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Mr. Putter & Tabby #24
Mr. Putter & Tabby Smell the Roses: An Endearing Chapter Book for Early Readers (Ages 6-9) About a Cat and a Dog
Mr. Putter wants Mrs. Teaberry’s birthday to be extra special this year. So how about a trip to the Conservatory to see the beautiful trees and plants and flowers? It will be heavenly. And it is! Mr. Putter and Tabby and Mrs. Teaberry and Zeke sniff the air. They smell the roses. They learn the plant facts. It’s the perfect celebration . . . until Zeke finds the banana tree.
The Mr. Putter & Tabby early reader series has been long beloved by children, parents, and teachers. This new volume is as funny and endearing as ever.
The Mr. Putter & Tabby early reader series has been long beloved by children, parents, and teachers. This new volume is as funny and endearing as ever.
40 pages, Paperback
First published September 15, 2015
About the author
Cynthia Rylant
387 books877 followersCynthia Rylant is an American author, poet, and librarian whose deeply felt books for children and young adults have made her one of the most beloved voices in contemporary literature. Writing across picture books, novels, short stories, nonfiction, and poetry, she has published more than one hundred works, many of them rooted in memory, family, solitude, and the emotional landscapes of ordinary life. Her fiction often draws from her upbringing in West Virginia and reflects the textures of Appalachian life with unusual tenderness and clarity.
Raised in modest circumstances, Rylant spent much of her childhood with her grandparents in a rural setting that later became central to her imagination as a writer. Those early years, marked by hardship as well as warmth, shaped the emotional honesty and quiet resilience that define her work. She later studied English and library science, and after working as a waitress, librarian, and teacher, she began publishing books inspired by the world she had known so intimately.
Among her most acclaimed works are Missing May, which received the Newbery Medal, and A Fine White Dust, a Newbery Honor Book. She also earned Caldecott Honors for When I Was Young in the Mountains and The Relatives Came. For younger readers, she became especially well known through the enduring Henry and Mudge series, as well as other popular books and series that combine gentleness, humor, and emotional depth.
Rylant's writing is distinguished by its compassion for lonely, searching, or overlooked characters, and by its reverence for animals, nature, and small human connections. Whether writing about grief, wonder, childhood, or belonging, she brings a lyrical simplicity that resonates across generations. Her books continue to offer comfort, recognition, and beauty to readers of all ages. She remains a singular literary presence in children's literature and beyond today.
Raised in modest circumstances, Rylant spent much of her childhood with her grandparents in a rural setting that later became central to her imagination as a writer. Those early years, marked by hardship as well as warmth, shaped the emotional honesty and quiet resilience that define her work. She later studied English and library science, and after working as a waitress, librarian, and teacher, she began publishing books inspired by the world she had known so intimately.
Among her most acclaimed works are Missing May, which received the Newbery Medal, and A Fine White Dust, a Newbery Honor Book. She also earned Caldecott Honors for When I Was Young in the Mountains and The Relatives Came. For younger readers, she became especially well known through the enduring Henry and Mudge series, as well as other popular books and series that combine gentleness, humor, and emotional depth.
Rylant's writing is distinguished by its compassion for lonely, searching, or overlooked characters, and by its reverence for animals, nature, and small human connections. Whether writing about grief, wonder, childhood, or belonging, she brings a lyrical simplicity that resonates across generations. Her books continue to offer comfort, recognition, and beauty to readers of all ages. She remains a singular literary presence in children's literature and beyond today.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
October 26, 2015
I enjoyed this series very much as a child and was pleased to see this new addition. It was a charming book, and the illustrations were glorious. I love the color and detail, and even though I don't even like cats in real life, the drawings of Tabby are mesmerizing. The perk of her ears, her brilliant blue eyes, and her orange fur make for a fabulous feline.
One thing I appreciate about this series is how it presents senior citizens in a role other than grandparents. Books about grandparents are great, of course, but this series is one-of-a-kind for showing older people merely as themselves. As a kid who read these books, I can testify that they helped me develop a sense of how senior citizens were people too and didn't fit in narrowly defined stereotypes. Instead of seeing them as totally different or limited to a familial role, I saw them as people with their own interests and adventures.
One thing I appreciate about this series is how it presents senior citizens in a role other than grandparents. Books about grandparents are great, of course, but this series is one-of-a-kind for showing older people merely as themselves. As a kid who read these books, I can testify that they helped me develop a sense of how senior citizens were people too and didn't fit in narrowly defined stereotypes. Instead of seeing them as totally different or limited to a familial role, I saw them as people with their own interests and adventures.
July 23, 2018
I'm so excited to discover this series. Miss 4 loves cats so this is right up her alley. I love the stories. They're really sweet and I love the friendship between Mr Putter and his neighbour. I feel like these would be books her grandparents would enjoy reading to her. We've just read three of the books and look forward to reading the rest of the series.
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.
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.
April 13, 2022
I love Mr Putter. Who would have thought that writing a series for early readers featuring an old man and his cat would work? It does!
6/3/16 Read with Julia.
8/16/17 Read with Naomi & Julia.
4/13/22 Julia read to Naomi and me
6/3/16 Read with Julia.
8/16/17 Read with Naomi & Julia.
4/13/22 Julia read to Naomi and me
November 7, 2015
Mr. Putter and Mrs. Teaberry never get old.
Well, they do, but you know, the stories are always good....
Well, they do, but you know, the stories are always good....
July 28, 2020
This book of the series features Zeke more than Tabby, so it wasn't my favorite. Mr. Putter takes Mrs. Teaberry out for some birthday fun!
November 4, 2015
Mr. Putter and his fine cat Tabby wanted to do something special for Mrs. Teaberry, their neighbor. The next day was Mrs. Teaberry’s birthday. He thought and thought and finally thought of a heavenly idea. The next day, Mr. Putter and Tabby took Mrs. Teaberry and her good dog, Zeke to the Conservatory. The smelled the roses, learned the facts, and walked among the trees. But when Zeke saw the banana tree, he jumped up for a bunch, scaring Tabby into the lemon tree. They were asked to leave. Mr. Putter was worried that Mrs. Teaberry did not have a good time. But she said it was heavenly, they went home with two bunches of bananas and a lot of lemons, and the next day they all had lemonade.
http://julianaleewriter.com/the-cybil...
http://julianaleewriter.com/the-cybil...
June 1, 2021
I had to smile when I read this story. The pictures of Mr. Putter and Mrs. Teaberry and their pets at the Conservatory were great! This story is simple, but fun. Not one of those “see Dick run” books. This one has real sentences with normal words.
March 12, 2021
This sweet and gentle series is such a great addition to the easy reader genre. The plots are interesting, but not stressful, and amusing enough to hold the reader's attention.
March 23, 2016
03/16: Importing my reviews from Shelfari of all the books we read when the boys were little reminded me to check and see if there were any new Mr. Putter & Tabby books. The boys have outgrown them, but I never did. They were nice enough to indulge me a read-aloud. As we read, our cat, Midnight, was trying to get to my tea. Alas, our cat is more like Zeke.
This one came out last year, and we missed it. It's adorable. This is probably my favorite of the early childhood chapter book series, tying with the Humphrey the Hamster series.
Back Cover: It's Mrs. Teaberry's Birthday!
Inside Flap:
Mr. Putter wants Mrs. Teaberry's birthday to be extra special this year. So how about a trip to the Conservatory to see the beautiful trees and plants and flowers? It will be heavenly.
And it is! Mr. Putter and Tabby and Mrs. Teaberry and Zeke sniff the air. They smell the roses. They learn the plant facts. It's the perfect celebration... until Zeke finds the banana tree.
This one came out last year, and we missed it. It's adorable. This is probably my favorite of the early childhood chapter book series, tying with the Humphrey the Hamster series.
Back Cover: It's Mrs. Teaberry's Birthday!
Inside Flap:
Mr. Putter wants Mrs. Teaberry's birthday to be extra special this year. So how about a trip to the Conservatory to see the beautiful trees and plants and flowers? It will be heavenly.
And it is! Mr. Putter and Tabby and Mrs. Teaberry and Zeke sniff the air. They smell the roses. They learn the plant facts. It's the perfect celebration... until Zeke finds the banana tree.
January 17, 2017
Rylant, Cynthia. Mr. Putter and Tabby Smell the Roses, PICTURE BOOK. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2016. $5.99.
Mr. Putter and Mrs. Teaberry are neighbors. They celebrate everything together. Mrs. Teaberry’s birthday is coming up and Mr. Putter decides he wants to do something special. They spend the day at a plant conservatory and eat ice cream after. It is wonderful despite Mrs. Teaberry’s dog, Zeke, getting into a bit of trouble. There seems to be a short flashback scene in each book where we get to read about Mr. Putter as a little boy, which I find charming and sweet. These books contain very short chapters and would be good for readers beginning to get into that format. You’ll also want to purchase if you have other Mr. Putter and Tabby books in your collection.
EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE. Reviewed by Shay, School Librarian
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2016/...
Mr. Putter and Mrs. Teaberry are neighbors. They celebrate everything together. Mrs. Teaberry’s birthday is coming up and Mr. Putter decides he wants to do something special. They spend the day at a plant conservatory and eat ice cream after. It is wonderful despite Mrs. Teaberry’s dog, Zeke, getting into a bit of trouble. There seems to be a short flashback scene in each book where we get to read about Mr. Putter as a little boy, which I find charming and sweet. These books contain very short chapters and would be good for readers beginning to get into that format. You’ll also want to purchase if you have other Mr. Putter and Tabby books in your collection.
EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE. Reviewed by Shay, School Librarian
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2016/...
January 6, 2017
I adore this series. You don't come across too many beginning readers that revolve around the elderly doing sweet and funny "elderly" things. Typically you see books about grandparents and their grandkids.
The calm Mr. Putter and his fine cat, Tabby, are great foils for his more excitable neighbor Mrs. Teaberry and her good dog, Zeke. We love reading about how they spend time together and help each other out in both big and small ways.
It's such a precious (and increasingly unusual) thing to see two older people who aren't romantically linked (Mrs. Teaberry title implies she is a widow), just really good friends and neighbors interact and treat each other with respect, warmth, and kindness.
An invaluable lesson for our children.
The calm Mr. Putter and his fine cat, Tabby, are great foils for his more excitable neighbor Mrs. Teaberry and her good dog, Zeke. We love reading about how they spend time together and help each other out in both big and small ways.
It's such a precious (and increasingly unusual) thing to see two older people who aren't romantically linked (Mrs. Teaberry title implies she is a widow), just really good friends and neighbors interact and treat each other with respect, warmth, and kindness.
An invaluable lesson for our children.
October 12, 2016
Mr. Putter and his cat Tabby are the very best of friends who love to do everything together. In this book, they have a few adventures together- taking walks with their neighbors and planning birthday parties. The illustrations are so cute and done in the "old" style- actual drawings! The vivid colors and funny expressions are so funny and well done. This is such a great series of books for advancing readers!
May 8, 2025
I have always enjoyed Mr. Putter and his cat, Tabby. This title, however, is adorable about Mr. Putter and his special friend, Mrs. Tewberry and the special way Mr. Putter will celebrate Mrs. Tewberry's birthday. Could there be just a little bit of a "like" interest between these two charming "seasoned" individuals? Charming. Of course, Zeke the dog causes some uproars.
January 12, 2016
Here’s another book in this popular early chapter book series. This time Mr. Putter and his cat are celebrating Mrs. Teaberry’s birthday with her and her dog Zeke. The simple and cozy text and illustrations provide an endearing portrait of gentle friendship. Mr. Putter and Tabby fans will not be disappointed.
December 29, 2018
Mr. Putter and his fine Tabby are planning a nice surprise to help celebrate Mrs. Teaberry's birthday. Mr. Putter puts his best shirt and tie on, and puts pomade in his hair, and takes Mrs. Teaberry, and her good dog Zeke to the Conservatory to see the trees, plants, and flowers. The day was full of surprises, especially when Zeke spots a banana tree.
January 26, 2016
Not my favorite one but still cute. Illustrations seem a bit different. I don't like them as much as the other ones I've read, maybe it's just bc this one was an ebook for me. My boys loves these, too.
October 10, 2015
cute little story of senior citizen friends on a special birthday date with their pets. Lots of text support from the illustrations in this easy reader.
November 4, 2015
Another great beginning chapter book with a satisfying ending.
November 10, 2015
Another delightful installment of the Mr. Putter and Tabby series. In this one, Mr. Putter and Tabby take next-door-neighbor Mrs. Teaberry to the Conservatory for her birthday.
November 18, 2015
Not my favorite of the Mr Putter and Tabby series but still a sweet story.
January 3, 2016
Reviewed on my blog, Bookshelf (suebe2.wordpress.com).
July 20, 2016
This book is a wonderful book in a wonderful series. I would LOVE to visit a conservatory for my birthday. :)
January 16, 2017
These books are always funny. It's fun to see what crazy things Zeke will do. This time they celebrate Mrs Teaberry's birthday.
February 23, 2018
Funny and engaging read for young readers new to early chapter books. Beautiful illustrations enhance the text.
May 6, 2018
Another addition to my Cynthia Rylant collection.
January 21, 2019
Mr putter and tabby go to a place where there are lots of plants.
July 22, 2019
Oh! A surprise from Zeke! And Mrs. Teaberry gets to feel special on her birthday. What a joy this series is.
June 15, 2023
It's Mrs Teaberry's birthday and once again Mr Putter and Tabby want to do something special for her. They decide to take Mrs Teaberry and her dog (Zeke) to the Conservatory to enjoy some flowers. Zeke however can be a little rambunctious sometimes and decides to get the zoomies while they are strolling through the Conservatory. We loved the page of them driving home and Mrs Teaberry's hair is full of leaves. Cute and fun.
October 27, 2020
Mr. Putter plans a birthday treat for his neighbor Mrs. Teaberry. Everything goes very nicely until Zeke goes a little bananas for bananas. But Mrs. Teaberry proves that when life gives you lemons you should make lemonade.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews