Mr. Putter has a problem. The pears he loves to make into jelly are high in the tree, and his legs are too cranky to climb the ladder. Tabby, his faithful cat companion, understands cranky: it's the way her tail feels some days, too stiff to swish. With Tabby by his side, Mr. Putter makes a slingshot to knock down the unreachable pairs and though his solution seems at first like a long-shot, his efforts are ultimately, if surprisingly, rewarded. Children will delight in the outcome of this beginning reader that offers a charming story, engaging language, and lively full-color illustrations. Earlier Mr. Putter and Tabby books include Mr. Putter and Tabby Pour the Tea (Harcourt Brace, 1994), Mr. Putter and Tabby Walk the Dog (Harcourt Brace, 1994), and Mr. Putter and Tabby Bake the Cake (Harcourt Brace, 1994). (Ages 5-7)