DEWEY

TITLE: DEWEY; The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World
AUTHOR: VICKI MYRON
Pages: 271
Date: 26/04/2009
Grade: 4
Details: Non-Fiction
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This is the story of a tine, eight week old kitten that was found, one very cold morning, in the library book drop box in Spencer, Iowa.
The kitten is found by Vicki Myron, head librarian, and she instantly falls in love with the kitten who ends up being named Dewey Readmore Books. A feeling that appears to be mutual.
Dewey turns out to be the perfect library cat and is soon completely at home there. What's more, he has a way with people, sensing what they need and providing it to who ever is open to receiving it.
Soon Dewey is providing joy and comfort to all who enter Spencer library and before long people start visiting the library just to meet Dewey. As he lifts spirits in Spencer during the depression of the 1980's his fame steadily spreads; statewide, nationwide and ultimately worldwide.
For 19 years Dewey lived in the library and spread love, joy and smiles. His death broke everybody's heart, but fond and loving memories of him live on.
This is also Vicki's story whose life as a single mother with serious health problems was anything but easy. By it's nature it's a sentimental story, pulling at the reader's heartstrings. But I challenge any animal lover to read this book without filling up on a few occasions.
Quote, page 116:
" A great library doesn't have to be big or beautiful. It doesn't have to have the best facilities or the most efficient staff, or the most users. A great library provides. It is enmeshed in the life of a community in a way that makes it indispensable. A great library is one nobody notices because it's always there, and it always has what people need."