Thanks, everyone! The book is Alexander & The Magic Mouse. Many thanks to those of you who’ve e-mailed me. I’m so happy to be *thisclose* to being reunited with a childhood favorite!

Best

s

Sue, you are a wonder.

I have a personal stumper for you (and anyone else who can identify this book, which I LOVED as a child, but cannot recall the title of to save my life).

Clues:

·         Picture book – most likely 1970s or early 1980s (though possibly older – helpful, I know!)

·         Color illustrations

·         Main character is an elegant little old lady who lives in a very fancy house (Queen Anne-style? I seem to recall a turret in which she has a telescope.)

·         Elegant little old lady is a Friend To The Animals and lives with a rather exotic menagerie, including a crocodile (possibly actually an alligator)

·         There’s a terrible, flooding rainstorm in which, I THINK, the elegant little old lady is nearly lost to the elements but a happy ending does ensue.

Can anyone help me? So many of my childhood favorites are still in print, but a few are long OOP. My Mom has some, but this one, which I remember so fondly (if dimly) doesn’t ring any bells for her. Hellllp!

Many thanks!

Sophie

Sophie Brookover

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From: Susan Grotyohann [...@monroetwplibrary.org" target="_blank">mailto:sgr...@monroetwplibrary.org]
Sent: Monday, September 24, 2012 3:55 PM
To: NJYAC
Subject: [njyac] re: Need help determining a children's book

The format and woodland animals suggest the British Medici Press books by Racey Helps, Molly Brett, Margaret Tempest and other author/illustrators.  They specialized in anthropomorphic animal tales with beautiful, detailed illustrations over fairly extensive text.   Most are quite old, but have been reprinted frequently.  Perhaps she read a recent reprint.  Badgers were common characters. 

I had a collection of these (of course), but recently passed them along to my grand-nieces.  I'll ask their mom if it rings a bell.

In a pinch, Johnny Gruelle sprinkled lovely fairies all over his non-Raggedy Ann stories.  Not that he is recent or UK, but reprints have been coming out over the last 10-20 years.  Thornton Burgess did picture-over-story animal tales, usually tri-color illustrations in red, black, and white, but I don't recall any fairies. 

Sue Grotyohann
Monroe Township Library

---

From: "Julie Binger" <...@mtlaurel.lib.nj.us" target="_blank">jbin...@mtlaurel.lib.nj.us>
Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2012 4:59 PM
To: "NJYAC" <...@njstatelib.org" target="_blank">njy...@njstatelib.org>
Subject: [njyac] Need help determining a children's book

A few weeks ago I asked for suggestions about a children's book I was trying to locate for a customer. She does not know the title but gave me clues. We didn't have much luck, but her clues have changed so I'm trying again:

 

It has a woodland theme, about animals (probably includes badgers). Top half of page is illustrations and bottom half is text. There is a small fairy (not elf) pictured at the bottom of each page, having nothing to do with the actual story. It may or may not have a Christmas theme. Published most likely in England, roughly 5-10 years ago tops.

 

Any leads are much appreciated!

 

Julie

 

Julie Binger

Manager of Special Projects

Mount Laurel Library

856.234.7319 ext. 340

 

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