At the same time that Harper and Brothers was publishing Elizabite and Tit for Tat, Houghton Mifflin was busy with several "cut-out-and-play" books created by Uncle Gus. Uncle Gus was, of course, Hans AuGUSto Rey, and his Christmas Manger, Uncle Gus's Circus, and Uncle Gus's Farm, all published in 1942, were instant successes. A piece in the New York Times Book Review for May 3, 1942, comments, "The elephants and monkeys and clowns of Uncle Gus's Circus, the pigs and horses and cows of Uncle Gus's Farm will push out of the page...all ready to stand up when folded. ...These ingenious books have real charm and will provide solid enjoyment and relief for both children and parents on a long train journey or when a child is ill enough to stay in bed but not too ill to be amused."

Le Zoo, another toy book created by Rey, was published in 1938 by Hachette in France. Since its design was so unique, it was protected by a patent rather than a traditional copyright.