Hi Wordwind: I agree, Mike Mulligan (by Virginia Lee Burton) is a fascinating book and was also one of the first films produced by Weston Woods Studios (in 1957) who specialised in transferring children's picture books into short films.

I have a copy of the film in my collection and it's still popular with young children who come to visit.

Incidentally, I was also taken by the word 'selectmen' (used in the book); we use the term 'councillors' for elected local government officers. Is 'selectmen' still in common use?