Mr. Putter & Tabby Feed the Fish
By Cynthia Rylant
The Story
An elderly man and his cat visit the fish store, bring three fish home to keep as pets, and quickly discover the cat has a very strong opinion about them.
Why It's Special
For the kid who's watched a pet eye something a little too closely, this one turns a household mix-up into gentle comedy.
- Big idea: Living with someone you love means working around their nature, not fighting it.
- Vibes: Cozy, unhurried, quietly funny.
Perfect For Kids Who
- enjoy easy-to-follow chapter stories
- like stories about pets and their quirks
- are working on reading longer stories with confidence
- respond well to gentle, everyday humor
Ask Your Little Reader
- Story & problem-solving: What do you think Tabby's 'fish problem' might be?
- Feelings & empathy: How do you think Mr. Putter felt when he realized Tabby couldn't be trusted around the fish?
- Real-life connection: Has a pet of yours ever wanted something it really shouldn't have?
- Imagination: If you brought fish home like Mr. Putter, where would you keep them safe from a curious cat?
- Character: Why do you think Mr. Putter and Tabby both love going to the fish store so much?
