Jillian Jiggs

Jillian Jiggs

by Phoebe Gilman

Jillian likes to dress up and play, but she never quite gets around to cleaning her room.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Canada, Fiction, Juvenile, Classics, Storytime

36 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1985

About the author

What can I tell you about myself? I like to make up stories and draw pictures. I like to go ice skating, to the movies and I love reading books.

I was born and grew up in the Bronx, New York. My Mother loved to read so it was only natural that my brothers and I got our own library cards as soon as we were able to print our names. My favorite books were fairy tales. When the pictures didn't match the images that the words had painted in my head, I would cover them up with my hands. I still do that.

I prefer the words to the pictures, which is a little odd since I think of myself as an artist rather than a writer. All of my formal training has been in art. I went to The High School of Art and Design. From there, it was a short skip and a jump over to The Art Student's League, after a brief detour to Hunter College. I spent fifteen years at the Ontario College of Art, teaching others how to draw and paint. It still surprises me to be called a writer.

As soon as I was able, I started to travel. I like meeting new faces and going to new places. One of the nice things about being an artist is that it is a very portable profession. I have lived for extended periods of time in both Europe and Israel.

Shortly after coming to Canada in 1972, I met and married Brian Bender. We have three children, Ingrid, Jason and Melissa, two granddaughters, Ariana and Emily and a cat, Minoo.

It was because of my daughter, Ingrid, that I became an author. When her balloon burst on a tree branch, I wished the tree would magically sprout balloons. It didn't...what sprouted was an idea in my head. Why not write a story about a tree that blossoms balloons? And that's how I came to write my first book, The Balloon Tree.

It is not how I came to be published. That took fifteen years and umpty zillion rejection slips to accomplish.

My advice to any aspiring author is:
•Get a balloon and let it go.
•Read. Read. READ!
•Write. Write. WRITE! (To do anything well takes practice.)
•Don't give up. Keep on trying.
•Don't be afraid of criticism. Learn from it.

From the author's website

Reviews

[Mon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read as part of the Young Adult Quarterly Challenge #21 (March 1-May 31, 2016) - children's book

5 million, trillion, bazillion stars - legitimately how I rated awesome things as a kid.

This is technically a re-read for me as it was my favourite childhood book - my nana gave me this for my 4th birthday and she wrote a lovely inscription inside.

Before I even picked this up to read again, I could hear the sing song rhyme of "Jillian, Jillian, Jillian Jiggs, it looks like your room has been lived in by pigs..."

Jillian Jiggs is a mischief maker, adventure taker and all around wildly imaginative kid is too busy playing to clean her room - no matter how many times her mum asks. I always loved Jillian as a kid because she was having so much fun and I love her even more as an adult because she is such a free spirit.

In my opinion, this should be a bookshelf staple for all kids - especially those with a wild soul - and it will definitely be one I read to my kids.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favorite Book! This is the book that my dad used to read to me when I was a little girl over and over again.
The pictures are life like from the people to the household items seen through out the pages. There is great color and each picture is framed, creating the illusion that a person is looking at a photo album.
The rhyming of the last word of every line with the previous line adds a rhythm to the book.
Also, I love the fact that this book takes four lines and repeats it enough that they stick in your head and by the end of the book a person has the lines memorized. "Jillian, Jillian, Jillian Jiggs!..."

[Jillian DeVere Springsteen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another book my mom used to read to me as a child. Brought back some lovely memories. Plus what kid does not enjoy their not common, first name throughout the book? Will be keeping this book until the day I die. A good read for youngings.

[Elfdart · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is a great story, both to read out loud and to read alone. it’s about a girl whose mother wants her to clean her room, but her friends come over and they end up playing instead. her mother tells her a few times to go clean her room and she seemingly goes to do it, but she takes her friends with her, as well as her baby sister, and they get distracted by their imaginations, so we get to see them pretending to be a bunch of different things. at the end though her mother puts her foot down and tells jillian to clean her room, so she tells her friends to come back when her room is neater.
the book rhymes, which is amazing for reading out loud, or for singular readings, the flow is nice. the illustrations are great too, the characters look like they’re having fun. the way they’re drawn conveys a lot of energy and excitement, and yet the drawings are simple… i guess they kind of remind me of children themselves, not a whole lot to them, but invest your time and you’ll have more than your share of fun.
this whole series is great. i recommend

[Nola · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much I actually don't know how it ends because in my very early youth I ripped the last few pages out. Now my niece and nephew love it too (and they don't know the ending either - it's the same copy!) The illustrations are absolutely gorgeous and the rhyming is very catchy. This is a kids bookshelf staple and I can't for the life of me understand why it hasn't retained its popularity.

[Debra Doxer · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter's name is Jillian. She loves when I read this to her. Luckily, I like reading this, too. Great book.

[Gabriella Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

The appropriate grade levels are k-2. Jillian Jiggs follows the everyday antics of Jillian Jiggs. She makes a variety of messes around the house as her mother reprimands her for her messes. Jillian has a fun-filled day with her friends, as Jillian must begin cleaning up. My favorite parts of the book is the rhyming and illustrations. Each drawing is so unique and intricate. The book is an easy read, and a great flip through to look at all the lovely illustrations. This is a great independent read book to encourage children's love for reading. It's also a great classroom book for very young children who haven't started reading yet, but can begin to learn print concepts, how to hold a book, and which way to turn the pages. The book is lightweight and small enough for a young child to hold on their own.

[Luisa Knight · Rating 2 out of 5]

I gave it two stars because I (somewhat) get it; it slipped out of her mind to clean her room. It wasn’t outright defiance/rebellion, but she was still being disobedient. And it’s made to look okay; even cute.

Meanwhile her mom is all frazzled - another somewhat lame depiction.

I won’t be reading this to my child. She doesn’t need to see “cutesy” ideas of what not to do, she needs inspiration and examples of what she should do.

Hmm. Maybe I’ll take off another star…

[jillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't go on a procrastination-induced rampage of reviewing my favorite children's books without reviewing the series that essentially taught me how to read. I read this book so many times that I memorized it. The main character is messy, wild, and hedonistic. She is unapologetically herself and effortlessly encourages the reader to do the same. Us sharing a name felt like a gift, but I know I would have loved the book regardless.

[CarolynAnn · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 star
I typically love children's books, especially ones that have good rhymes and rhythm. This is not a book from my chiildhood but one I was given as an adult. I've read it to my little nieces and it's cute enough but doesn't really grab me as much as almost every Dr. Seuss book does.

[Jake Clement · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great illustrations. Someone needs to check in on this kids mom. Also Jillian never cleans the room 😂😂 the book ends with her mom sending her friends home and demanding she cleans. I guess it’s left up to the readers imagination if she cleans or not haha

[Michelle (driftingsong) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 / 5

Honestly I sometimes feel like Jillian. Not that I'm playing lots of make believe games, but why is literally everything ever more interesting and engaging than cleaning. XD

[Mary T · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorites as a kid. I can still remember the repeated phrases from the book.

[Jinnifer Welch · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book to read to children who struggle with rhyming.

[Sionainn · Rating 5 out of 5]

JILLIAN JIGGS! Oh how I LOVED this book!

[Taryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute story and fun illustrations with tons of ideas for creative play. However, from the point of view of a parent, it's a nightmare!

[Elizabeth Kudla · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books as a child. It's funny and relatable for all parents and kids.

[Miss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun book - entirely relatable. My niece really enjoyed it.

[KIMBERLY · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite book to read with my class when I was teaching.

[Nat · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun time

[Tennille Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jillian Jiggs is a classic. A nostalgic read for me, but a fun and fanciful read for my kiddos. Timeless.

[Nisa Misha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just read this book to my son and I personally love it! (Bough it second hand from other mom)
The story message of the story is really direct (I definitely gonna reread this to my child)

[KaitandMaddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is basically about my children. 😂

[Kristina Kamaeva · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cute book with fun rhymes and bright illustrations. I used to read it to my daughter when she was 6 or 7. We both loved it.

[Elizabeth Shwen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've always wanted to have a Jillian Jiggs' play day, but never got to have one because it'll be every parent's nightmare

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Jillian Jiggs books and now my child gets to enjoy them too.

[Sasha Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A classic and still so relatable.

[Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is freaking adorable! A highly imaginative child entertains herself and her friends all day! Sadly, her mom needs Jillian's room clean....

[Maxine Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

My mom was going through old boxes of things, and she came across this book from my childhood and gave it to me. It was my absolute favorite growing up, and I had it fully memorized. Even all these later, it still makes me laugh. I joked that my parents created a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy by giving me this book, though, as there was few things I loved more than dressing up and I'm pretty sure there were times growing up where my room made my mom want to faint too.

[Hannah Belyea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jillian is much too busy making up new games and getting dressed for impressive shows in her yard to waste time cleaning her room! After all, what could her parents possibly know that she does not? Gilman writes a short but charming tale that is a delightful and funny read. Young fans will enjoy the lovely illustrations and silly antics of this colourful protagonist!