog, Zeke, and his cat, Tabby. The pets are on their best behavior “for exactly five minutes,” at which point Zeke chomps down a bunch of bananas, and Tabby dislodges lemons from a nearby tree. The party moves on to an ice cream parlor for dessert. It’s hard to articulate what makes these four characters so endearing, but their unflappable good humor is high on the list. Using simple words and short sentences effectively, Rylant knows just what to include (fruit-related disasters) as well as what to leave out (any scolding of pets). Howard’s pencil, watercolor, and gouache illustrations are amiable and expressive. A treat for fans of the Mr. Putter & Tabby series. - Copyright 2015 Booklist. Loading...
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