Dog lovers who are also readers have had some good books to get through in the past couple of years, like _Marley and Me_ or _From Baghdad with Love_. If they really wanted to read a classic, there was always _My Dog Skip_. Cat people may now rejoice, as may anyone who has an interest in pets, or how people get along with pets, or just in a good story. _Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World_ (Grand Central Publishing) is a lovely, loving story written by Vicki Myron (with Bret Witter), the former librarian of the little town of Spencer, Iowa. Dewey was a remarkable cat, since cats are not generally known for their outgoing natures, and some of the stories about him seem, well, too good to be true. But there is documentation! A whole town got to know this cat, not just library staff; reporters came in to tell his story, as did documentary film makers. As remarkable as Dewey was, the librarians and other citizens who came to love him are revealed to be just as remarkable; this is a perfect story of how pets are good for people and vice versa.
Dewey became a library cat in the most fitting of ways. He came into the Spencer Public Library via the book return slot. He didn't volunteer - he was far too small a kitten on that cold January morning of 1988. Someone thought it would be a good idea to shove a kitten in there. The poor cold cat could hardly stand, and it was grey with dirt; only cleaning it up revealed it to be a long-haired orange tabby. His paws were frostbitten, but he hobbled to each of the librarians as if to thank them for the rescue. It was the sort of thing he would continue to do for nineteen years, welcoming anyone who came into the library's front doors, attending meetings, sitting in laps, posing for photos, and generally being agreeable. Dewey turned out not to be just popular with the townsfolk, who, if they did not meet him at the library, heard about him from those who did, or from the local papers. People from small towns in adjoining counties would come by just to meet Dewey. When the _Des Moines Register_, though, the paper of the state capital, printed a story about Dewey, then other papers ran stories, and news crews came to the library. He was in a documentary made by a Japanese crew, and if a "magazine had _cat_ in the title, Dewey was probably in it." People from out of state who happened to be visiting "nearby" (perhaps a four hour drive) would make the trip to see him. His own needs were simple: "All Dewey ever wanted was a warm place to nap, a fresh can of food, and love and attention from every person who ever stepped foot in the Spencer Public Library."
Dewey lived to a ripe old age, slowing down gradually but always paying attention to his library friends. When his death came (I dare anyone to read the final chapters of this sweet book without a lump in the throat), his ashes were of course buried in the library's garden. His cremation had been donated by the crematorium, and his memorial stone was donated by the local funeral home. Myron got thousands of e-mails and condolence letters, because the obituary ran in over 270 newspapers worldwide. Myron herself seems like a tough survivor, but her book makes clear that her friendship with this ingratiating cat was the most successful of her relationships, so it was good Dewey was there for her, as well as good for the library and good for the town. Of course, she has lessons from Dewey she wants us to take away from this book, and they are good ones: "Find your place. Be happy with what you have. Treat everyone well. Live a good life. It isn't about material things; it's about love. And you can never anticipate love."
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