I was given an animal story book when my tonsils were removed at age 2, around 1948. I would like to purchase this book for my grandchildren. It had one story about Mr. Tooks, the mailman, as I recall. I would appreciate any ideas you might have to locate this book.

I stole this from Amazon's Askville (eBay has the book by Cunningham, 1947 Those Cats By Virginia Cunningham | eBay (http://www.ebay.com/itm/1947-Those-Cats-Virginia-Cunningham-/250882642508) -- your public library might be able to find a copy for you):

looking for name of book of children's stories from before 1970. Lady's mailman brings her kittens & orphans. they marry.

A librarian friend of mine tracked down the book for me. Those Cats by Virginia Cunningham. This is the story. A lonely single woman named Miss Simpson, a seamstress, is given two kittens she names Marmalade and Pinafore by her mailman Mr. Tooks. Later Mr. Tooks brings her two boys from an orphanage his sister runs. She feeds them pancakes and a jelly roll. Later still Mr. Tooks proposes marriage. It is a short story in "Big Big Story Book" published by Whitman. Copyright dates from 1944-1955.

I believe the story "Those Cats" is part of a big animal story picture book but not the "Big Big Story Book". Any other ideas? I got the book around 1948...

I'm guessing the big animal book is out of print. I've checked an out-of-print web site called Powell's and also a huge database called WorldCat with no luck. The book may be out there somewhere, but I'm not sure how to find it.

Are there any family members that may have grabbed it or know where it could be in some relative's attic? I grabbed all my favorite books from my parents' house when I first got married (am in your generation), so thankfully I have them here safe and sound in my own house.

You could try reader's advisory at your local library, but I'm guessing they will do all that I have done. It might be worth a call or visit though.

I'll keep checking my library sources and post here if I find anything.

Thank you so much for all the trouble you went through finding this book. I once saw the book in a used book store, but foolishly did not grab it. Thanks anyway for your help.

I called my all-time favorite cataloger and reference librarian, and he found this (maybe the correct book?):

http://www.amazon.com/100-Animal-Stories-Virginia-Cunningham/dp/B000P9SB2U

No, it's not; it was a picture book, colored with not so many words on each page and different stories about different animals. I really appreciate all the time and effort you've given to the matter. Thank you so much. I am a collector of children's books, having done so for over 40 years for my eight children, and now for my 26 grandchildren. I just thought it would be nice to add that storybook from my own childhood to the collection.

I'm sure it's out there somewhere. Connect with some rare and o-o-p book dealers and be in their search files? I've had some of the best of the best searching for this today, so I'm sorry we didn't pin it down.

There's also this:

Amazon.com: This Way to the Zoo: Virginia Cunningham, Nettie Weber: Books (http://www.amazon.com/This-Way-Zoo-Virginia-Cunningham/dp/B001OLHQHE/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319754015&sr=1-1)

And this:

Amazon.com: Stories of Animals: Virginia Cunningham, Dorothea J. Snow: Books (http://www.amazon.com/Stories-Animals-Virginia-Cunningham/dp/B0007FWBXM/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319754156&sr=1-2)

I believe I have the book you are talking about. It has a boy and girl on the front cover, surround by animals. The stories include slightly tinted illustrations on most of the pages with the stories. I have found the book on some other sites. It is also known by "100 Animal Stories" and was copyrighted in 1940. I had this book as a very small child and had "memorized" quite a few stories. So when I found it at a flea market, I had to grab it up for my grandchildren, also. Check Google under "Animal Stories by Virginia Cunningham" and you may find some copies quite inexpensively. I hope this helps you.