When Mr. Putter brings home three goldfish, his cat Tabby becomes obsessed with them. Her tail twitches, her whiskers tingle, and she can't keep from batting the fishbowl with her paws. Her fish problem gets so bad that Mr. P. gives the fish to his neighbor, and everyone relaxes. Rylant's sweet story and likable characters are complemented by Howard's fluid, bold-outlined watercolors. From HORN BOOK Fall 2001, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Gr. 2^-4. Rylant's new entry in the delightful Mr. Putter & Tabby easy chapter-book series has the usual one-two punch. Mr. Putter and his beloved cat love going to the pet shop, but Mr. Putter always gets a little nostalgic watching the fish, and fish make Tabby twitch. When Mr. Putter takes some fish home--to help him feel like a boy again and to give Tabby's tail some exercise--what seemed a good idea turns into disaster. Tabby becomes obsessed with the new arrivals. Mr. Putter tries covering the fishbowl with a pillowcase (which sprouts a tail) and a bucket, but he eventually has to take more drastic measures to end Tabby's "fish problem." As always, Howard's loosely sketched cartoon style depicts characters and situations with telling economy. Children will giggle at the goggle-eyed cat, sympathize with her misery, and breathe a sigh of relief once the fish are gone. --Shelley Townsend-Hudson

This is one of the very best of Rylant's Putter-Tabby dyad, as always affectionately depicted by the master of droll illustration. Mr. Putter decides to buy some fish to have at home. They remind him of his childhood. Tabby likes fish too. They "made her whiskers tingle and her tail twitch." And how: "Mr. Putter and Tabby drove their fish home. Tabby nearly twitched herself out of the car." Once they are home and the fish safely in their bowl, Tabby's whiskers chill and her tail quietens, but her paw swings into action. "Bat. Bat. Bat. Bat." It goes against the glass bowl. She can't control herself. By the time evening rolls around, Tabby is so frazzled it looks like she will have to enter a treatment program. So Mr. Putter drapes a pillowcase over the fishbowl. In the morning Tabby is found under the pillowcase and hard at batting the bowl. Mr. Putter is reduced to putting a metal pail over the bowl. A few days of that sad arrangement and they decide to give the fish to their neighbor Mrs. Teaberry. Like great farce, Rylant has chosen every word impeccably and Howard has drawn Tabby to a T, tingling whiskers, wayward paw, and all. Readers young and old will laugh themselves silly. (Easy reader. 4-9)

K-Gr 2-Another charmer about Mr. Putter and his cat. In this story, the man buys three goldfish, only to find that Tabby has a "fish problem." The feline is mesmerized and can't keep away from them. He bats playfully at the bowl and even sneaks under the pillowcase used to cover it. Ultimately, Mr. Putter gives the new pets to his neighbor and all is well once again. This easy-reader combines an interesting story with expressive illustrations that provide plenty of picture clues. Through short, simple sentences, Rylant creates strong, believable characters that youngsters will want to get to know. They'll enjoy this installment and look for other books about this engaging pair.-Anne Knickerbocker, Cedar Brook Elementary School, Houston, TX (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.