Dewey the Library Cat: A True Story

In the tradition of Marley: A Dog Like No Other, this is the story of a cat who was more than a pet, and the amazing effect he had on the people around him. This middle-grade adaptation of the Grand Central bestseller Dewey features an 8-page photo insert, including exclusive, never-before-seen photos of the Dew!

Now everyone's favorite library cat can inspire a new audience of young readers with his story of courage and love. Abandoned in a library book drop slot in the dead of winter, this remarkable kitten miraculously endured the coldest night of the year. Dewey Readmore Books, as he became known, quickly embraced his home inside Spencer's public library, charming the struggling small town's library-goers, young and old. As word of Dewey's winning tail, or rather his tale, spread, the library cat gained worldwide fame as a symbol of hope and proof positive that one small cat could change a town, one reader at a time.

Publishers Weekly

Librarian Myron’s popular adult memoir, Dewey: The Small Town Library Cat Who Touched the World, about the adopted cat who became the mascot of her Iowa library, finds yet another life in this middle-grade adaptation, which also follows Myron and Witter’s 2009 picture book version. At its core, the story—Spencer Public Library staff and patrons rally around the tiny ginger-colored kitten abandoned in the book drop on a freezing winter’s night—remains as heartwarming as ever. Young animal lovers, especially, will enjoy learning about how the cat, Dewey Readmore Books, endeared himself to library visitors (he was always happy to receive a petting or to nap on welcoming laps) and how his fame spread nationally and beyond U.S. shores thanks to profiles in various cat publications. Myron’s friendly and pleasantly pragmatic voice, as well as her mostly judicious selection of anecdotes, brings poignancy to the tale of her special bond with Dewey. Her story also offers readers another bit of insight into how animals and humans can emotionally enrich each other’s lives. Ages 8-12. (May)

Vicky Myron grew up on a family farm in northwest Iowa. She began as an assistant librarian at the Spencer library. Within a few years, she was promoted to director of the library. As a single mother, Vicky worked towards a masters degree for librarians during weekends and nights. It was then that she met Dewey, who made his home at the library and kept her company late nights while she studied.