Tell Me a Mitzi

by Lore Segal

Book by Segal, Lore

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, New York, Jewish, Fiction, Short Stories

Paperback

First published January 1, 1970

About the author

Lore Vailer Segal was an Austrian-American novelist, translator, teacher, short story writer, and author of children's books. Her novel Shakespeare's Kitchen was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 2008.

Reviews

[julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book I got from the library sometime in the 1970's and it is still burrowed into my brain... I may buy a copy just to see if it has a similar effect with my own children!
*edit*
I got it! The 4 and 6 year olds have asked me to read it again and again... I have no idea why those UGLY pictures and simple stories are so effective, but I think my own childhood obsession was about the first story and the possibilities it hinted at!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tell Me a Mitzi consists of three stories in one book, about Mitzi and her younger brother and their daily tales. I must admit that the tales weren't all that enthralling, and some of the sentences were very long and lacking in punctuation. I assume this was done with the intention of making it sound exactly as Mitzi would speak in her early years, but doesn't make it easy for young people learning to read. From what I understand though, the Mitzi tales are a classic and to have three books in one place is a nice touch - children from the 70s will no doubt look back at these stories with fondness and adoration. I like how some simple tales, such as Mitzi sneezes, have been turned into sweet little stories.

[Honore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved this book as a child and now the pleasure I derive from it is pure nostalgia. Very repetitive story and very vivid coloring.

Also, I was surprised by folks harsh comments about how the characters look, because when I look at them all I see is a Jewish family. This seems to be backed up by the author being an Austrian Jew how was part of a group of children who immigrated out of Nazi-occupied Europe.

[Donna Maguire · Rating 3 out of 5]

These were three nice stories about the use of imagination but I wasn't a fan at all of the images and they really did let the book down for me, I actually found them to be almost a little scary! The stories are nice enough and easy to fllow but can't see it being read more than once in our house.

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good stories, creepy pictures.

[Kirsten (lush.lit.life) · Rating 4 out of 5]

when i was little i LOVED this book. i remember looking at every purple spine in the children's section of the library in ft worth to locate it, because i couldn't read yet.

as an adult i find it strange and the people are hideous, i suspect its appeal had to do with Mitzi's independence...but i don't really know. but i love it now because little kirsten loved it for some reason.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book as a child and always thought it was crazy that two small kids went to take a taxi all by themselves. Now reading it to my own kids I love it even more. My daughter isn't even two and asks for 'Mitzi' at bed time.

[Bea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd never heard of these stories before but the blurb was appealing as was the cover so I thought I'd give them a try. While they are not right for toddlers, the age group I each, they would work for 4 year olds on up till about 7 or 8.

The stories themselves are not particularly enthralling, especially for the adult reading them, but the tales are a little slices of life with whimsy, a touch of fantasy, and a lot of repetition. The stories were a little long, my mind wandered, and I suspect that would be true with some children too. Mitzi was clever, independent, sneaky, and demanding. She and her brother kept their poor mother hopping! Children will relate to her and enjoy her antics, even if the telling of those antics is less than inspiring.

The artwork however was fun, engaging, and full of cheerful color. The style was exaggerated and the pictures busy but the busyness also meant lots of details and there were some humorous touches.

"Tell Me A Mitzi" wasn't wonderful but some children will enjoy it.

[Evan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This children's book , written by Lore Segal and published in 1970, tells three stories or 'Mitzis', the name of the little girl who acts as protagonist of each tale and is depicted in the beautiful illustrations by Harriet Pincus. The first story made me laugh out loud and was one of the most enjoyable pieces of children's literature I've ever read. I was especially touched by the part when the taxi driver, after being told the children have no idea where their grandparents live, exits the car and takes the same care to unpack the children and their belongings as he did in picking them up, leaving them slightly bewildered on the sidewalk.

Each story is a very honest, authentic, touching depiction of the life of a young child. Mitzi is clever, caring and always out for a new adventure. Even though it is a bit outdated, I can't imagine this book being anything but a hit with young people.

[Beth A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know how children love books with tons of annoying repetition. This book is full of it.

It was one of my favorites as a child, and my kids love it, too.

My husband- not so much. Unfortunately he's the primary story reader. Poor guy.

[Lindsey Morel · Rating 5 out of 5]

My cat was named after this book. The best story is where everyone gets sick. Really great stuff.

[megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

absolute fav from all time!

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it as a kid! Still do. I've borrowed ideas from these stories to use in the stories I make up for my kids.

Are the pictures ugly? Yes! But in a wonderful way.

[Caryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my absolute favorite picture book as a kid. The stories and the illustrations were both equally magical to me.

[Mimi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great illustrations to match three simple stories that are written for children's enjoyment.

[Lobstergirl]

I don't remember the stories, but Harriet Pincus's terrific illustrations triggered memories.

[Maureen Lubitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally published on You Have Your Hands Full

Tell Me a Mitzi is a picture book written by Lore Segal and illustrated by Harriet Pincus. I was very excited about the opportunity to share this book with my girls because this was a book I remembered from my own childhood. We loved this book so much that we even named one of our cats Mitzi, and she was my mother’s favorite cat of all time. I still have my copy of this book on cassette, probably a relic from a Scholastic book flier.

Mitzi is a young girl living in New York City, and this book is made up of three short stories about the titular girl and her family. They are fairly short stories that start out like everyday occurrences, but there is a little twist at the end of each story.

The illustrations are absolutely iconic. There is no mistaking that they are from the 1970s, from the color palette to the very stylized look of the characters. The stories are very wry (in a sweet way) but it is only when they are paired with the illustrations that this book is truly memorable.

My girls liked this book and thought it was very funny that this was a book I had read as a child. They tend to think that I grew up in a cave because there was no internet, so I knew they would be amused by this book. They especially enjoyed the first story in which Mitzi and her brother want to visit their grandparents.

I would recommend Tell Me A Mitzi. Children’s literature has undergone a renaissance since my own childhood, so I’m not sure how this book compares to modern picture books. But for the nostalgia factor alone, this book is worth tracking down. I had a lovely time sharing this book with my girls, and I’m looking forward to reading more picture books from my childhood with them.

I received a digital copy of this book from Netgalley/the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Ariana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book growing up, and I'm not exactly sure why. I think it was the "tell me a story about me" angle - as a kid, you're not regarded as very important a lot of times, and to be the star of something was fun.
I hadn't ever thought of the illustrations being ugly, until my 7-year-old-daughter told me that she thought one of the pictures of Jacob looked like Jerry Seinfeld.
The repetition drives me nuts. When I asked my daughter (she's pretty astute) why it was like that, she told me that it was probably to show how much work it was for Mitzi to get Jacob ready to go. I agreed, but by the time we got to the part about the parade and every last motorcyclist and Secret Service man and aide looking for gum, I started abbreviating the repetitive lines and she thanked me.
On a random note, for some reason the mentions of cinnamon toast stuck with me, and I frequently asked for cinnamon toast.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

With Melville House reprinting some of Segal's earlier adult work, and coming out with some later (and posthumous) collections, I was reminded that Segal had also written children's books. Besides this children's title, I have also read her 2 Mole books.
She was one of my instructors while at UI-Chicago in the mid 1980's. From her class in Folktale and Fairytale, and her translation and editing of a 2 volume collection of Grimm Brothers' stories (along with John Berryman and Sendak!), I expected these to be a bit more in a darker vein than they ended up being.
Nice stories, with a good lesson for the child at the end in each. And I especially love the illustrations of Sergio Ruzzier for the Mole stories.
But, as an adult reader of children's literature, I would have enjoyed them being a bit more gruesome.
Still, 3.5 out of 5 for the group.

[Peacejanz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book by the good graces of Netgalley and the publisher Farrar Straus. This is a childrens book with beautiful drawings by Harriet Pincus. The child in the book asks for a Mitzi, which is a story. There are three charming stories with illustrations. Mitzi Takes a Taxi, Mitzi Sneezes, and Mitzi and the President. . The illustrations for the third story are a bit dated but any reader could explain to a child about how things used to be. Mitzi is a precocious child and often involves her younger brother in her adventures. This book is fun, colorful and delightful.

[Victoria Peipert · Rating 3 out of 5]

I realize this book was originally published in the 70s but I don't have any childhood memories with it. That said, I was excited to read it since I'd heard about it. My immediate reaction was fright... I am not sure why the illustrations are what they are but everyone looks very old and bulbous and it's pretty off-putting. The stories themselves are funny and sweet though. I wish a new version kept the story and updated the illustrations!

[Carla · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am in a minority here, but I was not impressed by this book. My grandson walked away when I continued to read it after he asked me to read something else. He did like the illustrations though. Old fashioned stories about Mitzi, her brother and parents.

[Reggie_Love · Rating 3 out of 5]

Silly short stories that are sure to make kids giggle...if the faces of the kids don't scare the hell out of the kids. Those faces. Oh my gods. Seriously. Horrifying. But I did love how independent the kids were, no matter how unrealistic.

[KhiN’Millie Friesen · Rating 1 out of 5]

It wasn't very good she took the baby out of the crib and went out the door alone and went into a strangers car. That's really naughty and kinda dangerous right? Her brother screamed so loud to get his way but that's not what we do when we want something. I didn't like this book very much. - Khi 3

[June · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this aloud to my four youngest, and then my 7-year-old took the book in his hands, flipped it over, and studied it a bit and said, “Some person on the back thinks this is the funniest book in print. And it’s actually not that funny.”

Not that funny, perhaps, but funny enough for me.

[fae · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was one of my very favorites as a kid. it just made such an impact on me. the artwork is atrocious in the best possible way; my brain loves it!!! the stories are amusing, as well, and i appreciate the droll humor especially now as an adult.

it remains one of my favorite books. 📕♥️

[Brandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is cute. The illustrations are quite…interesting, to say the least. Everyone (male & female) looks like they have the face of a middle-aged man! 😂😂 I’m going to have to check out other books illustrated by Harriet Pincus.

[Cal · Rating 5 out of 5]

My grandfather read this to me as a child growing up and now I'm rereading it again and again with my own little one. It's just as good as I remember.

[Maeve · Rating 2 out of 5]

Martha is told three stories by her mother and father, which all relate to events that have happened in their lives.

Creepy illustrations.

[Karen Yoder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightfully repetitive.