Children’s book where a group of various animals help their friend (another animal) who is ill by doing her chores/jobs.

[Nash]

Children’s book where a group of various animals help their friend (another animal) who is ill by doing her chores/jobs.

I remember some of the illustrations. One was of the main characters home (it was a Tudor Style home - as I remember - with a pond in front). And there was an old fashioned looking radio toward the end of the book.

I read this sometime between 1988 to 1991. However, it had to be a reprint as one of the last parts of the book dealt with radio and radio shows. Something about telling scary stories on the radio.

I searched for this book for years.

No luck. This was my favorite book as a small little kiddo. Please help if you can. I would be forever grateful to have a copy of this on my self again.

[bookel]

Steep roofs with the dark slats on the outside of a white house you mean? Would it be a British book?
Starting off with a search like this.
https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=kw%...

[bookel]

Would it be something like Frog and Toad are Friends by Arnold Lobel, I think one of them is sick in a book by Lobel.
What illustration style? Any similar to Val Biro, Mercer Mayer?

[Nash]

I believe it would be similar to Val Biro.

The home was more English manor with a pond in front and garden. I think it had a willow tree or something similar in the illustration. It did have steep Tudor roofs.

I just asked my mother - she remembered the book. She said a mouse or rat was the the main character. The rodent was female.

It would have had to have been readily available in American South in the late 80s to early 90s. I know my grandparents wouldn’t have ordered something special.

As to Frog and Toad, I don’t think it was as the book was specifically about the sickness of the main character and how the friends helped. There were no other stories or adventures in it. Plus the rodent note know.

I looked through the World Cat link and didn’t see anything that sparked a memory and “gotcha.”

Thanks for helping me look!

[bookel]

Nothing jumped at me either from that search. But excellent clues! Thanks for replying in such detail. If no one else recognises it I'll look again later.

[bookel]

Perhaps not Graham Oakley's books with that level of detail (more for older kids, these picture books, with more text).
https://www.librarything.com/author/o...

Another to eliminate would be a Beatrix Potter book.

[Nash]

I agree with the level of detail point!

I remember I didn’t read them by myself. I always remember being read to with the book. That is probably why I can’t remember more details, lol.

The animals were anthropomorphic. I don’t recall humans being present. Everything was to scale with the animals.

Thanks again for you help! I am still digging as well.

[bookel]

Try looking at a few literature reviews.
https://maygibbs.org/news/anthropomor...
Google anthropomorphic animals sick british picture book
https://cdr.lib.unc.edu/downloads/zw1...

[Nash]

Thanks for the information. I am still not having any luck with this one. I will keep at it. I appreciate the new tools you are showing me.

[bookel]

Sorry that literature review on mice seemed to be more novels. Worldcat.org and Google Books, both have advanced search. Could also try British library, a basic search like sick in the title, children's in keywords. It takes persistence to find a childhood book (from personal experience).

[Nash]

Thanks so much. I will definitely keep up the hunt. How I wish I had a time machine, lol.

[Joanna]

I think I know what book you're talking about but also can't remember the title! Did it have an illustration style kind of like the one in Easter Mice!?

I'm almost certain I own this book but I went digging and can't find it. Will have to try again in the morning.

[bookel]

Hope you find it!
Mice, picture book. https://www.librarything.com/tag/mice...

[Nash]

Thanks Joanna!

It did have a similar style to Easter Mice. I wish I could remember more of the animals.

If you find your hunch - please post. I’d definitely appreciate it. I asked my mother for more detail but she is uncertain.

All she remembers is she read it to me so much she kinda zoned out when reading, lol.

Bookel, I will definitely give your link a look through tomorrow morning.

Thanks so much!

[Nash]

Thanks Bookel - I looked this morning. Still no luck. Thanks again!

[book explorer]

Hi. Have you checked Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH?

[Nash]

Thanks for the response. It isn’t MF&TRON. I definitely remember that one. Another childhood favorite I can actually remember, lol.

[Rainbowheart]

Friends?

[Nash]

Thanks for the response. I checked this book out and the author’s other books. This isn’t it, lol. A 🪡 in a haystack. The search continues. 😁