Mrs. Coverlet series facts for kids

The Mrs. Coverlet books are a fun series of three children's stories written by Mary Nash. They were published by Little, Brown and Company. The books are called While Mrs. Coverlet Was Away (1958), Mrs. Coverlet's Magicians (1960), and Mrs. Coverlet's Detectives (1965). One of the books, Mrs. Coverlet's Magicians, even has some exciting magic! The pictures in the books were drawn by Garrett Price.

Meet the Persever Children

The main characters in these books are three school-aged children. Their names are Malcolm, Mary, and Theobold. Theobold is the youngest and is often called "Toad." Their kind housekeeper, Mrs. Coverlet, takes care of them. The children's mother has passed away. Their father often travels for his job. He can be away for many months at a time. The character "Toad" was inspired by Mary Nash's own youngest child, Tom, who was also called "Toad" when he was little.

What Happens in the Books?

While Mrs. Coverlet Was Away

In this first book, Mrs. Coverlet suddenly has to leave because of an emergency. At the same time, the children's father is far away in New Zealand. This means the children are left alone for several weeks during the summer. They decide to keep it a secret that no adult is in the house. Malcolm, the oldest, worries a lot about doing the right thing. The children also discover that Theobold's pet cat is a very rare and valuable type of cat!

Mrs. Coverlet's Magicians

In this story, a friend of the family, Miss Eva Penalty, agrees to stay at their house. She is supposed to look after the children. Their father is away managing a tin mine. Their beloved housekeeper, Mrs. Coverlet, is away at a baking contest. The children are not happy about Miss Eva coming. Theobold, "the Toad," especially dislikes her. Miss Eva is very strict and bossy. She tries to control their lives and makes them eat too many vegetables.

However, soon after she arrives, Miss Eva's personality changes completely. She becomes very tired and spends all her time in bed. She also becomes happy and lets the children do whatever they want. The two older children, Malcolm and Mary, soon find out why. "The Toad" has been using magic on her! He found a magic recipe by answering an advertisement in a comic book.

Mrs. Coverlet's Detectives

In this third book, the children go on an exciting adventure. Malcolm, who always worries about what's right, and practical Mary, join the mischievous Theobold "the Toad." They travel all the way to New York City. Their mission is to rescue their pet cat, who has been kidnapped!