MR. PUTTER & TABBY TURN THE PAGE

The tried-and-true beginning reader series explores the joys of shared reading.

Mr. Putter and Tabby are initially depicted as happy with their placid life, and they spend “their favorite quiet times reading.” When Mr. Putter finds out about a special storytime offered at the local library that invites community members to read with their pets, he is intrigued. This won’t be the same as the solitary shared reading they share at home, but memories of his childhood teacher reading aloud to him in his classroom prompt Mr. Putter to give it a whirl. He shares his plans (and then regrets doing so) with his effervescent neighbor, Mrs. Teaberry, who is the quintessential dog person to Mr. Putter’s calmer, cat-loving self. Ultimately, both pet-and-person pairs deliver successful, albeit quite different storytimes to the children at the library, and they leave with both good memories and good books to share with one another. The simple story is broken up into five short chapters, and Howard’s pencil, watercolor and gouache illustrations successfully reinforce the gentle humor of the story and characterization.

A sweet and nicely different take on the pleasure of reading.