A Day Sail Cures the Summer Blahs in Mr. Putter and Tabby Clear the Decks

I live in Erie, Pennsylvania, where one of our claims to fame is the Flagship Niagara, a brig that played a pivotal role in the War of 1812. Last summer, my family spent a day aboard the ship, stretching our nautical legs in the waters of Lake Erie. In Mr. Putter and Tabby Clear the Decks, the latest in a series of books about an old man, his creaky cat, his eccentric neighbor and her rambunctious dog, the quirky quartet go for a similar day sail.

Like the rest of the Mr. Putter and Tabby books, this one is divided into sections. In this case, there are five: Itchy, An Idea ,Pepping Up, A Boat! and Another Boat! We begin with Mr. Putter and Tabby feeling “itchy,” as in bored. They’re hot and can’t think of anything interesting to do. That’s where Mrs. Teaberry comes in. She always has adventurous ideas, and when Mr. Putter appeals to her for help, she comes up with the sailing trip. It seems like a perfect outing for them, but when the time comes to leave, one member of the party is not so willing to depart…

As always, Cynthia Rylant does a wonderful job of breathing life and humor into these characters with just a few words. Timid Mr. Putter and zesty Mrs. Teaberry complement one another well, and their pets are always good for a laugh, especially with Arthur Howard’s expressive illustrations. A lot of the humor in the book is purely visual. Other chuckles come from Rylant’s sparse but flavorful phrasing. For instance, upon reflecting on the boat’s name of The Olden Days, “Mr. Putter was glad the boat was not named The Young and Zippy Days. Those were long behind him.”

One two-page spread has Mr. Putter remembering some of the strange ideas Mrs. Teaberry has had in the past. His eyes pop with alarm as he recalls a wobbly ice skating expedition and a trip to a baffling art museum. On another page, Mr. Putter soaks in the fresh air by standing at the bow of the ship in a jubilant expression that’s almost certainly a reference to Titanic.

Only one and a half “chapters” actually take place on the boat; it’s mostly build-up and a bit of denouement. Nonetheless, kids who are interested in boats might enjoy this outing, and anyone who’s ever joined Mr. Putter and Mrs. Teaberry on a jaunt before is sure to love the chance to see these old friends together again. This is an easy reader series aimed at children in early elementary school, but I’m 29, and my eyes lit up when I saw that another installment had been published. So whatever your age, give Mr. Putter and Tabby Clear the Decks a try. I found it smooth sailing indeed.