[.ca] Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle (ISBN 0397317123)

From Amazon.com:
Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle has been wildly popular with children and adults for over 50 years. Children adore her because she understands them--and because her upside-down house is always filled with the smell of freshly baked cookies, and her backyard with buried treasure. Grownups love her because her magical common sense solutions to children's problems succeed when their own cajoling and yelling don't. For the child who refuses to bathe, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle recommends letting her be. Wait until the dirt on her body has accumulated to half an inch, then scatter radish seeds on her arms and head. When the plants start sprouting, the nonbather is guaranteed to change her mind about that bath. Hilary Knight's (Eloise, Sunday Morning) delightful pictures provide lively, droll accompaniment to Betty MacDonald's refreshing stories. Whether Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle is curing Answer-Backers or Slow-Eater-Tiny-Bite-Takers, her remedies always work like a charm. More than one parent over the years has surreptitiously turned to Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle when Dr. Spock failed to come through. (Ages 8 to 12) --Emilie Coulter

Mrs. Piggle Wiggle is the Best Teacher:
I read my copies of Mrs. Piggle Wiggle books to shreds as a child, and I still love to reread the stories today. The books contain valuable lessons for children; and though some are more magical and fun than others, all are well done with regards to capturing children's attention in a unique manner and making them want to improve themselves by fixing their own problems. Mrs. Piggle Wiggle is truly a brilliant and clever teacher, using extremely creative teaching techniques in presenting values, morals, and good habits for children to emulate, develop, and strive for. This book, though not particularly subtle as far as the lessons it tries to impart, is fantastic with regards to children learning something from their storybooks. J.H. Sweet, author of The Fairy Chronicles

I remember these books as a child...:
I remember reading these books as a child, and I will read these stories to mine. Although a little dated, they are still as delightfully funny as I remember. The normal things that kids don't want to do are given a new light, and a new way to get them to do it. No matter what the problem is, Mrs. Pigglewiggle always seems to have the cure. And as silly, or strange her cure may seem, it always works! My favorite story was always "The Selfishness Cure." About a kid who was being selfish, and would share nothing! So Mrs. Pigglewiggle advised his mother to label EVERYTHING he owned. It was an adorable story! I highly recommend these books. It would be fun for the whole family to get together one night each week, and read one story in this book. That's what I plan to do with my daighter (when she gets a little older, that is.)

Rollicking Good Fun:
This is a hilarious, rollicking-good-fun read aloud. Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle lives in an upside-down house and knows everything there is to know about children. She also has the most wonderful cures for common childhood ailments such as won't-pick-up-toy-itis and won't-take-a-bath-itis. Told in an episodic format, each chapter is it's own little story. I believe some of the chapters have been published as picture books also. My 7yo enjoyed this very much. We both laughed out loud and both have the same favourite chapter which is the story of the little girl who wouldn't wash and ended up having radishes growing out of her forehead. I've read this book several times now but haven't read any of the sequels but I think I may have to change that. I also must mention that the Hilary Knight (best known for the Eloise books) illustrations are adorable.

How now shall we live?:
I am not an expert book reviewer, but I do have kids and I am a teacher. The Mrs. Piggle Wiggle books create an image for young readers that they may not come up with on their own. While killing someone with a butcher knife may not be condoned by the author as a good thing, that is one example of an image in the book that I, for one, don't want to put into a k-3 graders head...or even older for that matter. If we have an increase in school violence on the news, then why put negative images like killing and hating in their heads when they are in kindergarten or 1st or 2nd grade?? Betty Macdonald's intentions are not to promote but to entertain and then condemn these types of behavior, but why even put the thought of killing someone with a butcher knife in their little heads?? Here is the portion of the book I am referring to... just so you know I am not making this up!! "Connie(sister's name)stood in the doorway said,"What a repulsive little show-off! My Gosh, Mother, can't you see how disgusting he is?" ..."Shoot him, Mother! Kill him! Cut him up with the butcher knife. Mommy, he embarrasses me in front of my stupid, ugly, giggling friends." "Now, children," said Mrs. Carmoday gently. Please don't willingly put these thoughts into your or anyone else's kids' minds!

Even the title brings back happy memories!:
Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle is one of those books you just never forget! I enjoyed it as a child and in turn read it to my three boys. The stories are hilarious and even though the lessons are transparent they are easily enjoyed by reader and listener alike. It's a shame that this book is no longer available! I'm going to make sure I hold on to my copy!