About the Author

Cynthia Rylant is a Newbery medalist and the author of many acclaimed books for young people. She's well known for her popular characters for early readers, including Mr. Putter & Tabby and Henry & Mudge. She lives in the Pacific Northwest. cynthiarylant.com

Arthur Howard created the lively illustrations for all of the Mr. Putter & Tabby books and has written and illustrated several picture books of his own. He lives in New York City.

Reviews

K-Gr 3-Mr. Putter is determined to bake a cake for his neighbor, Mrs. Teaberry, for Christmas. He wants it to be completely unlike the fruitcakes she usually eats during the holidays-``Something light. Something airy. Something that would not break a person's toe.'' Readers will discover that this is no easy undertaking since he has no pans, has never baked from scratch, and has no cookbook. This low-key holiday story focuses on the loving care that many gifts lack. Young cooks will empathize with Mr. Putter's failures and be encouraged by his persistence and eventual success. The tale's combination of concern and humor is further enhanced by the appealing pencil, watercolor, and gouache cartoons. Though this title is not as enchanting as the first two ``Mr. Putter and Tabby'' adventures (both Harcourt, 1994), it belongs in most beginning-to-read collections.-Gale W. Sherman, Pocatello Public Library, ID