The Little Auto

Mr. Small #1

by Lois Lenski

Mr. Small pumps up the tires on his shiny little car and goes for a drive.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

56 pages, Hardcover

First published December 19, 1934

About the author

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lois_Lenski

Many of Lenski's books can be collated into 'series' - but since they don't have to be read in order, you may be better off just looking for more information here: http://library.illinoisstate.edu/uniq...

Probably her most famous set is the following:
American Regional Series

Beginning with Bayou Suzette in 1943, Lois Lenski began writing a series of books which would become known as her "regional series." In the early 1940s Lenski, who suffered from periodic bouts of ill-health, was told by her doctor that she needed to spend the winter months in a warmer climate than her Connecticut home. As a result, Lenski and her husband Arthur Covey traveled south each fall. Lenski wrote in her autobiography, "On my trips south I saw the real America for the first time. I saw and learned what the word region meant as I witnessed firsthand different ways of life unlike my own. What interested me most was the way children were living" (183).
In Journey Into Childhood, Lenski wrote that she was struck by the fact that there were "plenty of books that tell how children live in Alaska, Holland, China, and Mexico, but no books at all telling about the many ways children live here in the United States"

Bayou Suzette.
Strawberry Girl.
Blue Ridge Billy.
Judy's Journey.
Boom Town Boy.
Cotton in My Sack.
Texas Tomboy.
Prairie School.
Corn-Farm Boy.
San Francisco Boy.
Flood Friday.
Houseboat Girl.
Coal Camp Girl.
Shoo-Fly Girl.
To Be a Logger.
Deer Valley Girl.

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This picture book from the 1930s is absolutely charming in is vintage illustrations yet I think it would also appeal to children today who are interested in cars and/or the nuances of how things go and the activities that adults do.

Mr. Small owns a little red auto. One day, he decides to take it for a drive. This is the story of that drive, and all the things he does (like pump the tires and fill the radiator with water, drive through town, stop at stop lights, drive up a hill and down a hill, etc.) The storytelling isn't especially inspired, yet I think I would have been fascinated with the little auto when I was a kid. It's so similar to our cars today--yet so different! The illustrations make things like stopping a red light seem interesting and important. I love all the little nuances, the changes of expression on Mr. Small's face, and the period details.

My version has only the black-and-white (with some red) illustrations, not the full color ones another edition has. I have a feeling the full-color ones are an updated version and I think I would prefer the original.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

My nephew adored this book! His little eyes lit up as soon as he realized that this was a pleasing story about a diminutive man and his diminutive car. He wondered aloud where Mr. Small was going in his car, and he was fascinated by the convertible nature of the vehicle. "Convertible" was a new word for him today because of this book, and he even used it in conversation with his mother at dinner! Sweet, lovely book, with a very nostalgic quality about it.

[Terri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute. We got an older edition of this book out of the library. The 1930s illustrations are appealing.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the 1930s, it's a delightful book by the wonderful Lois Lenski. It would work as a beginning reader and there is much learning included about what people do to take care of their cars, like adding oil and gas, changing a tire with a "jack", cars that are convertibles, and all the things that happen when out for a drive like stopping for a stoplight. For young readers who love autos, here is a cute story from so long ago.

[Rosa Cline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written in 1930's this book was a treasure to read to my adult special needs son. He loves anything to do with vehicles; and this simple book takes you on a trip with the Little Auto and his driver. Starting with the driver checking different things on the auto. Book helps explain things about a car through out the book.

[Brian Bates · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really sweet children's book but not my favorite of the Lois Lenski small series. Sweet though!

[Alana · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's VERY dated, but was fun to point out to my three-year-old how many things USED to work in cars, and how they're different today.

[Sequella Coleman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very entertaining 1930’s book. Vintage occurrences with the “little man” and his “little car”.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book in the Mr. Small series by Lois Lenski. I'd never heard of this series before, but the fact that it was written long before my father and mother were born was fascinating to me.

The book has a simple narrative that feels like a primer or early reader, and the words and pictures are quite old fashioned. I had to explain some of the narrative, since cars have changed dramatically in the last eighty years.

The book is charming, but not a particular favorite. We enjoyed reading it together, but I don't imagine that we'll look for any of the other books in the series at our local library.

This book was selected as one of the books for the November 2013 - Cars and Trucks discussion at the Picture-Book Club in the Children's Books Group here at Goodreads.

[Londa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really adorable.

Love the simple drawings and we (8 yr old & I) both laughed at Mr. Small's facial expressions at times. He seemed irritated anytime he had to slow down and we both thought he would love to run over something. Although it is better suited for the 4 and under crowd, my son still managed to learn a thing or two. The policeman having to change the light by hand for one.

I would gladly buy this for my younger nieces or nephew, but I looked and it doesn't seem to be in print anymore.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

A simple, old fashioned book about Mr. Small and how he takes care of his little red auto. My five year old loved this story. It seems very nostalgic, like a story my grandma read to me when I was a little. I am uncertain whether she read this actual book or just a similar story, but it still brought back pleasant memories.

[Marlies · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was very glad to see the Little books come back into print a few years back. I loved them as a child and now read them with Sean.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, simple illustrations. Mr Small is driving his auto through town (in the early years of automobiles). I guess it's cute. I have no strong feelings about it.

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. Small's automobile is adorable. Look. He barely fits in it.

[Rachel]

Mr small takes care of his little car from the 30s? needs to pass a house and buggy. reminds me of cowboy small. are they all the same?