Chapter Book #6

Title:  Mr. Putter and Tabby Fly the Plane

Author:  Cynthia Rylant

Illustrator: Arthur Howard

Genre:  Youth Fiction 

Subgenre:  Beginners Chapter Book 

Themes:  pet relatioinships, toys, toy stores, making new relationships, hobbies

Primary and Secondary Characters: Mr. Putter, Tabby, the boy, the children

Awards:  Ohloana Award for Children's Literature - Author Award

Date of Publication:  1997

Publishing Company:  Harcourt Brace & Company

Summary:

Mr. Putter is excited to visit the toy store.  He always brings along his cat, Tabby.  As Mr. Putter plays with all the toys in the store, Tabby is frightened by all the sounds the toys make.  Mr. Putter enjoys toy planes the most and comes across a unique one.  The plane is white and red with stripes and has a remote control that comes with it.  Mr. Putter is so excited to finally get a plane that he could fly himself!  As Mr. Putter and Tabby try to fly the plane, the plane won't start.  They try and try and try to fix it, but it seems as if the plane is broken.  Mr. Putter tried one more time, and suddenly, the plane took off.  Children nearby Mr. Putter and Tabby were very impressed with the plane that was flying.  A boy in particular that Mr. Putter noticed, reminded him of himself when he was a boy.  He decided that he was too old to keep the plane and he gave it to the little boy the next day.  And sometimes, when Mr. Putter and Tabby went for walks, they would notice a red and white striped plane flying nearby.

How it will be used in the classroom:
This is a great beginners chapter book for students within the grades of 2nd or 3rd. This book is filled with great vocabulary words and could be centered around a great unit plan.  This would be a great opportunity for students to be able to begin reading longer books than what they are used to.  But, it's a great book with many interests that the children will want to read.