"Mr. Whiskers's sister Sarah is coming for his birthday," Maggie announces one bright summer day. "He's cooking!" she adds.

"Oh, NO!" cries Grandmother. She remembers the awful crab fritters and burned chocolate cake she had at Mr. Whiskers's house-the very menu he's planning for his sister! How will she convince her old friend that he needs help?

Down in his gray cottage by the ocean, Mr. Whiskers is happily preparing for his persnickety sister's visit. The trouble begins when Grandmother and Maggie join him for a picnic at Cedar Creek. Mr. Whiskers bravely rescues a puppy from the water, but Maggie tells him that he can't keep the little dog-it belongs to someone else. Then Mr. Whiskers's cooking attempts end in a sticky bowl, a charred pan, and a virtual explosion of burned muffins. "Suffering codfish, I hate birthdays!" he sighs.

Can Mr. Whiskers's friends save his birthday? It's all in the hands of Maggie and Grandmother in this sparkling addition to the beloved Cranberryport series.