ALA Booklist (Fri Nov 01 00:00:00 CST 2002)

Mr. Putter has a cold and no one to take care of him. Tabby does her best by sitting on his head to keep him warm, but the sneezing and sniffling go on. A dejected Mr. Putter remembers how nice it was to be coddled when he had a cold as a child. Then good-hearted neighbor Mrs. Teaberry comes through with soup and tea, and her dog, Zeke, picks out a book for Mr. Putter to read. Although this isn't the best of the series, the pleasant humor is present in the art, and the text will resonate with kids who know what it's like to feel dispirited when felled by a cold. Unfortunately, Rylant perpetuates the myth that you can catch a cold simply by going out without a hat. It's germs, Mr. Putter; even Tabby has probably heard that.

Horn Book

Suffering from a cold, Mr. Putter nostalgically remembers his mother's sickbed spoiling and concludes, "it's not good to be old with a cold." His friend and neighbor, Mrs. Teaberry, sends emergency goodies, providing the perfect dose of attention to make this "the best cold Mr. Putter ever caught." Although sentimental, the story profits from its natural language, so appropriate for beginning readers, and from the humorous illustrations.

Kirkus Reviews

There is a note of melancholy in this tale from Putterland, a place more typical of mirth and everyday adventures that have sprung a leak. Here, Mr. Putter is laid low by a cold—Howard decks him out with dark circles under his drooping lids and a palpable malaise—and "colds aren't so much fun when you're old," he says to his cat Tabby. You don't have to be over 40 to feel the sting of that sentiment. Nor does it help that, Tabby excepting, Mr. Putter lives alone. So as not to slip ever deeper into the existentialism of it all, Rylant sends Mr. Putter's neighbor, Mrs. Teaberry, to the rescue. Well, she's not allowed over because Mr. Putter doesn't want her to get his cold, so she sends an emissary, her dog Zeke, who shuffles over with chicken soup and then hot tea in a thermos and finally, best of all, an adventure book. All these goodies remind Mr. Putter of those bygone days when he was a kid with a cold, when "he had almost liked colds. He always got spoiled." He gets spoiled again now, but not before that creeping ache has stolen over the story, testifying to the need for friendships, acts of mercy, and simple kindness. A powerful piece of Putter. (Easy reader. 6-9)

School Library Journal

K-Gr 3-Another sweet story about Mr. Putter and his cat. In this title, he goes outside into the snow without his hat and pays the price. He laments that it's no fun getting a cold now that he's an old man. As a boy, he almost enjoyed it because his mother would ply him with hot soup, mint tea, and adventure books. When his neighbor finds out he's sick, she sends her dog, Zeke, over, first with soup, then with mint tea. Finally, she sends him over with his favorite book, an adventure story about a brave dog. Mr. Putter, Tabby, and Zeke huddle in bed and read together. When the book is finished, Mr. P. declares that this is the best cold he's ever had. Howard's watercolor-and-pencil illustrations match the story perfectly and extend the humor in the gentle, easy-to-read narrative.-Lynda S. Poling, Long Beach Public Library, CA Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.