Blue-Ribbon Henry, Paperback/Mary Calhoun

The adventurous Siamese cat Henry finds himself in the thick of a county fair where he and Buttons, the family dog, are entered into a pet show. Henry gets loose from his cage and gets a humiliating education in the greased pig contest. But Henry redeems himself by returning a lost child to the safety of her mother's arms. Calhound's framing of this charming story is both clear and endearing. Illustrator Ingraham uses shading and color in his realistic watercolors to highlight the action and the main characters set in the hustle and bustle of a county fair. The heart-warming pictures, fast pace, and clear resolution of the plot make this story a natural read-aloud.