Mr. Putter & Tabby Smell the Roses (Mr. Putter & Tabby)

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