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Mrs. Piggle Wiggle #5
Happy Birthday, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle
Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle is back with a brand-new bundle of wonderfully magical cures for any bad habit—from watching too much TV to picky eating to fear of trying new things. With a little help from her pets, Wag the dog, Lightfoot the cat, and Lester the pig—and a trunk full of magnificent powders and potions—she can solve any problem, big or small. And while Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle is working her magic, the children are working some of their own, planning a boisterous birthday bash for everyone's favorite problem solver!
208 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2007
14 people are currently reading
692 people want to read
About the author
Betty MacDonald
60 books321 followersMacDonald was born Anne Elizabeth Campbell Bard in Boulder, Colorado. Her official birth date is given as March 26, 1908, although federal census returns seem to indicate 1907.
Her family moved to the north slope of Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood in 1918, moving to the Laurelhurst neighborhood a year later and finally settling in the Roosevelt neighborhood in 1922, where she graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1924.
MacDonald married Robert Eugene Heskett (1895–1951) at age 20 in July 1927; they lived on a chicken farm in the Olympic Peninsula's Chimacum Valley, near Center and a few miles south of Port Townsend. She left Heskett in 1931 and returned to Seattle, where she worked at a variety of jobs to support their daughters Anne and Joan; after the divorce the ex-spouses had virtually no contact.
She spent nine months at Firland Sanatorium near Seattle in 1937–1938 for treatment of tuberculosis. On April 24, 1942 she married Donald C. MacDonald (1910–1975) and moved to Vashon Island, where she wrote most of her books. The MacDonalds moved to California's Carmel Valley in 1956.
MacDonald rose to fame when her first book, The Egg and I, was published in 1945. It was a bestseller and was translated into 20 languages. Based on her life on the Chimacum Valley chicken farm, the books introduced the characters Ma and Pa Kettle, who also were featured in the movie version of The Egg and I. The characters become so popular a series of nine more films were made featuring them. In the film of The Egg and I, made in 1947, MacDonald was played by Claudette Colbert. Her husband (simply called "Bob" in the book) was called "Bob MacDonald" in the film, as studio executives were keen not to raise the matter of MacDonald's divorce in the public consciousness. He was played by Fred MacMurray.
Although the book was a critical and popular success at publication, in the 1970s it was criticized for its stereotypical treatment of Native Americans. It had also been claimed that it "spawned a perception of Washington as a land of eccentric country bumpkins like Ma and Pa Kettle."
MacDonald's defenders point out that in the context of the 1940s such stereotyping was far more acceptable. MacDonald faced two lawsuits: by members of a family who claimed she had based the Kettles on them, and by a man who claimed he was the model for the Indian character Crowbar. One lawsuit was settled out of court, while the second went to trial in February 1951. The plaintiffs did not prevail, although the judge indicated he felt they had shown that some of the claims of defamation had merit.
MacDonald also published three other semi-autobiographical books: Anybody Can Do Anything, recounting her life in the Depression trying to find work; The Plague and I, describing her nine-month stay at the Firlands tuberculosis sanitarium; and Onions in the Stew, about her life on Vashon Island with her second husband and daughters during the war years. She also wrote the Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle series of children's books and another children's book, entitled Nancy and Plum. A posthumous collection of her writings, entitled Who Me?, was later released.[citation needed]
MacDonald died in Seattle of uterine cancer on February 7, 1958
Her family moved to the north slope of Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood in 1918, moving to the Laurelhurst neighborhood a year later and finally settling in the Roosevelt neighborhood in 1922, where she graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1924.
MacDonald married Robert Eugene Heskett (1895–1951) at age 20 in July 1927; they lived on a chicken farm in the Olympic Peninsula's Chimacum Valley, near Center and a few miles south of Port Townsend. She left Heskett in 1931 and returned to Seattle, where she worked at a variety of jobs to support their daughters Anne and Joan; after the divorce the ex-spouses had virtually no contact.
She spent nine months at Firland Sanatorium near Seattle in 1937–1938 for treatment of tuberculosis. On April 24, 1942 she married Donald C. MacDonald (1910–1975) and moved to Vashon Island, where she wrote most of her books. The MacDonalds moved to California's Carmel Valley in 1956.
MacDonald rose to fame when her first book, The Egg and I, was published in 1945. It was a bestseller and was translated into 20 languages. Based on her life on the Chimacum Valley chicken farm, the books introduced the characters Ma and Pa Kettle, who also were featured in the movie version of The Egg and I. The characters become so popular a series of nine more films were made featuring them. In the film of The Egg and I, made in 1947, MacDonald was played by Claudette Colbert. Her husband (simply called "Bob" in the book) was called "Bob MacDonald" in the film, as studio executives were keen not to raise the matter of MacDonald's divorce in the public consciousness. He was played by Fred MacMurray.
Although the book was a critical and popular success at publication, in the 1970s it was criticized for its stereotypical treatment of Native Americans. It had also been claimed that it "spawned a perception of Washington as a land of eccentric country bumpkins like Ma and Pa Kettle."
MacDonald's defenders point out that in the context of the 1940s such stereotyping was far more acceptable. MacDonald faced two lawsuits: by members of a family who claimed she had based the Kettles on them, and by a man who claimed he was the model for the Indian character Crowbar. One lawsuit was settled out of court, while the second went to trial in February 1951. The plaintiffs did not prevail, although the judge indicated he felt they had shown that some of the claims of defamation had merit.
MacDonald also published three other semi-autobiographical books: Anybody Can Do Anything, recounting her life in the Depression trying to find work; The Plague and I, describing her nine-month stay at the Firlands tuberculosis sanitarium; and Onions in the Stew, about her life on Vashon Island with her second husband and daughters during the war years. She also wrote the Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle series of children's books and another children's book, entitled Nancy and Plum. A posthumous collection of her writings, entitled Who Me?, was later released.[citation needed]
MacDonald died in Seattle of uterine cancer on February 7, 1958
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews
November 7, 2008
Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle is back!...almost 50 years after the original author’s death. Betty MacDonald’s daughter found one unpublished story and ideas for others, and wrote Happy Birthday Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, the fifth book in the series. The first story, “The Just One More TV Show Cure” is obviously written by the original MacDonald and is the best story in the book. The others are written in the same style but lack that something that makes it stand out like the other Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle stories. Still, this is a decent collection of stories, but now I want to re-read the other Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle books!
March 9, 2015
This is the second Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle book I've read to my daughter. My wife was a fan from childhood but I had never heard of Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle before. Apparently the first one I read was written back in the 50's by Betty MacDonald whereas this one is comprised of a previously unpublished story and ideas for others that were found by her daughter. The story outlines were fleshed out into new installments in the franchise. My 8 year old, being way smarter than me, immediately picked up the more contemporary feel of this book. And as it turns out, we both liked this one better (perhaps because of the modernity, perhaps for some other reason that is a credit to Anne MacDonald Canham) than the truly authentic Mrs. Piggle book previously read. There was only one story (the one about a kid too cautious to attempt anything - from something legitimately intimidating like a climbing a tree to merely playing basketball with friends) that we found to be a total dud. Other than that we were charmed throughout. The concept of a woman with magical cures for annoying childhood behavior and vices is a timeless winner, so I can see why these books (originals and new entries) charm multiple generations of readers.
April 30, 2024
I’ve been feeling the urge to read some of my old, OLD childhood books and this is one I loved back then and still can love now. Totally won’t use it to scare train children into being well-behaved haha
February 5, 2016
Do you sometimes have the feeling like you don't want to brush your teeth or you don't want to stop watching TV.
This book is great because it tells what would happen if you did or din't do those important and not important thing.
I just love this book even thought, it is Czech but can be read in English!!!
This book is great because it tells what would happen if you did or din't do those important and not important thing.
I just love this book even thought, it is Czech but can be read in English!!!
June 27, 2012
Same Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle magic. =)
February 15, 2016
Read this with my grandson. I loved the stories with my children! This one is a wonderful tribute to Betty McDonald from her daughter. Lovely!
July 10, 2022
This was adorable! I loved the ending. <3
March 1, 2023
I always love the Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle books! I like how creative all of the cures and problems are. It’s a fun and quick read if you wanna relax and chill out!
August 11, 2025
Happy Birthday, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle
Eight short stories about bratty kids that they’re parents don’t seem to have the answers (or the brains) to solve in their different bad behaviors, so they turn to the smartest woman (that is witch because I think we already know) in the neighborhood to cure them. At the end, all the kids and parent’s throw her one of the BEST parties I think I’ve ever read about in a book! With a surprise at the end! Since this book is so short I’ll just hit on each one of these stories briefly.
The Just One More TV Show Cure: Saw this one used on the Cosby show. (Yeah, I know but back then it was STILL a good show). It was used on Rudy. Same results. This one I might try if I was a parent. It seems the most logical of the “cures” to actually work.
The Won’t Brush Teeth Cure: This one actually worked on ME! After reading how moldy Betsy’s teeth were and how foul her breath was, I actually (no lie) got up and cleaned out my own mouth. I even vowed to set a time aside in the day to do teeth maintenance.
The Insult Care: This is the start of where we get the proof that Mrs. Piggle Wiggle is a witch. I don’t know why these books shy from saying that’s what she is, because that is what she is. As for magic paper that flies up to the ceiling with glow-in-the-dark insult words as a cure, I don’t think that was the cure. If you look at the illustration, it’s something much more sinister going on. I don’t think ANY of that was a dream, that those papers could form shapes and hands. I think this cure was to scare the kid to death. If you thought Miss Piggle-Wiggle was all tea-parties, treasure hunts, and just this sweet, little, old, lady you’d be wrong. There was another book Mrs. Piggle Wiggle where her TRUE personality actually does show and she pretends to be what she is and her alter ego comes out in a “game”. Yes! Miss Piggle-Wiggle has a DARK SIDE people. Believe that!
The Picky Eater Cure: Magic crystals that turn every food into noodles was this cure. I probably would have just given him noodles every single day until he got sick of them. Same result. You don’t need the neighborhood witch to figure this one out. And I thought the mother would have thought of this one.
The Afraid to Try Cure: Now with this one, I was frustrated because again you didn’t need Mrs Piggle Wiggle’s deception. I can see where you wouldn’t want a punk for a kid, but Jonathan is a typical introvert. Sports are NOT his thing and that’s OK. He wants to be a veterinarian. Maybe he’s just not the adventurous type. He’s the bookworm type. I’m the book worm type. Did they ever think that maybe he just DIDN’T WANT TO skate board down the side of a house? That’s why he made excuses about it. I’m an introvert so I know how pushy extroverts can be when they want you to “try things” that you just aren’t interested in.
The Messy Stuff and Cram Cure: Again, more proof of Miss Piggle Wiggle’s dark side. First, I thought invisible paint sound’s cool. Then I didn’t quite get what it had to do with anything in this one. The mother paints the furniture invisible. I thought it was to show Katy how atrocious her room was so that’s literally all she saw. And I winced at this one because there is NO WAY with all that trash and half eaten food that (that) room wasn’t chock full of roaches. And I can not STAND roaches! They were probably even in the bed with her. So again, deception what that paint really did was make the furniture in Katy’s room reactive. So again the “cure” was to scare the kid to death. Slick, but I’m starting to see your game Miss Piggle Wiggle. If I was a parent and my kid’s room looked like this do you really think I’d let them out of it until they cleaned it? These parents are WAY TOO SOFT and PASSIVE! They call each other when what they really should be doing is taking charge in their own homes.
The Never Finish Cure: Ok so this one I can relate to. I’m not *as* bad as Janie, but with so many things around me fighting to grab my attention I can easily go from one to another. It takes a lot of practice sometimes to focus on one project when you have SO many daily. Interesting enough here’s another dark cure. Miss Piggle Wiggle uses a powder to control this girl’s hand’s so they won’t do but one thing at a time. I’ll just let that sink in. She has a powder that lets her CONTROL body parts.
Then we get to the party, which I just have to say is AMAZING! Can I have a costume party please? The only thing I was disappointed about was that it wasn’t at night in like this Halloween themed sky building that was in her back yard. There’re streamers, balloons, a eight layer cake (with candy sprinkled on the top). There’s punch bowls of pink lemonade, potato chips, and candy. Two dishpans of fruit salad. There’s a pizza AND ice-cream truck. And I can just image the pizza taste just like Show Biz’s from back in the day. There’s wagon loads of presents. I mean why won’t somebody throw me a party like this? Then her husband leaves her a special surprise that she finds in a trunk. Which did he die at sea? I’ve always wondered what happened to Mr. Piggle Wiggle. It ends with a parade and it truly is the perfect party.
Rating: 7
It’s funny that when I first read these books my little innocent mind didn’t pick up on some of the things I’m starting to theorize on. I read these as a sweet, elderly, little, old, lady in the neighborhood that just loved kids. Never realizing what was underneath that. Never just taking the time to stop and think about these “cures”.
Eight short stories about bratty kids that they’re parents don’t seem to have the answers (or the brains) to solve in their different bad behaviors, so they turn to the smartest woman (that is witch because I think we already know) in the neighborhood to cure them. At the end, all the kids and parent’s throw her one of the BEST parties I think I’ve ever read about in a book! With a surprise at the end! Since this book is so short I’ll just hit on each one of these stories briefly.
The Just One More TV Show Cure: Saw this one used on the Cosby show. (Yeah, I know but back then it was STILL a good show). It was used on Rudy. Same results. This one I might try if I was a parent. It seems the most logical of the “cures” to actually work.
The Won’t Brush Teeth Cure: This one actually worked on ME! After reading how moldy Betsy’s teeth were and how foul her breath was, I actually (no lie) got up and cleaned out my own mouth. I even vowed to set a time aside in the day to do teeth maintenance.
The Insult Care: This is the start of where we get the proof that Mrs. Piggle Wiggle is a witch. I don’t know why these books shy from saying that’s what she is, because that is what she is. As for magic paper that flies up to the ceiling with glow-in-the-dark insult words as a cure, I don’t think that was the cure. If you look at the illustration, it’s something much more sinister going on. I don’t think ANY of that was a dream, that those papers could form shapes and hands. I think this cure was to scare the kid to death. If you thought Miss Piggle-Wiggle was all tea-parties, treasure hunts, and just this sweet, little, old, lady you’d be wrong. There was another book Mrs. Piggle Wiggle where her TRUE personality actually does show and she pretends to be what she is and her alter ego comes out in a “game”. Yes! Miss Piggle-Wiggle has a DARK SIDE people. Believe that!
The Picky Eater Cure: Magic crystals that turn every food into noodles was this cure. I probably would have just given him noodles every single day until he got sick of them. Same result. You don’t need the neighborhood witch to figure this one out. And I thought the mother would have thought of this one.
The Afraid to Try Cure: Now with this one, I was frustrated because again you didn’t need Mrs Piggle Wiggle’s deception. I can see where you wouldn’t want a punk for a kid, but Jonathan is a typical introvert. Sports are NOT his thing and that’s OK. He wants to be a veterinarian. Maybe he’s just not the adventurous type. He’s the bookworm type. I’m the book worm type. Did they ever think that maybe he just DIDN’T WANT TO skate board down the side of a house? That’s why he made excuses about it. I’m an introvert so I know how pushy extroverts can be when they want you to “try things” that you just aren’t interested in.
The Messy Stuff and Cram Cure: Again, more proof of Miss Piggle Wiggle’s dark side. First, I thought invisible paint sound’s cool. Then I didn’t quite get what it had to do with anything in this one. The mother paints the furniture invisible. I thought it was to show Katy how atrocious her room was so that’s literally all she saw. And I winced at this one because there is NO WAY with all that trash and half eaten food that (that) room wasn’t chock full of roaches. And I can not STAND roaches! They were probably even in the bed with her. So again, deception what that paint really did was make the furniture in Katy’s room reactive. So again the “cure” was to scare the kid to death. Slick, but I’m starting to see your game Miss Piggle Wiggle. If I was a parent and my kid’s room looked like this do you really think I’d let them out of it until they cleaned it? These parents are WAY TOO SOFT and PASSIVE! They call each other when what they really should be doing is taking charge in their own homes.
The Never Finish Cure: Ok so this one I can relate to. I’m not *as* bad as Janie, but with so many things around me fighting to grab my attention I can easily go from one to another. It takes a lot of practice sometimes to focus on one project when you have SO many daily. Interesting enough here’s another dark cure. Miss Piggle Wiggle uses a powder to control this girl’s hand’s so they won’t do but one thing at a time. I’ll just let that sink in. She has a powder that lets her CONTROL body parts.
Then we get to the party, which I just have to say is AMAZING! Can I have a costume party please? The only thing I was disappointed about was that it wasn’t at night in like this Halloween themed sky building that was in her back yard. There’re streamers, balloons, a eight layer cake (with candy sprinkled on the top). There’s punch bowls of pink lemonade, potato chips, and candy. Two dishpans of fruit salad. There’s a pizza AND ice-cream truck. And I can just image the pizza taste just like Show Biz’s from back in the day. There’s wagon loads of presents. I mean why won’t somebody throw me a party like this? Then her husband leaves her a special surprise that she finds in a trunk. Which did he die at sea? I’ve always wondered what happened to Mr. Piggle Wiggle. It ends with a parade and it truly is the perfect party.
Rating: 7
It’s funny that when I first read these books my little innocent mind didn’t pick up on some of the things I’m starting to theorize on. I read these as a sweet, elderly, little, old, lady in the neighborhood that just loved kids. Never realizing what was underneath that. Never just taking the time to stop and think about these “cures”.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 1, 2020
Summary- childhood lessons with magic. Opinion-It is missing some of the original author's charm. One time read.
October 17, 2025
Read with our ears fall of ‘25
E - 8
G - 6
R - 4
H - 1.5
E - 8
G - 6
R - 4
H - 1.5
September 7, 2017
This book was quite like the other Piggle-Wiggle books. I have only listened to 2 this past decade but this one seemed to take quite a bit directly from them and as a result read like a ghost-written sequel after an author's death - it had the right elements and fit in, but added nothing new nor even seemed to use notes of new stories but simply rewrote existing tales. For example, the fix with the dog seemed like and even more implausible version of the pig story (more implausible likely based on the depth of detail on how it would work more than the situation itself but a copy none-the-less), and there was a magic cure (or was it two?) that could have been done without magic just about as well and too seemed like a repeat of a fix I had already heard.
June 30, 2018
Our final Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle. We skipped the chapter on the insult cure, because I felt that would be adding fuel to the fire here 😂 I could tell a slight difference in the writing, but not much! (The first chapter was written by Betty MacDonald, the rest by her daughter, based on notes she found along with that first story)
January 2, 2019
Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle takes a final bow in this collection, continuing to problem-solve the manners of the neighborhood children.
Though still a collection of short stories, this book has an anomaly that I really liked. One of the children suffers from "Afraid to Try"; he's shown to be a good kid, responsible and careful, but he likes to hang back and watch others do things (sometimes for a long time) before he's willing to try (if he's ever willing to try) and the other children make fun of him for it. If this were the usual, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle and her magical cure would show up and help change the child's mind so they wouldn't want to do whatever-it-is anymore; but not this time. This time, the boy shows the world that all his care and attention has in fact given him a great head start for when trouble comes and, though he also learns to not hang back completely, it could be argued that it is the rest of the children that receive the cure. As one who likes to understand what I'm doing as much as possible before I attempt, I love that this wasn't shown to be a fault, but rather a useful trait!
No content issues, though some of the cures involve the kids having nightmares, there are no injuries, just words/things yelling at them.
December 6, 2021
Categorized under: Things that make you go hmm…
Idk as a parent I found it concerning that the parents in this story would let a stranger babysit their kids overnight after a rather strange telephone conversation but I used it as an opportunity to talk to my kids about strangers and boundaries and comfort levels and personal yadda yadda so not a lost opportunity.
Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle kept saying late night cinema tv and I kept hearing skinamax which was disorientating but mildly entertaining.
My kids called Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle out on her tricky strategies at the start and lost all interest in the storyline saying the children lacked cleverness and wit and then made up their own story on how they’d turn the tables and manipulate Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle. So proud Mama moment, but also, I have to live with these cunning deviants so, hmm.
Idk as a parent I found it concerning that the parents in this story would let a stranger babysit their kids overnight after a rather strange telephone conversation but I used it as an opportunity to talk to my kids about strangers and boundaries and comfort levels and personal yadda yadda so not a lost opportunity.
Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle kept saying late night cinema tv and I kept hearing skinamax which was disorientating but mildly entertaining.
My kids called Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle out on her tricky strategies at the start and lost all interest in the storyline saying the children lacked cleverness and wit and then made up their own story on how they’d turn the tables and manipulate Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle. So proud Mama moment, but also, I have to live with these cunning deviants so, hmm.
January 13, 2019
The final installment in the Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle series, this book was partly written by Betty MacDonald's daughter, Anne MacDonald Canham. It was released decades after the original books, and while there are slight differences in dialogue and setting (and generally less objectionable content), I think most young readers won't notice any differences. This book is a nice blend of magical remedies and practical ones, and the stories are generally enjoyable. My favorite was "The Never-Finish Cure", but they're all good. The book concludes with a short about Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's birthday, which is sweet and fun. Overall, a fine ending to a cute series about a magical woman and the children who love her.
January 4, 2023
Mrs. Piggle Wiggle is a magical woman who cures faults and she loved the children that lived in her town. One of the faults was a boy who was saying mean things but there were papers that had all the insults he could think of and before long his room was too bright to see in. Katie was the girl who was always always always always always messy. And she had to get cured by Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle. There were two twins who didn't want to stop watching television. Finally Mrs Piggle Wiggle said their mother and father could go on a trip and Mrs. Piggle Wiggle could watch the children and she let them watch all the TV they wanted until they got sick of it they didn't even want to watch any more. In the last story she had a birthday party with so many surprises, she was crying.
September 16, 2018
I love Mrs. Piggle Wiggle and grew up on the four books Betty MacDonald wrote. So did our girls. This one has one story by Betty and several that her daughter wrote, using notes she found after her mother’s death. I want to like it more, but it’s just not as good. A little too much deux et machina (the picky eater) and not enough Mrs. Piggle Wiggle.
But as a woman whose mother has died, I can appreciate what went into writing these stories based on her mother’s words. That can’t have been easy. I think I am most soured by the way she hardly seems to acknowledge her mother, the original author, In her notes at the front of the book.
But as a woman whose mother has died, I can appreciate what went into writing these stories based on her mother’s words. That can’t have been easy. I think I am most soured by the way she hardly seems to acknowledge her mother, the original author, In her notes at the front of the book.
March 23, 2022
I feel like a jerk saying this because I realize the daughter wrote this after her mom died using her notes but it just wasn’t as good as the original. Part of what’s fun about the first books is the crazy misogyny and antiquated threats of corporal punishment and I miss that with the newer book! Haha maybe now I really am a jerk! I guess you can’t write that way nowadays and get away with it- it’s only fun because of when it was written.
Anyway, the extreme cures for the kids’ behavioral issues are still fun. I did also prefer the cures that weren’t magical in the original because they felt more believable. My kids loved the stories though!
Anyway, the extreme cures for the kids’ behavioral issues are still fun. I did also prefer the cures that weren’t magical in the original because they felt more believable. My kids loved the stories though!
November 9, 2025
My friends think I’m crazy for reaching for children’s books when I’m in a reading rut or just craving inspiration, it’s crazy until… “he’s been wanting to climb that tree of mine for ages, I know, but keeps reading books on the subject and watching the other children, because he thinks it will make him more prepared. You know, Jonathan’s desire to understand how things are done before he tries them is a sign of wisdom. But at the same time, sometimes the best way to learn how to do something is just to try it.” 🤯 it called me out and dropped a full on life lesson??? Crazy, I know.
Also, as an ADHD girly imma need some of that accomplishment powder. TIA
Also, as an ADHD girly imma need some of that accomplishment powder. TIA
October 28, 2017
The books certainly create an effect...I'm just not quite sure what it is yet. In all the children-behavior books I've read, there is a distinct lack of really common, yet really irritating, maladaptive behaviors mentioned. Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle fills that void. I loved reading about the stash and cram cure. The little ones loved laughing about the magical cure. And they've even adopted the terminology. As in "Have you found that toy you bought for the neighbor's dog?" answered "Yeah, I stashed and crammed it into my closet." That doesn't quite seem to be the result I was looking for...
September 8, 2020
You can feel when Betty MacDonald’s writing ends and her daughter takes over (there’s just that little sideways wink missing and a bit too much reliance on magical cures), but still enjoyable and I especially liked a couple of the chapters toward the end. Violet of course loved it from start to finish, with the exception of a bit of sexism here and there (why not update that with the more recent publication?). But most of all we love that this book was sent to Violet by one of my dearest friends in the world and her two wonderful daughters.
September 18, 2018
Mrs. Piggle Wiggle does not remember her age. She has a cure for every bad habit. There are a lot of silly names for the characters and there are a lot of funny bad habits that need to be cured. The kids always love to hang out and play with Mrs. Piggle Wiggle. They are so excited to be throwing her a birthday party. Her pets are all ready to help her out and celebrate her birthday. If you need a book to make you laugh or entertain you then this is the book for you.
March 9, 2022
This was another enjoyable installment in a thoroughly enjoyable series. The first, second, and fifth chapters were the best because those cures were the most plausible and least magical. The final chapter was deeply moving and satisfying. I am so glad I decided to take this trip down memory lane and revisit such a wonderfull series of books. I highly recommend them to anyone looking for an amusing, light read.
October 9, 2022
I always love a Mrs Piggle Wiggle story, and I’m sad this is the last one I hadn’t read. I’ve officially finished the series. It was lovely and silly, and it felt like my childhood when I read these stories. We have kids that can’t finish projects, won’t brush their teeth, name call and the likes. The cures for these ailments was fun to read. And the birthday party at the end was a dream come true for kids. I’m sad there are no more.
November 27, 2023
yeah, this is obviously not the same as the rest of the books, and it SHOWS. the illustrations are also, albeit good in a general sense, horrendous when it comes to portraying mrs.piggle wiggle. to me they made her seem much taller than warranted, and more... sinister?? idk her energy was off this entire book. in addition, this felt a LOT more modern. there were much more contemporary themes throughout, and the writing didn't hit in the same cozy manner that it always did. alas, it seems that we should've put mrs.piggle wiggles to rest with betty macdonald.
October 11, 2017
This one has a good mix of magic and practical cures. I think Betty's daughter did a great job of capturing the spirit of the original stories. There are a couple solutions that are strongly reminiscent of previous cures (Wag coming over to teach teeth brushing just like Lester taught table manners, for example.)
March 28, 2019
I was doubtful whether this book would succeed in having the same voice as the previous books since it's newer and mostly written by the original author's daughter, but it felt just like all the other books. Same formula, same kinds of problems (though a little more modern such as watching too much TV), and similar cures. The birthday party at the end was fun to read too.
September 3, 2019
Watching too much TV
Picky eater
Fear of trying new things
Messy child
Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle with help from her pets, Wag the dog, Lightfoot the cat, and Lester the pig, helps children work through their problems.
I love these books. Children are taught that actions have consequences. Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle helps children realize that. Where's Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle at when you need her?
Picky eater
Fear of trying new things
Messy child
Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle with help from her pets, Wag the dog, Lightfoot the cat, and Lester the pig, helps children work through their problems.
I love these books. Children are taught that actions have consequences. Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle helps children realize that. Where's Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle at when you need her?
June 2, 2021
This final Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle book was written by Betty MacDonald's daughter from a rough draft and notes she found. It's a lot like the Laura Ingles Wilder situation, which always left a bad taste in my mouth. However, this turned out much better than the last book in the Little House series. I could feel the different author in minor ways, but the overall tone was still there.
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