MR. PUTTER AND TABBY BAKE THE CAKE

Mr. Putter is a conscientious gift-giver, and for Christmas this year he wants to give his good friend and neighbor, Mrs. Teaberry, something very special. He knows that Mrs. Teaberry adores weird gifts, like coconuts made to look like the heads of monkeys and walking, wind-up salt shakers. She also loves fruitcake, which worries Mr. Putter. So he decides to make her a light and airy Christmas cake, one that won't break her toe if it drops on it. Trouble is, Mr. Putter doesn't know the first thing about baking cakes. Determined Mr. Putter gets the advice of an expert, buys $100 worth of equipment, and stays up all Christmas Eve baking under the watchful eye of his cat companion, Tabby. After three failed attempts, Mr. Putter finally creates the most marvelous cake. He wraps it up and brings it over to Mrs. Teaberry and then promptly falls asleep. The friends share the cake 12 hours later when Mr. Putter wakes up. Rylant (Something Permanent, p. 706, etc.) doesn't need many words to pack a whole lot of personality into this fun early chapter book. (Fiction. 6-10)