Harry Cat's Pet Puppy (Chester Cricket and His Friends #3)

Enjoy this tale for its portrayal of a New York (and a New York Times that had ceased to exist. Selden prefers things, and people, as they ought to be.

The illustrations (they sell the book to even a reluctant reader) by Garth Williams would elevate this tale from a three star to a four but its message - subtly and skilfully interwoven in the midst of the comedy - is what earns it that extra star.

Manners, civility, chivalry, empathy, courage, sharing, tradition, antiques, classical music, disc

Enjoy this tale for its portrayal of a New York (and a New York Times that had ceased to exist. Selden prefers things, and people, as they ought to be.

The illustrations (they sell the book to even a reluctant reader) by Garth Williams would elevate this tale from a three star to a four but its message - subtly and skilfully interwoven in the midst of the comedy - is what earns it that extra star.

Manners, civility, chivalry, empathy, courage, sharing, tradition, antiques, classical music, discipline, and grammatical English are good things. He demonstrates convincingly why good is not only attractive but necessary.

My favorite example is the scene when the leader of the gang of dogs, Max, cuffs Miss Catherine, the Siamese cat.

"But for Miss Catherine, the blow was worse than the pain. She'd been insulted - truly, deeply insulted. Even the fright of being gripped in the none-too-gentle hand of the law was nothing to be compared with this. With almost a kitten's helplessness, she turned away and began to cry.

 For the others, her tears were dreadful to see. It is awful when a real lady cries - either human ladies or dogs or cats. It makes you feel ashamed and angry and powerless all at once, the way a person always feels, against all written and unwritten rules, something happens that simply should not."