Need a House? Call Ms. Mouse! (sometimes titled House by Mouse) is a children's picture book written by George Mendoza and illustrated by Doris Susan Smith. It was originally published in 1981, and rereleased in 2022 after going out of print.
The book eschews plot, instead showcasing the beautiful houses built by Henrietta Mouse. Ms. Mouse is an architect famous for understanding just what her clients want, whether that's the sleek seaside home of Lizard or the gaudy mansion of Pig. From rivers to burrows to treetops, everyone has a dream of what will make them most comfortable and how architecture can complement their lives.
This book contains the following tropes:
- Arboreal Abode: Caterpillar lives in a faux-pear suspended from a tree.
- Big Fancy House: Pig's mansion is designed to communicate her wealth, complete with superfluous columns and a pig statue fountain.
- Species Surname: Characters are referred to in the singular (e.g, "Squirrel asks..."), though other members of their species are shown.
