How much of an impact can an animal have? How many lives can one cat touch? How is it possible for an abandoned kitten to transform a small library, save a classic American town, and eventually become famous around the world? You can't even begin to answer those questions until you hear the charming story of Dewey Readmore Books, the beloved library cat of Spencer, Iowa.
Dewey's story starts in the worst possible way. Only a few weeks old, on the coldest night of the year, he was stuffed into the returned book slot at the Spencer Public Library. He was found the next morning by library director, Vicki Myron, a single mother who had survived the loss of her family farm, a breast cancer scare, and an alcoholic husband. Dewey won her heart, and the hearts of the staff, by pulling himself up and hobbling on frostbitten feet to nudge each of them in a gesture of thanks and love. For the next nineteen years, he never stopped charming the people of Spencer with his enthusiasm, warmth, humility, (for a cat) and, above all, his sixth sense about who needed him most.
As his fame grew from town to town, then state to state, and finally, amazingly, worldwide, Dewey became more than just a friend; he became a source of pride for an extraordinary Heartland farming town pulling its way slowly back from the greatest crisis in its long history.
This is the story of a cat named Dewey, but that's not the only story this book tells. This is also the story of the woman who cared for him and the small Iowa town that loved him.
As an animal lover Dewey's story interested me and his antics made me laugh. However, it was the story of Spencer, Iowa and all that Dewey did for the town and its residents that really got my attention. Small towns usually don't get much publicity and can struggle to survive. The attention Dewey brought to Spencer was invaluable in many ways.
In keeping with Iowa tradition, the language in the book is without frills. Since this book will appeal to a wide variety of readers the simple language will make the book accessible to many. 4 stars
Order Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World
2 comments:
He looks so cute on the cover. It's really hard to resist :)
Reading this book made me wish my library had a cat.
Post a Comment