Mouse Cafe

by Patricia Coombs

Thrown out by her selfish family when she becomes exhausted from overwork, Lollimops' fortunes change when she gets a job at the Mouse CafÂe.

46 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1972

About the author

Patricia Coombs was born on July 23, 1926 in Los Angeles, California and during her school age years lived in Hawaii, Boston, New York, and San Francisco. She was always reading books and would hide in unusual places to avoid getting caught reading instead of playing. She attended DePauw University, Michigan State University, and received her bachelor's and master's degrees in English from the University of Washington. She also studied poetry at New York University.

In 1962, Coombs wrote and illustrated Dorrie's Magic, inspired by her two daughters and their Siamese cat named Dingbat. The book was highly praised by the New York Times Book Review, and Coombs went on to create the "Dorrie the Little Witch" series. She wrote 20 stories about Dorrie and her adventures as a little witch over the next 30 years, ending with Dorrie and the Haunted Schoolhouse in 1992.

Coombs has also illustrated for other authors and contributed to Poetry Magazine.

From: Major Authors and Illustrators, pp. 562-564, courtesy of The de Grummond Children's Literature Collection at The University of Southern Mississippi and Wikipedia.org

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my favourite book in Grade 1. I cannot count how many times I signed it out from the school library, back in 1976. I am trying to find a copy of it, feeling a bit nostalgic. I have tried various avenues and have no yet found a copy.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you can find a copy of this book, pick it up for your collection. It tells the "Cinderella" story with a mouse being the main character. The story is charming, but what has stayed with me all these years is the memory of the beautiful illustrations done in soft charcoal, pinks, grays, & beige colors.

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite book ever as a child.

[Layaly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my favorite children's book.

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A more modern version of a Cinderella story but set in the early 1900.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this as a kid, checked it out from the library multiple times.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is author Coombs' version of a Cinderella story, featuring adorable Victorian mice. The black and white illustrations include accents of pink and brown.

[Em]

This was my all-time favorite book when I was a little girl coming to the Stellarton Library....I loved the illustrations......and such a nice cinderella story-mouse style!! I'm not sure if you can still find this book-I know we don't have it in Pictou County any longer.....sadly.