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Miss Pickerell #1
Miss Pickerell Goes to Mars
Miss Pickerell Goes to Mars
128 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 1951
10 people are currently reading
316 people want to read
About the author
Ellen MacGregor
25 books7 followersEllen MacGregor (1906 - 1954) was an American author, primarily of children's literature. After a varied career in numerous libraries and publishing several well-received children's books, as well as numerous magazine articles, she died in 1954 at the age of 47.
MacGregor's goal was to provide fantasy literature with correct (for the time) scientific facts that would appeal to children. The first appearance of Miss Pickerell, her famous and quirky major character was in a short story, Swept Her into Space, published in Liberty in 1950. She expanded it to book length, published in 1951 as Miss Pickerell Goes to Mars, a science fiction novel for children.
MacGregor's goal was to provide fantasy literature with correct (for the time) scientific facts that would appeal to children. The first appearance of Miss Pickerell, her famous and quirky major character was in a short story, Swept Her into Space, published in Liberty in 1950. She expanded it to book length, published in 1951 as Miss Pickerell Goes to Mars, a science fiction novel for children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
April 14, 2012
I met Miss Pickerell by happenstance when I six years old via my older brother’s bookshelf, and Miss P convinced me of two things: women could be strong, and science was nothing to be afraid of. Her cool head and no-nonsense way of talking with the men made this painfully shy young lady find the confidence to blossom into a life-long computer geek, ravenous reader, and fiction author.
Miss P and the science in her world is an old-fashioned read now, but her manner still gives me a smile. I’ve crossed paths with many curmudgeons since her, but it was this daunting spinster who loved her cow and collected rocks who showed me that not all grouches are bad.
Miss P and the science in her world is an old-fashioned read now, but her manner still gives me a smile. I’ve crossed paths with many curmudgeons since her, but it was this daunting spinster who loved her cow and collected rocks who showed me that not all grouches are bad.
October 16, 2020
ENGLISH: (Second reading). This is the first of the four Miss Pickerell stories written by Ellen MacGregor, and the weirdest situation! Miss Pickerell, an unlikely heroine, devoted to her cow, her home and her seven nephews and nieces, suddenly finds herself traveling to Mars, as the title of the book makes clear, so this is not a spoiler. What happens during the trip and back is an interesting lesson on science, as well as an exciting adventure.
ESPAÑOL: Esta es la primera de las cuatro novelas cortas sobre Miss Pickerell escritas por Ellen MacGregor, con una trama muy extraña. La señorita Pickerell, una heroína casi inverosímil, dedicada exclusivamente a su vaca, su hogar y sus siete sobrinos y sobrinas, emprende de repente un viaje a Marte, como indica el título del libro, por lo que esto no es un spoiler. Lo que sucede durante el viaje y el regreso es una interesante lección de ciencia, así como una emocionante aventura.
ESPAÑOL: Esta es la primera de las cuatro novelas cortas sobre Miss Pickerell escritas por Ellen MacGregor, con una trama muy extraña. La señorita Pickerell, una heroína casi inverosímil, dedicada exclusivamente a su vaca, su hogar y sus siete sobrinos y sobrinas, emprende de repente un viaje a Marte, como indica el título del libro, por lo que esto no es un spoiler. Lo que sucede durante el viaje y el regreso es una interesante lección de ciencia, así como una emocionante aventura.
January 15, 2023
We watched The Wasp Woman, a film from 1959, on Kanopy this week. I think Miss Pickerell Goes to Mars is the children's book-equivalent:
(1) Lots of action.
(2) Inexplicable things happen (Miss Pickerell wanders into a rocket in her pasture and the ship takes off, the crew mistakenly believing that Pickerell is a crew member they were awaiting; Pickerell is able to crochet onboard the spaceship; the ship is able to land and take off again).
(3) Post-1951 (that's the Miss Pickerell Goes to Mars copyright) knowledge of Mars makes some of the events of the story unlikely (especially the look of Mars as the crew takes a stroll on the planet).
(4) Flag-waving belief in the power of science to do incredible things.
Still, Pickerell is a strong woman character, who obeys the captain except when an emergency arises.
(1) Lots of action.
(2) Inexplicable things happen (Miss Pickerell wanders into a rocket in her pasture and the ship takes off, the crew mistakenly believing that Pickerell is a crew member they were awaiting; Pickerell is able to crochet onboard the spaceship; the ship is able to land and take off again).
(3) Post-1951 (that's the Miss Pickerell Goes to Mars copyright) knowledge of Mars makes some of the events of the story unlikely (especially the look of Mars as the crew takes a stroll on the planet).
(4) Flag-waving belief in the power of science to do incredible things.
Still, Pickerell is a strong woman character, who obeys the captain except when an emergency arises.
February 14, 2019
All the ingredients needed for a fun read are present and accounted for: One part quirky Miss Pickerell, one part being her knack for being at the right place at the right time (or perhaps you may think of it as the other way around!). Sprinkle with a little science learning, and wah la! You have a great read ahead!
It's a well written fiction with humorous characters, and both you and your kids will love the pieces of science that you'll gleam.
Ages: 6 - 12
Cleanliness: thank goodness, mercy, pooh, and good gracious are said.
**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it!
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It's a well written fiction with humorous characters, and both you and your kids will love the pieces of science that you'll gleam.
Ages: 6 - 12
Cleanliness: thank goodness, mercy, pooh, and good gracious are said.
**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it!
Visit my website!
March 31, 2021
When I was in grade school, I read every Miss Pickerell title that was in our school library. What appealed to me? I think it was the eccentricity of the main character (who wasn't a child) and the fact that the story was fun. Now, I think Miss P was exceptional for her times. Given that this was written in 1951, before space travel was a reality, her experiences and descriptions must have stirred the imaginations of many kids.
(Miss Pickerell reminds me of Dorothy Gilmore's Mrs. Pollifax.)
(Miss Pickerell reminds me of Dorothy Gilmore's Mrs. Pollifax.)
March 29, 2017
I actually read this when I was about 6 years old. It is the very first book that I can remember reading, there may have been others before it, but this stuck in my memory. It opened my mind to Science Fiction, and started my love of strong female characters, I'd suppose.
September 14, 2009
Miss Pickerell Goes to Mars is the first of the Miss Pickerell series of books and the second Ellen MacGregor book I've read. The other one is her delightful picture book Mr. Pringle and Mr. Buttonhouse.
Like Mr. Pringle and Mr. Buttonhouse I was drawn to the book by Paul Galdone's cover illustration. The cover here shows a typical mid-west farm woman standing gobsmacked before a 1950s style rocket ship. Her pose and the general set up of the cover reminds me of one of my favorite Backyardigans episodes "Ranch Hands from Outer Space." With that tenuous connection I chose the book to read.
Now as the title implies, Miss Pickerell is the one going to Mars, not the Martians coming to her farm. Her apparently abandoned farm is chosen as the perfect place for a covert government launch. Unfortunately for the mission, she has actually been on vacation visiting her niece and nephew and has just returned in time for the launch. She accidentally replaces the last astronaut, a man who is great at astrophysics but lousy at remembering day to day things like addresses.
Despite the goofy set up, the novel ends up being "harder" science fiction than the two similarly aged Tintin adventures: Destination Moon and Explorers on the Moon. It accomplishes this mostly by avoiding discussion of how the equipment works and by the sheer brevity of the work (only 124 pages). The book does stick to the basics: food and beverages in tubes, no atmosphere in space, physical differences between Mars and Earth, elliptical orbits and maneuvering between them and using gravity to your advantage.
Although Miss Pickerell doesn't have the sort of training as the men she ends up flying to Mars with, she does have the sense to listen to them and the smarts to adapt. She holds her own in the book and does end up being a positive contributing member to the mission.
Like Mr. Pringle and Mr. Buttonhouse I was drawn to the book by Paul Galdone's cover illustration. The cover here shows a typical mid-west farm woman standing gobsmacked before a 1950s style rocket ship. Her pose and the general set up of the cover reminds me of one of my favorite Backyardigans episodes "Ranch Hands from Outer Space." With that tenuous connection I chose the book to read.
Now as the title implies, Miss Pickerell is the one going to Mars, not the Martians coming to her farm. Her apparently abandoned farm is chosen as the perfect place for a covert government launch. Unfortunately for the mission, she has actually been on vacation visiting her niece and nephew and has just returned in time for the launch. She accidentally replaces the last astronaut, a man who is great at astrophysics but lousy at remembering day to day things like addresses.
Despite the goofy set up, the novel ends up being "harder" science fiction than the two similarly aged Tintin adventures: Destination Moon and Explorers on the Moon. It accomplishes this mostly by avoiding discussion of how the equipment works and by the sheer brevity of the work (only 124 pages). The book does stick to the basics: food and beverages in tubes, no atmosphere in space, physical differences between Mars and Earth, elliptical orbits and maneuvering between them and using gravity to your advantage.
Although Miss Pickerell doesn't have the sort of training as the men she ends up flying to Mars with, she does have the sense to listen to them and the smarts to adapt. She holds her own in the book and does end up being a positive contributing member to the mission.
February 5, 2018
I read this book as a 10 year old and still remember Mr. Haggerty in his blue suit and his suitcase full of notes (to save his brain from remembering things).
It is a children's book and was written just as the ideas of space and space travel were beginning to turn into reality. The author takes us on a fanciful journey with Miss Pickerell exploring just what a trip to Mars might entail. Some of the ideas in the work exemplify the misconceptions about space travel that were common at the time. On the other hand the author offers clever guesses about the solutions of several technical problems.
Now, 56 years later, I find the book to be an interesting historical document and enjoyed it once again.
It is a children's book and was written just as the ideas of space and space travel were beginning to turn into reality. The author takes us on a fanciful journey with Miss Pickerell exploring just what a trip to Mars might entail. Some of the ideas in the work exemplify the misconceptions about space travel that were common at the time. On the other hand the author offers clever guesses about the solutions of several technical problems.
Now, 56 years later, I find the book to be an interesting historical document and enjoyed it once again.
February 9, 2015
I couldn't resist this one when I saw it in the thrift store.
Mrs Pickerell returns from a visit with her family to find a rocket in her pasture and, through a case of mistaken identity, wings up on Mars.
For a children's book intended to teach science and written long ago, this strands up remarkably well. The science isn't too heavy handed, and Miss Pickerell is amusing, the illustrations are excellent as well, cartoonish but well done
Mrs Pickerell returns from a visit with her family to find a rocket in her pasture and, through a case of mistaken identity, wings up on Mars.
For a children's book intended to teach science and written long ago, this strands up remarkably well. The science isn't too heavy handed, and Miss Pickerell is amusing, the illustrations are excellent as well, cartoonish but well done
May 12, 2017
Found this in a bunch of books while i was helping a friend prepare for an estate sale for her grandmother. Had to grab it. (Plus a lot of other books).
April 12, 2019
One of my most favorite book series from childhood. Just found this sweet book at a yard sale this weekend and had to review. Hope my granddaughter enjoys it too!
April 28, 2020
This first book in the series is pretty similar to Miss Pickerell on the Moon, which I happened to read first. Light children's adventure story with good but sometimes outdated science information. I did feel like Miss Pickerell was more annoying in this one--in the moon book she was blunt but essentially kind, while in this book she can't stop talking long enough to hear essential information, and thinks (if not actually says) some actually unkind things.
There's still no direct 'content issues' of any kind, but because of some of Miss Pickerell's less helpful qualities in this one, I'd use a bit of caution for very young and imitative readers. Also, a good science discussion about which 'facts'fit our current understanding of the world, and which ones were mistaken assumptions could be very helpful for younger readers after reading this.
There's still no direct 'content issues' of any kind, but because of some of Miss Pickerell's less helpful qualities in this one, I'd use a bit of caution for very young and imitative readers. Also, a good science discussion about which 'facts'fit our current understanding of the world, and which ones were mistaken assumptions could be very helpful for younger readers after reading this.
April 18, 2021
I happened across Miss Pickerell Goes to Mars in the library and it looked like such a cute read. Happily, it did not disappoint. It's a cute story of an old lady who accidentally takes a trip to Mars. Published in 1951, it has the old fashioned feel I love finding in older children's books. I think this series would be a fun one to read aloud to my kids. I will definitely have to read more of them.
July 25, 2016
After Sylvia Plath, I needed something that wouldn't tax my emotions. What better thing to read than a novella (19,430 words, I counted them) written for children, wherein the main character has a pet cow and we are treated to some gentle science lessons?
Miss Pickerell is a spinster who lives alone on a small, isolated farm with her pet cow and her prize rock collection. She's happy and content to be away from people and noise. But, once a year, she spends a month with her seven nieces and nephews in the city. It just about drives her bats. They all chatter endlessly. On the other hand, she will admit to having learned rather a lot from their chatter.
Anyway, after visiting them, she arrives home to her peace and quiet, only to find that someone has been in her house. Worse, she finds that there's a giant construction in her pasture. She climbs up the construction to give the people inside a piece of her mind, and the next things she knows, the doors close, there are some explosions, she passes out. When she regains consciousness, she finds she's in a rocket ship headed for Mars.
She has a few adventures on the way to Mars and back. Also, we get some gentle lessons about gravity and its effects. Rather a nice respite from depression and suicide.
Miss Pickerell is a spinster who lives alone on a small, isolated farm with her pet cow and her prize rock collection. She's happy and content to be away from people and noise. But, once a year, she spends a month with her seven nieces and nephews in the city. It just about drives her bats. They all chatter endlessly. On the other hand, she will admit to having learned rather a lot from their chatter.
Anyway, after visiting them, she arrives home to her peace and quiet, only to find that someone has been in her house. Worse, she finds that there's a giant construction in her pasture. She climbs up the construction to give the people inside a piece of her mind, and the next things she knows, the doors close, there are some explosions, she passes out. When she regains consciousness, she finds she's in a rocket ship headed for Mars.
She has a few adventures on the way to Mars and back. Also, we get some gentle lessons about gravity and its effects. Rather a nice respite from depression and suicide.
March 1, 2019
I really liked the Miss Pickerell books growing up so I decided to return to my youth. For a book from 1951, I will say that Miss Pickerell if a very no-nonsense person as I read this as an adult.
She continually resists help from others wanting to go her own way.
Of course they go to Mars and come back in the period of a few days so obviously the book plays fast and loose with the solar system. The description of the food on the rocket is similar to the "space food" of the early missions.
Ellen MacGregor is not H. G. Wells but she did a good job of imagining the future.
It is sometimes fun to return to a childhood book -- it will not be the last.
She continually resists help from others wanting to go her own way.
Of course they go to Mars and come back in the period of a few days so obviously the book plays fast and loose with the solar system. The description of the food on the rocket is similar to the "space food" of the early missions.
Ellen MacGregor is not H. G. Wells but she did a good job of imagining the future.
It is sometimes fun to return to a childhood book -- it will not be the last.
February 28, 2014
"Miss Pickerell goes to Mars" was given to me by my aunt for Christmas. I'm well aware that this book is far below my reading level since I am an adult, and that it's intended for children, but I enjoyed this immensely. It's a combination of Amelia Bedelia and Mr. Bean. It's full of many silly scenarios, and funny remarks made by the wonderful Miss Pickerell. It was published in 1951 so some factual content may be wrong, or slightly off, but it still gives a great introductory lesson into space. I recommend this for young beginning readers.
December 28, 2016
Sciencey, fun, a little crazy, and perhaps a touch silly but very enjoyable. Miss Pickerell comes home after a month’s visit to her brother and his children to find a spaceship parked in her pasture and her home invaded by some uninvited guests. Little does she know when she boards the ship to complain to the Captain that she will soon be on her way into space—in fact to Mars. Miss Pickerell initially wants to return as soon as possible but when she realises she can’t, she decides to take full advantage of the situation and proves herself a valuable asset to the expedition.
May 19, 2009
I should clarify- I read this book when I was an early teenager, and even at that point in time it was a relatively easy read. My father gave me his copy of it from when he was a boy, and it was an enjoyable read. I wouldn't say I gained much from it other than insight into people's perspectives on space travel during the early fifties. Much more naive than it currently is but excitement on the topic of space travel from the time does come through in the book.
September 11, 2015
I FULLY admit that I let out a little happy yell when I saw this was available as a Kindle book. I seem to be one of the only people (other than my mother) who knows who Miss Pickerell is. So, yes, just finished reading a kid's book from the 50s...
It's a bit dated, and obviously written for children, but it catapults me back to my own childhood, and that can't be a terrible thing. My love for science began with her, no doubt.
It's a bit dated, and obviously written for children, but it catapults me back to my own childhood, and that can't be a terrible thing. My love for science began with her, no doubt.
June 1, 2009
I read this to my 6 year old niece and she thoroughly enjoyed it. When she saw that was the only one of the "Miss Pickerell" books that was checked out she asked, "Why don't the other kids like Miss Pickerell?" That's a good endorsement from a 6 year old.
February 23, 2011
I would not be the reader I am if it had not been for Miss Pickerel. There are a few books that got me started in a lifetime of reading. This is one of the first and very best. Dated? Probably. But so am I.
July 16, 2011
I read this book when I was in the 5th grade. It was the first chapter book I remember reading, and it was the first time I discovered that books could be funny. I read a few more in this series and then moved on, but I was hooked on books forever afterwards.
July 25, 2012
The first and best Miss Pickerell book. Although a bit dated in terms of gender issues (well, and the science, but not too badly there), this is a classic pre-Apollo sci-fi novel suitable for ages 4 and up. I've read it many times to my children.
November 10, 2017
We were absolutely delighted to read this first adventure with Miss Pickerell. It made a perfect read-aloud. I loved how much scientific information it had while keeping the interest of my 8 year old. Great development of characters.
August 14, 2008
I got this book from the LIBRARY!! It was easy!! And free!! Someone should have told me about this option a long time ago...
August 22, 2012
Short read aloud, predictable plot but cute, science is out of date but good talking point with kids to make comparisons about what we know now given recent mars rover landing
November 19, 2013
Actually I read this book in my childhood and I really liked it then too. This reread was fun and I had forgotten so much that it was just about like reading it for the first time.
February 16, 2018
Great start to a wonderful series. Good for getting a reluctant reader started in reading.
May 17, 2021
What a great book! Funny, interesting, informative, outlandish and more. As the story progresses, one learns about rocket ships, gravity, space travel, stars, planets, and more. Although an older book, much of what is explained, in a by-the-way fashion is still accurate. It is probably geared for an 8-11 year old, but adults will find it entertaining.
July 2, 2020
This is a fantastic, classic science fiction book for all ages! Miss Pickerell accidentally gets on a spaceship going to Mars. We learn how the experience is, for the astronauts, and it all ends well!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews