Mr. Putter and Tabby Row the Boat

by Cynthia Rylant Narrated by John McDonough

Overview

It's summertime, and Mr. Putter and Tabby are tired of being hot. Their neighbor Mrs. Teaberry and her dog Zeke are sweaty, too. Maybe a trip to the pond will cool them off. Mrs. Teaberry packs a lunch of apple tea, tomato sandwiches, and kiwi salad. Mr. Putter likes her funny food. When they get to the pond, they rent a boat and find a shady spot for a picnic. They share tall tales while they eat. Mr. Putter tells about the time he won a worm race. Mrs. Teaberry tells about winning $300 and spending it all on nail polish. Soon everyone's feeling cool as cucumbers. John McDonough's playful narrative makes every one of Mr. Putter's outings as delightful and engaging as the last. Young readers can't get enough of this lovable old character who sees the world through playful young eyes.

Editorial Reviews

School Library Journal

Gr 1-3Those rumpled old friends are back in two new books. In Fly the Plane, Mr. Putter, who still loves toys, realizes his dream of flight with the acquisition of a radio-controlled plane. Tabby is uncomfortable around this noisy new toy but hides her feelings when she sees how happy it makes him. Mr. Putter eventually decides to give his beloved possession to an eager child. Rylant tells her story with clear yet lyrical prose, but the tale itself is a slight one, burdened with too much sentiment and not enough humor. Row the Boat is much better and typical of the series's deft mix of gentle humor and old-fashioned sentiment. On a hot summer day, the two friends are wondering how to escape the sweltering heat. Mr. Putter decides to head for the pond and invites along their neighbors, Mrs. Teaberry and her dog, Zeke. They pack a picnic lunch, rent a rowboat, and end up having a wonderful time. When the walk home leaves them just as hot as before, Mrs. Teaberry knows just the trick to cool them down. This is vintage Mr. Putter and Tabby: simple escapades enlivened by the conviviality of their warm friendship. Howard's colorful cartoons capture all of the fun and the expressions on the faces of the animals and the humans.Marilyn Taniguchi, Santa Monica Public Library, CA

Kirkus Reviews

A great little entry in Rylant and Howard's easy-to-read series (Mr. Putter and Tabby Pick the Pears, 1995, etc.), about the adventures of a charming elderly man and his lovably skittish cat, shown in wonderfully expressive illustrations.

Mr. Putter and Tabby are too old to be so hot: They sweat on the porch, in the kitchen, and under the oak tree, and finally decide to go down to the big pond to cool off. They invite Mrs. Teaberry and her dog, Zeke, and the rest of the afternoon is filled with simple summer pleasures: rowing, picnicking, soaking toes in the cool water, watching Tabby and Zeke find their own amusements. Of course, when it is time to go home, they get hot and sweaty again, but Mrs. Teaberry finds a delightful, if fleeting, solution to that. Full of down-to-earth touches as well as whimsical ones—a blue jay tries to peck the artificial grapes on Mrs. Teaberry's hat, Mr. Putter's reminisces about the county worm race he won with an entrant named Jack—this is a comfortable and nifty addition to the series.

FEB/MAR 02 - AudioFile

Cynthia Rylant is one of the most prolific writers of easy fiction these days, and her Mr. Putter & Tabby series is one of the most humorous. John McDonough is consistently delightful as Mr. Putter, imbuing the characters and their friendships with warmth and camaraderie, as they try to cool off in the heat of the summer. McDonough's slow, relaxed pace makes it easy for new listeners to follow along as they learn the sounds and inflections of new words, and adds to the sense of heat and enervation that a hot summer day can bring. Without individualized voices, he moves the story and characters right along. W.L.S. © AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940170966028
Publisher:	Recorded Books, LLC
Publication date:	04/03/2009
Series:	Mr. Putter and Tabby Series
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	5 - 8 Years

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