Mr. Putter and Tabby Take the Train

by Cynthia Rylant, Arthur Howard (Illustrator)

Overview

Mr. Putter and his fine cat, Tabby, are going for a train ride with their neighbors, Mrs. Teaberry and her good dog, Zeke. They've planned the perfect afternoon trip. But when they get to the station, they're in for a big surprise: No pets are allowed on the train! It looks like the trip is off, until Mr. Putter comes up with a clever idea. . . .

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780152023898
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	02/28/2000
Series:	Mr. Putter and Tabby Series
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	44
Sales rank:	139,749
Product dimensions:	6.25(w) x 8.75(h) x 0.69(d)
Lexile:	540L (what's this?)
Age Range:	6 - 9 Years

About the Author

Cynthia Rylant is a Newbery Medalist and the author of many acclaimed books for young people. She's well known for her popular characters for early readers, including Mr. Putter & Tabby and Henry & Mudge. She lives in the Pacific Northwest. cynthiarylant.com

Arthur Howard created the lively illustrations for all the Mr. Putter & Tabby books and has written and illustrated several picture books of his own. He lives in New York City.

Editorial Reviews

Gr 1-3-Mr. Putter and his cat, Tabby, are friends and neighbors of Mrs. Teaberry and her bulldog, Zeke. When Mrs. T suggests taking a train ride, they load up games, binoculars, doggy lollipops, and a blanket for naps, only to discover that pets are not allowed. Undaunted, Mr. Putter and Mrs. Teaberry go home and return to the train station, having hidden Tabby and Zeke in a picnic basket and knapsack. They sneak the animals onboard and enjoy a wonderful trip. The charm and whimsy of this story are marred only by the devious behavior of the adult characters, which sends the message that it is acceptable to disregard rules that are not to one's liking. If the friends did not want to leave their creatures at home, they could have found another activity. That said, the narrative is endearing for its humor and for the lively illustrations that capture both the lovable personalities of Tabby and Zeke and the affection showered on them by their indulgent owners.-Diane Janoff, Queens Borough Public Library, NY

School Library Journal

Rylant's lovable pair (Mr. Putter and Tabby Row the Boat, 1997, etc.) are off on another adventure, this time with cohorts Mrs. Teaberry and her bulldog, Zeke. Mrs. Teaberry proposes a train ride, and Mr. Putter, recalling past rides over the rails, agrees. They arrive at the station loaded down with treats and bones, blankets and pets, only to discover pets are not allowed. Refusing to let that dampen their spirits, they go back home, each returning with a suspiciously lumpy, wiggling carry-on. The pets get smuggled along, and as the two oldsters nibble banana crunchies and the scenery flies by, nothing could be jollier. The pace may lag, but Howard's comfortable full-color drawings along with Rylant's humorous storytelling make this amble a delight. (Fiction. 6-10)

Kirkus Reviews

Elderly Mr. Putter is delighted when Mrs. Teaberry invites him to take a train ride, especially when she reassures him that pets are allowed on the train. Once the two seniors discover that Zeke and Tabby are NOT welcome, the two bend the rules and manage to have a wonderful outing. Narrator John McDonough provides just the right voice for this series. Sounding as though he is smiling as he reads, he maintains an expansive pace that carries listeners graciously through the story. The unhurried pace is no doubt helpful to new readers, but because McDonough seems to enjoy these stories, it works for older listeners too. J.C.G. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine

AUG/SEP 06 - AudioFile