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	Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron
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Product Details Binding Hardcover Dewey Decimal Number 636.80929 EAN 9780446407410 ISBN 0446407410 Manufacturer Grand Central Publishing Number Of Items 1 Number Of Pages 288 Publication Date September 24, 2008 Publisher Grand Central Publishing Availability Usually ships in 24 hours Product Description 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. One frigid Midwestern winter night in 1988, a ginger kitten was shoved into the after-hours book-return slot at the public library in Spencer, Iowa. And in this tender story, Myron, the library director, tells of the impact the cat, named DeweyReadmore Books, had on the library and its patrons, and on Myron herself. Through her developing relationship with the feline, Myron recounts the economic and social history of Spencer as well as her own success story—despite an alcoholic husband, living on welfare, and health problems ranging from the difficult birth of her daughter, Jodi, to breast cancer. After her divorce, Myron graduated college (the first in her family) and stumbled into a library job. She quickly rose to become director, realizing early on that this was a job I could love for the rest of my life. Dewey, meanwhile, brings disabled children out of their shells, invites businessmen to pet him with one hand while holding the Wall Street Journal with the other, eats rubber bands and becomes a media darling. The book is not only a tribute to a cat—anthropomorphized to a degree that can strain credulity (Dewey plays hide and seek with Myron, can read her thoughts, is mortified by his hair balls)—it's a love letter to libraries. (Sept.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Her first thought upon hearing a strange sound coming from the book drop one frigid January morning was 'this can't be good.' In fact, for both the tiny kitten found shivering in the metal box's corner and for Myron, director of the Spencer Public Library, the discovery was the best thing that ever happened to either of them, and to the tiny Iowa farming community beset by an unrelenting string of economic challenges. Filthy and frostbitten, the kitten was in dire need of massive doses of TLC; fortunately, the library staff, patrons, and townspeople had plenty to spare. The story of how a bedraggled orange fur ball became 'Dewey Readmore Books,' an enchantingly irresistible library mascot capable of bringing international attention to a small midwestern town and melting the heart of even the most curmudgeonly visitor, is uplifting enough; but woven among the cute-cat anecdotes are Myron's own inspirational stories of enduring welfare, the abuses of an alcoholic husband, breast cancer, and single motherhood. Myron's beguiling, poignant, and tender tale of survival, loyalty, and love is an unforgettable study in the mysterious and wondrous ways animals, and libraries, enrich humanity. --Booklist--Starred Review, August 1, 2008 'Do not read DEWEY: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World! Unless you want to saturate a couple of otherwise perfectly good handkerchiefs, rid your thoughts of anything negative and at least for a little while, contemplate what a lovely world we inhabit.' (Jake Reiss, The Alabama Booksmith (Homewood, AL) ) 'This Librarian thought DEWEY was the Cats Meow! It will make you laugh and cry so much that you will want to Readmore Books! I adored DEWEY. There are few books that are as memorable; DEWEY the small town library cat will be one of those books that will be etched in my memory for a lifetime.' (Jennifer Teitelbaum, San Diego County Library (San Diego, CA) ) 'DEWEY...Finally, a lead title for cat people. If only all abandoned cats were as lucky as Dewey Readmore Books, or should it be if only all libraries were as lucky as Spenser Public Library? After reading this truly uplifting story, I want a Dewey Readmore Books for our bookstore! I'll have fun selling this one.' (Karin Wilson, Page & Palette (Fairhope, AL) ) 'DEWEY...is the story about how an attitude of love and devotion enriched the town of Spencer, Iowa, in a time when they needed it most. Dewey was not only a fixture at the Spencer Library for 18 years, he was also an international star of magazines, newspapers, and foreign documentaries...His story unfolds with humor, poignancy, and warmth that carries the reader to the very end.' (Sharon, Beaverdale Books (Des Moines, IA) ) 'DEWEY...the memoir will be a hit, comparable to Marley or Anna Quindlen's Good Dog. Stay.' (Bob Wietrak, Barnes & Noble (New York, NY) ) 'I was enchanted with antics of DEWEY, but also moved by Vicki's personal story and the wonderful presentation of my hometown...Whether you are a cat person, a book lover, or curious about life in small-town America, this story has something for everyone.' (Bonnie Mauer, Anderson's Bookshops (Naperville, IL) ) 'The story of Dewey, author Vicki Myron, and Spencer, Iowa, captures what makes small town life worth preserving--a sense of community. Dewey rekindles my belief that one person (together with one cat) can change lives. Vicki gives Spencer's famous library cat a 10th life by writing this engaging biography.' (Christie Vilsack, former First Lady of Iowa and President of The Vilsack Foundation ) 'Iowa has produced great Hall of Famers, like baseball's Bob Feller. Iowa has now produced a true feline Hall of Famer, a loveable library celebrity named Dewey, who put Spencer, Iowa, on the international map. This book is a purring good read, whether you are a cat lover, or not.' (Jim Fanning, former Major League Baseball player and manager ) 'Through this plucky cat we come to know and love the town of Spencer, Iowa and learn lessons about courage, generosity and the power of relationships. Dewey is a hero. I wish there were more people like him.' (Toni Raiten-D'Antonio, author of THE VELVETEEN PRINCIPLES ) 'What an extraordinary story of love, courage and devotion. I will not soon forget the good people of Spencer, Iowa and their wonderful library cat. Dewey is truly inspiration for the soul.' (Jack Canfield, co-creator of CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL ) 'DEWEY is charming, lovely, and moving. It's about life and death and small-town values and, above all, love. Norton would have liked Dewey--the cat and the book-- immensely.' (Peter Gethers, author of THE CAT WHO WENT TO PARIS and THE CAT WHO'LL LIVE FOREVER ) 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. Vicki Myron was born on a farm fifteen miles from Spencer, Iowa. At the age of thirty-four, after a failed marriage, single motherhood, and a stint on welfare,she graduated summa cum laude from MankatoStateUniversity and has a masters degree from EmporiaStateUniversity.She worked at the Spencer Public Library for twenty-five years, the last twenty as director. She lives in Spencer, Iowa. Bret Witter is a book editor and professional writer. Raised in north Alabama, he currently lives in Louisville, Kentucky, with his wife, two children and his fourteen-year-old cat Kiki. His other cat, Feasor, died four days after the completion of this book. Customers who bought this item also bought Wesley the Owl: The Remarkable Love Story of an Owl and His Girl The Story of Edgar Sawtelle: A Novel (Oprah Book Club #62) The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society The Lucky One Letter to My Daughter Customer Reviews for: Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World Rating - Not what I expected This book was not at all what I expected. I was very disappointed. By the title expected something on the lines of Marley and Me, this was more of an autobiography rather than the exploits of a cat. It was well written and kept your interest but if you are looking for a cat story you will also be disappointed. Rating - A must read When I saw this book on Amazon.com I knew it was one that I must read. I own 2 cats and love to read so I was eager to read this story. The story of Dewey is more than just a story of a cat, it is the story of a town, a librarian and life itself. Dewey's adventures as a library cat were funny and touching and the end of the story came much too soon. This is a great book for those who want to escape for a few hours. Rating - Eww gross Who wants to go to a liberry with smelling like cat dook? I sure as heck do not. That's why I recommend this book. Rating - HEART WARMING In these troubled times with the economy, it's such a pleasure to read a book so heart warming. see more reviews See all books by author Vicki Myron

Books : Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World