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Mike's House
Because four-year-old Robert calls the public library "Mike's House" a policeman can't understand Robert's destination when he becomes lost.
31 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1954
48 people want to read
About the author
Julia L. Sauer
9 books13 followersBorn in Rochester, NY, Sauer was a librarian and writer who attended the University of Rochester and the NY State Library School. She worked at the Rochester Public Library for 37 years, but her occasional vacation home in Nova Scotia gave her the setting for both Fog Magic and The Light at Tern Rock.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 8, 2011
My mother took care of Mrs. Sauer before her death and as a gift she gave her the three books she wrote, autographed. After my mother moved she passed these books onto me because she knew I enjoyed reading them growing up. It was a treat to re-read them now as an adult.
April 26, 2016
Really adorable picture book/intermediate book (aka a wordy picture book) about a kid named Robert who loves Mike Mulligan. He goes to picture book hour at the library every Tuesday and loves Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel so much he figures a whole building must have been built up around his favorite book. He gets lost and finds a policeman, and causes some chuckles when they finally realize what "Mike's house" is. The illustrations by Corduroy's Don Freeman are really delightful, and despite being very 1954 I think it's still a good read for kids and families.
May 19, 2020
Gem of a book!
September 28, 2015
Mike's House is an excellent combination of two winning factors: a simply related, old-fashioned story, and an effective homage to a classic picture book that has been loved by many for decades. Anyone who has fond memories of Virginia Lee Burton's Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel should definitely read this book.
Four-year-old Robert Austin, a preschooler who has already fallen deeply in love with the joys of reading, goes to his local library every Tuesday for Picture Book Hour, during which one of the librarians reads a picture book to the assembled children. Robert's favorite book, by far, is Mike Mulligan's Steam Shovel, and though he long ago memorized the story, he still wants to check it out from the library every week. I suppose that re-readability is the essence of what makes a picture book great. As Richard Scarry has said, “I'm not interested in creating a book that is read once and then placed on the shelf and forgotten. I am very happy when people have worn out my books, or that they're held together by Scotch tape.” It seems to me that Robert Austin has the right idea in how he views books.
On a cold, snowy day, one that would keep a less determined kid at home where it's warm, Robert heads off to his library for Picture Book Hour anyway. With the wind howling and snow coming down hard and his hat blowing away from him, though, Robert loses his way and can't figure out how to get to the library, a place he just calls "Mike's House" because of the Very Important Book that it holds. When a policeman finds Robert and tries to find out where the lost boy is supposed to be, the ensuing "investigation" is humorously sidetracked by Robert's insistence that he needs to get to "Mike's House", and fast!
A very nice book that I would love to own for myself, Mike's House is a charming and funny story designed for readers who are beginning to transition to slightly longer picture books. Kids have been enjoying this wintry story for a good long time now; in the copy that I obtained from my local library, there are dates stamped in the pocket that go all the way back to October 6, 1962! I wish that Mike's House were more widely known today, as I'm absolutely sure that it could still bring smiles to so many new faces. What can a book achieve that's better than that? All things considered, I would probably rate Mike's House as two and a half stars.
Four-year-old Robert Austin, a preschooler who has already fallen deeply in love with the joys of reading, goes to his local library every Tuesday for Picture Book Hour, during which one of the librarians reads a picture book to the assembled children. Robert's favorite book, by far, is Mike Mulligan's Steam Shovel, and though he long ago memorized the story, he still wants to check it out from the library every week. I suppose that re-readability is the essence of what makes a picture book great. As Richard Scarry has said, “I'm not interested in creating a book that is read once and then placed on the shelf and forgotten. I am very happy when people have worn out my books, or that they're held together by Scotch tape.” It seems to me that Robert Austin has the right idea in how he views books.
On a cold, snowy day, one that would keep a less determined kid at home where it's warm, Robert heads off to his library for Picture Book Hour anyway. With the wind howling and snow coming down hard and his hat blowing away from him, though, Robert loses his way and can't figure out how to get to the library, a place he just calls "Mike's House" because of the Very Important Book that it holds. When a policeman finds Robert and tries to find out where the lost boy is supposed to be, the ensuing "investigation" is humorously sidetracked by Robert's insistence that he needs to get to "Mike's House", and fast!
A very nice book that I would love to own for myself, Mike's House is a charming and funny story designed for readers who are beginning to transition to slightly longer picture books. Kids have been enjoying this wintry story for a good long time now; in the copy that I obtained from my local library, there are dates stamped in the pocket that go all the way back to October 6, 1962! I wish that Mike's House were more widely known today, as I'm absolutely sure that it could still bring smiles to so many new faces. What can a book achieve that's better than that? All things considered, I would probably rate Mike's House as two and a half stars.
November 5, 2009
I loved this picture book. It's an older childrens book.
March 16, 2022
This is ADORABLE. It feels vintage but not dated. I think kids today would relate, great illustrations by Freeman, and a shoutout to the kids of the world who just check out the same book again and again.
August 19, 2019
One of my favorites illustrated by Don Freeman. It's a good story for anyone who loves libraries...a nostalgic read.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews