Automobiles For Mice

by Marie Hall Ets

Genres: Picture Books

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1964

About the author

Marie Hall Ets was an American writer and illustrator who is best known for children's picture books. She attended Lawrence College, and in 1918, Ets journeyed to Chicago where she became a social worker at the Chicago Commons, a settlement house on the northwest side of the city.

Reviews

[Bonnie Prince]

This was the first library book I ever read, back in maybe the second grade. As others have mentioned, yes, the illustrations are a little violent. I still remember multiple decades later that there are amputated tails and blood here. I don’t remember much else about it. I think the moral of the story is that mice shouldn’t drive toy cars. Maybe the author was implying that humans shouldn’t drive real cars either? I guess maybe I’d avoid giving this one to a young child.

[Frederick Seaborne · Rating 1 out of 5]

No child should read this book. It includes rampant death and body-part-amputations of mice. Violence and blood galore. Typical "before the era of stricter censors" book that could give kids nightmares.

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't imagine a book today including maimed mice like this one does. It works well.

[Susan]

I have never forgotten this book, even though it scared me! It was still a favorite!