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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
I have read this book to both my boys and will read it to my daughter when she is old enough. I love all of the Mrs. Piggle Wiggle books and so have my kids. Classic...
This book is the latest in a series of children's classics I am reading with my son that I never read when I was a child. (It's funny how long that list is; I recall being an avid reader as a child, but I missed so, so much.)
This book introduces us to the titular character, a genial oddball, beloved by children, who comes up with clever ways to "cure" various children of vices such as eating too slowly, not wanting to bathe, and being needlessly quarrelsome with siblings. She is a gentle, kind, wise presence, but what's entertaining is that there is an undercurrent of wicked humor throughout. She doesn't quite go full Roald Dahl, but she could have if she wanted.
My son--who, bless him, is almost nine-- had one of his first moments of critical distance in reading this book. He noted that, without exception, whenever a child's father appears, his only relationship to his child is to (a) threaten to spank or beat the child, or (b) to call his child some unflattering name. He is absolutely correct. The fathers in this book are mercurial, impatient, and inordinately fond of meting out physical discipline. It is rather jarring to contemporary sensibilities to read of a father telling his wife to wait until he comes home so he can give their son a good flaying. The mothers, and Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, opt for cleverness, and their way ends up working.
(My wife noted that MacDonald was clued in to one of the constants in the life of women: the use of wit and creativity to deal with the violence and short tempers of men. She isn't wrong.)
MacDonald's writing voice is peculiar and interesting. Aside from her wicked sense of humor, she has an unrivaled talent for writing these long, breathless run-on sentences that shouldn't work, but somehow do. She doesn't resort to them constantly, not constantly enough for them to feel affected, but when she does, the effect is pleasantly disconcerting. A high school grammarian would redline a lot of her sentences, but she manages to turn those sentences into desultory music. That's talent.
This book introduces us to the titular character, a genial oddball, beloved by children, who comes up with clever ways to "cure" various children of vices such as eating too slowly, not wanting to bathe, and being needlessly quarrelsome with siblings. She is a gentle, kind, wise presence, but what's entertaining is that there is an undercurrent of wicked humor throughout. She doesn't quite go full Roald Dahl, but she could have if she wanted.
My son--who, bless him, is almost nine-- had one of his first moments of critical distance in reading this book. He noted that, without exception, whenever a child's father appears, his only relationship to his child is to (a) threaten to spank or beat the child, or (b) to call his child some unflattering name. He is absolutely correct. The fathers in this book are mercurial, impatient, and inordinately fond of meting out physical discipline. It is rather jarring to contemporary sensibilities to read of a father telling his wife to wait until he comes home so he can give their son a good flaying. The mothers, and Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, opt for cleverness, and their way ends up working.
(My wife noted that MacDonald was clued in to one of the constants in the life of women: the use of wit and creativity to deal with the violence and short tempers of men. She isn't wrong.)
MacDonald's writing voice is peculiar and interesting. Aside from her wicked sense of humor, she has an unrivaled talent for writing these long, breathless run-on sentences that shouldn't work, but somehow do. She doesn't resort to them constantly, not constantly enough for them to feel affected, but when she does, the effect is pleasantly disconcerting. A high school grammarian would redline a lot of her sentences, but she manages to turn those sentences into desultory music. That's talent.
Who doesn't love Mrs. Piggle Wiggle? I loved reading it when I was little and still read it now, every time getting a new message out of it that I didn't catch previously. Anyone looking for fun should read this, as well as parents wondering at how to get their children to do something, because it will present plenty ideas for the result you want.
I listened to this on audio with my 5-year-old daughter and I thought it was terrible. I remember liking the Mrs. Piggle Wiggle books as a child but as an adult I thought it was awful- though my daughter really liked it.
It’s not really a novel, more a collection of short stories which were so repetitive and often dull. In each one, a child is misbehaving, the mother calls Mrs. Piggle Wiggle who provides a cure, and within days the child is a perfect angel. Repeat. Repeat. Sometimes the cures were super realistic and seems like they might actually work, and other times they were just plain weird- like growing radishes on the skin of a child who wouldn’t bathe. Like the dirt could actually get that thick on a person.
It’s not really a novel, more a collection of short stories which were so repetitive and often dull. In each one, a child is misbehaving, the mother calls Mrs. Piggle Wiggle who provides a cure, and within days the child is a perfect angel. Repeat. Repeat. Sometimes the cures were super realistic and seems like they might actually work, and other times they were just plain weird- like growing radishes on the skin of a child who wouldn’t bathe. Like the dirt could actually get that thick on a person.
I used to love this book as a kid and my daughter loved it as we read it together. But, OH MY, it is SO dated. It was written in 1947 and it was really wretched for me to slog though it! My 5 year old enjoyed it, but I did not so I rated it a happy middle ground 3 :) It was actually hard for me to read some of the family dialogue...the fathers...oh, the dated fathers...and the women...oh, it makes my stomach hurt a little. Just kidding, but really it made me glad for our current marriage and parenthood standards.
My 5- and 6-year-olds thought this was the funniest book! They wanted to pretend like they were calling Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle on the phone. And who had to pretend to be her? Well, ME, of course! Haha.
I like how Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's cures aren't really "cures" at all. She simply recommends that parents implement zany methods so that their kids experience the full brunt of their bad behavior. John Rosemond calls this the Agony Principle. Where the parents stop bearing the brunt of the child's bad behavior and transfer it to the child's shoulders instead. Of course, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle goes a tad far, and the results are far-fetched. But I think my boys benefitted most from having a "picture" of the bad behavior presented before their eyes. Instead of me saying "pick up your toys," they see Little Johnny and what happens to him when he doesn't pick up his toys for a few days. It's like sprinkling a bit of fertilizer on my parenting seeds, haha. Grow, babies, grow!
I like how Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's cures aren't really "cures" at all. She simply recommends that parents implement zany methods so that their kids experience the full brunt of their bad behavior. John Rosemond calls this the Agony Principle. Where the parents stop bearing the brunt of the child's bad behavior and transfer it to the child's shoulders instead. Of course, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle goes a tad far, and the results are far-fetched. But I think my boys benefitted most from having a "picture" of the bad behavior presented before their eyes. Instead of me saying "pick up your toys," they see Little Johnny and what happens to him when he doesn't pick up his toys for a few days. It's like sprinkling a bit of fertilizer on my parenting seeds, haha. Grow, babies, grow!
This was my absolute favorite book series as a child and I’m happy to say after today’s reread it’s still 100000/10
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
hopeful
relaxing
fast-paced