Mr. Putter & Tabby Feed the Fish

Mr. Putter & Tabby #10

by Cynthia Rylant, Arthur Howard (Illustrator)

Mr. Putter and Tabby love going to the fish store. Mr. Putter loves it because he has always liked fish. Tabby loves it because fish make her whiskers tingle and her tail twitch. So one day Mr. Putter and Tabby decide to bring three fish home. And that's when they discover that Tabby has a fish problem. . . .

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Cats, Animals, Humor, Chapter Books

44 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2001

About the author

An author of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry for children and young adults as well as an author and author/illustrator of picture books for children, Cynthia Rylant is recognized as a gifted writer who has contributed memorably to several genres of juvenile literature. A prolific author who often bases her works on her own background, especially on her childhood in the West Virginia mountains, she is the creator of contemporary novels and historical fiction for young adults, middle-grade fiction and fantasy, lyrical prose poems, beginning readers, collections of short stories, volumes of poetry and verse, books of prayers and blessings, two autobiographies, and a biography of three well-known children's writers; several volumes of the author's fiction and picture books are published in series, including the popular "Henry and Mudge" easy readers about a small boy and his very large dog.

Rylant is perhaps most well known as a novelist. Characteristically, she portrays introspective, compassionate young people who live in rural settings or in small towns and who tend to be set apart from their peers.

from bookrags.com

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fishbowl for a cat is like a video game for a person. Such excitement! I particularly love that the birds in Putter's yard are recognizable real species, not just random.
---
Treated myself to a reread. Oh, Tabby. You're such a sweet old gal, hard to remember that your ancestors were predators. This is such a brilliant series, esp. for us older folks and those of you who love us.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful tale about a man and his cat. Mr. Putter decides to bring home some fish, and Tabby is so excited. Her tail twitches and her whiskers tingle, and she just can't stay away from the fish! Such a cute story and fun illustrations too. It's a great book to read aloud.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was a lot of fun, and the kids were cracking up at poor Tabby's "fish problem." Super cute and funny! The pictures were great, and not only are we coming to love Mr. Putter and Tabby, but also Mrs. Teaberry and her good dog Zeke.

[Libby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Introduced my five year old to Mr. Putter and Tabby--I remember how much I love these and hope to look for some more on our next trip to the library.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

First sentence: Mr. Putter and his fine cat, Tabby, loved going to the fish store. Mr. Putter loved it because he had owned goldfish as a boy. He had always liked goldfish. Tabby loved it because it made her whiskers tingle and her tail twitch. Tabby was old, but she still loved excitement. And fish were exciting!



Premise/plot: What will happen when Mr. Putter decide to buy three goldfish for his home?! Will Tabby be able to take all the excitement?! Maybe. Maybe not.

Mr. Putter watched. And Tabby batted. Bat. Bat. Bat. "Don't bat the fish, Tabby," said Mr. Putter. But Tabby couldn't help it. She got all twitchy. Bat went her paw on the glass. "No batting," said Mr. Putter. Bat. Bat. Bat. Bat. Finally Mr. Putter said, "Come on, Tabby, let's go to bed. We'll watch the fish tomorrow." Tabby wanted to go to bed. She needed to go to bed. She was tired from all that batting. But she couldn't move.

My thoughts: I really LOVED this one. Tabby steals the show in this early chapter book. I loved the writing. Even though this is the tenth book in the series, readers continue to learn new things about these two.


In one of my favorite scenes, Mr. Putter puts a bucket over the goldfish bowl so that Tabby can be "freed" of her addiction, her fascination. In the next scene, we see them watching birds out the window:

They watched birds instead of fish while they ate. Tabby didn't have a bird problem. Mr. Putter was glad. He wasn't sure he could get all those birds under one bucket.

And Howard's illustrations of Tabby are so expressive, so amusing! I would definitely recommend this series!

[Nicola · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Mr Putter! Another one in the series checked off our list.

Miss 4 and I like to explore different books and authors at the library, sometimes around particular topics or themes. We try to get different ones out every week or so; it's fun for both of us to have the variety and to look at a mix of new & favourite authors.

[Mila · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book because Mr Putter and Tabby got a pet fish, and I thought that Tabby was going to eat it. But who knows? It’s for me to know and you to find out!

I will not give away the ending because it is very silly.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jacob read this chapter book to us for the LaQuinta library summer reading program.

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mr. Putter & Tabby, his fine cat liked looking at fish. Mr. Putter decided to buy some, and bring them home to look at. Tabby had a problem, her tail twitched as she watched the fish, and she liked to bat the bowl. To help Tabby with her problem Mr. Putter gave the fish to his neighbor, and good friend Mrs. Teaberry, and her good dog Zeke. Tabby was cured, and Zeke relaxed while watching the fish.

[Suzanne Lorraine Kunz Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love how this book explores the concept that what might be healthy and good for one person is not healthy and good for another. And that when something is not healthy and good for a person it's time to get rid of it.

[JaNeal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, so much fun! Tabby's problem is both tense and delightful. The resolution is spot on as well. Rylant nailed it on this one! I love a well-done ER book. Twitch!

[Josie · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOL! Tabby and her twitchy tail. SOOOOOOO FUNNY!

[Alycia · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are just the cutest books! My eldest child is absolutely loving them too. 😃

[Ann M. Noser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always enjoy this children's series. This book is no exception.

[Julia Orr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tabby has a fish problem.

[Terry Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love Tabby! This series is delightful and the illustrations bring a smile all the time.

[Memory Toast · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cats and fish just don't mix ;)

[Lillian Slater · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think Tabby might have a fish problem…

[Lucy Kirby · Rating 5 out of 5]

So cute. My cats would be just like (if not worse) than Tabby if I brought home some fish.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this whole series of books about elders and their pets. This book teaches the skill of problem-solving without the need for blame.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm sure Mr. Putter didn't realize that there are too many fish in that small bowl. A fish should have at least fifteen gallons of water.

[Courtney Dyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. Putter & Tabby Feed the Fish is a laugh-out-loud funny book about what happens with Mr. Putter and his fine cat Tabby bring home some fish. Arthur Howard’s pencil, watercolor, and gouache illustrations are absolutely stunning and add to the humor of the story.

Mr. Putter loved goldfish, but the fish made Tabby’s whiskers tingle and tail twitch. She couldn’t control her paws from batting the fish bowl. It seemed that Tabby had a fish problem. What was Mr. Putter to do?



Mr. Putter & Tabby has easily become my favorite easy-reader series for young children. Like Henry and Mudge, it is perfect for beginning fluent readers in either 1st or 2nd grade. The illustrations are absolutely mesmerizing! Also, I love the heartwarming relationship portrayed between an old man and his cat… so cute! As a teacher, I would give a quick book talk or read aloud the first book in this series to students to introduce and hopefully hook them on this new series. During independent reading time, this series makes for great practice of skills like making predictions, making connections, identifying story structure, and retelling.

[Rosa Cline · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun story about an elderly man and his pet cat. they both decide to get some pet fish. He misses having goldfish from when he was a kid and Tabby loves watching them. BUT when they get them Tabby is OBSESSED with the fish. She can't seem to do nothing else but pat at them. Your child will giggle all the way through this book at the antics at Tabby. Mr Putter does everything he can think of to help Tabby until he finally calls his best friend and neighbor Mrs. Teaberry and her dog Zeke and they take the goldfish. So Mr Putter and Tabby can still go and visit them but not be obsessed with them.

This series of books I really enjoy because it exposes children to an elderly gentleman and his pet cat and his elderly best friend and neighbor an elderly woman and her pet dog. The various fun things they do and get into. Letting children know that elderly still do fun things and are fun to be around.

[Chantelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son and I both thoroughly enjoyed every book in this series (through #18; the rest weren't published / available at our library yet). Mrs. Rylant's sentence structure is simple enough for beginning readers to enjoy but don't let that fool you! Each book contains an engaging plot, clever & silly humor, and underlying themes of friendship, thoughtfulness, and responsibility. We spent many hours laughing together at the (mis)adventures of Mr. Putter, Tabby, and their friends. We were excited to find out what would happen as we started each book. HIGHLY recommend!!!

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is #10 in the Series

This is the first one we read in the series. We were hooked!

Amazon Book Description:
Mr. Putter and Tabby love going to the fish store. Mr. Putter loves it because he has always liked fish. Tabby loves it because fish make her whiskers tingle and her tail twitch. So, one day Mr. Putter and Tabby decide to bring three fish home. And that's when they discover Tabby has a fish problem. . . .

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. Putter and Tabby love going to the fish store. Mr. Putter loves it because he has always liked fish. Tabby loves it because fish make her whiskers tingle and her tail twitch. So, one day Mr. Putter and Tabby decide to bring three fish home. And that's when they discover Tabby has a fish problem. .

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute little story that is enhanced by Tabby's twitching tail and batting, and by the appearance of Mrs. Teaberry and Zeke. I'm probably overthinking, but I couldn't help feeling sorry for the fish when they were under the bucket for a week. But I guess it is OK since fish won't live long in a bowl that small anyway.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Mr. Putter was a boy he had goldfish, so one day he and tabby went to the pet store where he bought three goldfish and a fish bowl to keep them in. It proved to be way too much excitement for Tabby, who couldn’t stay away from those fish, so Mr. Putter had to find a way to solve that problem. Cute funny story, great illustrations.

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amusing story about what happens when Mr. Putter and his cat, Tabby, bring home three goldfish. The friendship between Mr. Putter and Tabby is heartwarming, everyone behaves considerately and there are no fish casualties.

[Cimuchowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great illustrations!!!