Books like Mr. Putter & Tabby Dance the Dance
By Cynthia Rylant
For the grown-up in every kid's life who grumbles before saying yes anyway, this one lands close to home. Cozy, gently funny, and warmhearted, with the easy rhythm of old friends and their pets.
A beloved zoo lion, adored daily by townspeople who greet him with treats and kind words, finds his door open and sets out to politely return the visits — with unexpected results.
Eight little ballerinas practice plié, relevé, and jeté together in perfect step until Miss Lina introduces a ninth dancer, Regina, and their tidy rows suddenly fall into disarray.
Moomintroll and his friends set out to find the legendary Ocean's Song, hidden inside a shell only its finder can hear, but a sudden thunderstorm forces them to turn back before reaching home safely.
An aging donkey, dog, cat, and rooster, each cast off by masters who no longer want them, set out together for Bremen-Town to become street musicians and find a robbers' cabin standing in their way.
A fish and his best friend, a tadpole, grow up together in a pond until the tadpole becomes a frog and hops off to explore dry land, leaving the fish desperate to follow.
A girl in a swimsuit and flippers copies a graceful flamingo's every move, and through twists, turns, and one big flop, the two find their way to a dance in perfect harmony.
A young hero condemned by a jealous king must earn the trust of the legendary winged horse Pegasus, then ride him into battle against the fire-breathing Chimera.
A bear cub finds a piano in the forest and, drawn back again and again, teaches himself to play beautiful music — then must choose between city fame and the friends who love him at home.
An imaginary friend waits and waits to be chosen by a child, and when no one picks him, he does the unimaginable — he leaves his island to find his perfect match himself.
A lion wanders into the library one day, and since there aren't any rules against lions, he stays — quiet-footed, story-hour pillow, rule-follower — until an emergency forces him to break the one rule that matters.
An older man and his cat nap far too much, so they join a baseball team with their neighbor and her rowdy dog — but creaky knees and canine chaos threaten every play.
An older man and his neighbor decide to join a band together, but finding one that's the right fit turns out to be trickier than they expected — for them and their pets.
