Missy Piggle-Wiggle and the Whatever Cure

Missy Piggle-Wiggle #1

by Ann M. Martin, Annie Parnell, Ben Hatke (Illustrator)

New York Times -bestselling author Ann M. Martin brings her signature warmth and comic genius to a new character. And artist Ben Hatke brings it all to life!

Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle has gone away unexpectedly and left her niece, Missy Piggle-Wiggle, in charge of the Upside-Down House and the beloved animals who live Lester the pig, Wag the dog, and Penelope the parrot, among others.

Families in town soon realize that like her great-aunt, Missy Piggle-Wiggle has inventive cures for all sorts of childhood (mis) The Whatever Cure and the Just-a-Minute Cure, for instance. What is a stressed out parent to do? Why, call Missy Piggle-Wiggle, of course!

A warm middle-grade adventure for readers who enjoy quirky characters and hilarious plots

Praise for Missy Piggle-Wiggle and the Whatever Cure :

"A fun family read-aloud, this version will win new fans without alienating devotees of the original series." ― School Library Journal

“[Mrs. Piggle Wiggle's] singular magic can enchant a new generation, thanks to this delightful contemporary follow-up from Martin.” ― Publishers Weekly , starred review

Titles in the Missy Piggle-Wiggle series :
Missy Piggle-Wiggle and the Whatever Cure
Missy Piggle-Wiggle and the Won't-Walk-the-Dog Cure

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Childrens, Fiction, Chapter Books, Juvenile, Magic

272 pages, Paperback

First published September 6, 2016

About the author

Ann Matthews Martin was born on August 12, 1955. She grew up in Princeton, New Jersey, with her parents and her younger sister, Jane. After graduating from Smith College, Ann became a teacher and then an editor of children's books. She's now a full-time writer.

Ann gets the ideas for her books from many different places. Some are based on personal experiences, while others are based on childhood memories and feelings. Many are written about contemporary problems or events. All of Ann's characters, even the members of the Baby-sitters Club, are made up. But many of her characters are based on real people. Sometimes Ann names her characters after people she knows, and other times she simply chooses names that she likes.

Ann has always enjoyed writing. Even before she was old enough to write, she would dictate stories to her mother to write down for her. Some of her favorite authors at that time were Lewis Carroll, P. L. Travers, Hugh Lofting, Astrid Lindgren, and Roald Dahl. They inspired her to become a writer herself.

Since ending the BSC series in 2000, Ann’s writing has concentrated on single novels, many of which are set in the 1960s.

After living in New York City for many years, Ann moved to the Hudson Valley in upstate New York where she now lives with her dog, Sadie, and her cats, Gussie, Willy and Woody. Her hobbies are reading, sewing, and needlework. Her favorite thing to do is to make clothes for children.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/annmma...

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was familiar with the Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle series from my childhood and it became one of my go-to read alouds was well as a frequent recommendation for parents and children alike. So it was with a mix of both excitement and apprehension I approached author Ann M. Martin's Missy Piggle-Wiggle and the Whatever Cure. How would the story fare in the hands of a new writer? Would it lose some of its charm? And what about this Missy character, the young niece tasked with caring for the upside-down house? How would she compare to Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle?
My apprehension was appeased somewhat to learn Betty Mac-Donald's great-granddaughter, Annie Parnell, collaborated with Martin in the execution of this novel. Reassuringly, much remains the same. The upside-down house and its animal inhabitants have not changed. Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's house is still the gathering place for Little Spring Valley's children and parents still lean heavily on the cures Missy Piggle-Wiggle is now endowed to employ. But there are changes. The original book in the series was first published in 1947, nearly 70 years ago and some of the language has become a bit antiquated. For me, this is part of its endearing charm. I like that references are made to the icebox and the children play games such as parcheesi. I like that when children come home from school the mother is waiting with milk and cookies. Somewhat of a facade, I know, but this portrait is one I find pleasant and comforting. Though this contemporary take will likely be more appealing to today's youth I must admit I remain nostalgic for Mac-Donald's manuscript. I could not help but note one of the fathers is the primary household cook. Though this does happen, I couldn't help but wonder if this was a deliberate ploy to "celebrate" the equality of the sexes.
Missy Piggle-Wiggle is full of pluck and nearly as delightful as her great-grandmother. However, the book contains much more magic than did the original series, which I consider a drawback. I'm quite sure I am in the minority in this post Harry Potter mania era but I always did prefer the cures where children learned through natural consequences over those which employed magical potions. The former are things parents could actually put into practice themselves. And, I'm not sure how I feel about a love interest for young Missy. Perhaps I am too resistant to change to appreciate such an addition.
Overall, I think kids will enjoy this offering, both those familiar with the series and those for whom this is their first exposure. The ending clearly sets up readers for a sequel so I'd expect to see Missy become a franchise herself.

[Maren · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book on its own might have been okay, but as a reboot of a much-loved childhood favorite, it was hugely disappointing. First let me say the illustrations were fabulous, so kudos to the illustrator. A couple years ago I reread one of the Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle books, and while I still loved my memory of them I knew they were too outdated to be accessible to my kids. I had high hopes that this new book would bring back the creativity and magic of Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's world, but other than the same animals and ridiculous names, there were only a couple cures that were mildly reminiscent of vintage Piggle-Wiggle. There was an instance of the parents using a cell phone to call Missy Piggle-Wiggle which I suppose is meant to be the update. Additions to the story only bugged me, like the characterization of "House" and Harold Spectacle the love interest. My advice is to stick with the originals.

[Tessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this. It's both funny and sweet, in a delightfully silly way. Kids who have read the Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle books (or adults who grew up on them, like me) will enjoy this book the most, but it is also a wonderful introduction to the world.

Bonus points for Ben Hatke's amazing illustrations.

[Mikayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a delightful reboot of the series. The author managed to keep all the charm of the original series, while adding some new flavor. I can't wait to read the rest!

[E · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I was excited to read another Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle book, and while I liked the characters, I felt that many of Missy's cures lacked the subtlty of her great-aunt's. While some are clever, many are disappointing. Many of the cures in the original books were non-magical, or magic was merely used to exaggerate a real-life effect. Furthermore, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle used magic to show children the natural consequences of their actions, whereas Missy's are more in the vein of real-life parental punishments: discouraging a child's bad habit, but not growing their moral compass. Take, for example, the Gum-Smacking Cure. Missy gives Linden, an obsessed gum-chewer, magic gum that changes flavors. The gum is mostly tasty, but occasionally changes into flavors like laundry detergent or cilantro, which Linden hates. This eventually puts Linden off all gum, not just the magic stuff. However, while the bad habit is cured, Linden has not learned anything.

However, while I do not feel it lives up to the Piggle-Wiggle legacy, it is a humorous and entertaining story, and I'll be reading any further installments.

[Telthor · Rating 2 out of 5]

To be fair, I read Mrs Piggle-Wiggle when I was in, like, second grade, so my memory of the original is going to be a bit rose tinted, but I loved the old version so much with all the mini stories and inventive cures.

This one outright calls the cures magic, leans on strange potions and vapor, and the cures don’t feel particularly inventive. Oh, a bubble when he’s rude to someone that he can’t pop til he apologizes, or everything the greedy girl tries to take just shrinks. Eh.

Missy is cute but I don’t care for all the House stuff and the old stories felt timeless, and none of the children’s’ naughtiness seemed worth fixing.

Illustrations were stunning tho!

[Darla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mrs. Piggle Wiggle was a favorite read aloud at our home when my boys were young. So, I was thrilled to see that her great niece Piggle-Wiggle has come along to continue curing the bad habits of young children around town.

Missy was a lovable character, but does not quite measure up to her predecessor. It was a very enjoyable book. I must say my favorite cure was the "apology bubble". Genius!

[Kerri · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun little read that caught my eye and made me feel nostalgic for Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle books, which I haven't read since elementary school. Missy is a cute character. I thought all the stories were funny and sweet except the one about the gum - that one seemed to be rather abrupt all around. This is good beginner chapter book.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. Great bedtime story. Four-year-old followed it fine. It helped that Missy looks like a cousin of his. We read this after reading the Mrs. Piggle Wiggle books and found this one easier to understand and more appropriate to our times.

[Holly Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read-aloud for my six year old. My older kids liked hearing it too and even "stole" it to read themselves when they had the opportunity. We have read the original Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, and Ann M. Martin seemed to keep the tone of the original books.

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Supernanny 2.0, now with magic powers!

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle books in my youth so I was curious as to how this modern day take of her great-granddaughter would stack up. I was happy to read that a lot of the charm and magical ways were retained. A fun read for younger girls.

[Cassie Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

We all know and love Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle and her magic cures for children’s bad habits. But now she has gone away to look for her pirate husband and has called in her great niece to watch over her beloved pets and the children of Spring Valley. Though the children and parents are worried about not having Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle around to help them, they needn’t worry. Missy Piggle-Wiggle is just as magical as her great aunt with just as many fantastic cures!

When Missy gets to Spring Valley, she comes with a spring in her step and a smile on her face. As she settles in the Upside-Down House, which still holds a grudge against her for a bit of magic practice gone wrong, she is eager to meet the children. Almost at once, she gets a phone call from distressed parents about their three children, each with a different problem to solve.

As Missy gets to know the children of the town, she begins to work her magic. She has cures for Whatevers, Know-It-Alls, and Greed, as well as a host of others. Just like with Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, the children Missy cures love her all the better. And as time goes on, Missy catches the eye of a friend of her great aunt’s, and there might be something blooming between them.

With the same charm as the original series, Missy Piggle-Wiggle and the Whatever Cure is a fantastic spin-off from the Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle series. Though the original series contained individual short stories as well as a loose overarching plot, this series is more of a novel-like story, with an overarching plot and shoet story-like chapters. If you enjoy reading about the magic of Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, Missy Piggle-Wiggle should keep your attention and make you laugh as you root for the children to learn their lessons. Missy is a delightful character that I would love to read more about.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awww. I loved the Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle books when I was a kid, and this was a fun update. It kept the same feel, and it is a lovely homage.

[Rheetha Lawlor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Growing up I loved Mrs. Piggle Wiggle. Mom used to read it to me every night. So when I saw this book, I was hoping for the tradition to continue in a 21st century type of way. Mrs. Piggle Wiggle's great niece Missy is taking over while Mrs. Piggle Wiggle goes away to meet her pirate husband. In continuation of the work Mrs. Piggle Wiggle has done, Missy has many of the kids hang out at the upside down house and play all the games they've always wanted to play. Missy also observes some of the problems kiddos have such as the know-it-all problem, selfishness, never on time, a "whatever" attitude, etc. And when the parents are at their wits end, they call Missy.

In comparison, the writing style is similar to Betty McDonald, and most of the cures are inventive as the original ones. However, my issues lie in the fact that Missy is also judging the parents, something that is a new phenomenon in the last 20 years. Also, there is a huge use of magic- I know, Mrs. Piggle Wiggle also used magic, but it was a little different- it wasn't depended upon. And lastly, there was a bit of a romance. It's ok to have a book without a romance, so I'm not sure why it has to be included in books anymore.

So, in conclusion, I will be reading to my children the original Mrs. Piggle Wiggle books. This one was entertaining, but since I'm a die-hard fan of Betty's books, I only gave this one three stars.

Provided by NetGalley

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I consider myself a devotee of the original Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, but funnily enough, I haven't ret-read the books as an adult. I don't remember if the parents ever got taken to task over the kids' bad behavior in the original books. But in this book, they do, in a way that pays off nicely. Also, although Missy Piggle-Wiggle is magic, sometimes her cures are just common sense. This all worked nicely for me--a good tribute to a well-loved story.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received advanced reader copy from publisher via Baker & Taylor book supplier

After receiving a letter from her great-aunt, Missy Piggle-Wiggle moves into the upside-down house to look after Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle’s loving animals and the precocious children in Little Spring Valley.

Having just re-read Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle and finding it just as charming as I did as a child – with a couple of reservations ( see review), I was delighted to read this edition of stories lead by Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle great-niece. Just as with the classics, each chapter focuses on a different child, their “ailment,” and the eventual cure. And, just as with the classics, the cures are inventive but, here, just a touch more magical.

I can see this introducing a whole new generation to the delights of the upside-down house and the coolness of the Piggle-Wiggle clan. These are such awesome stories with terrific lessons nicely worked into them.

[Ms. Garr · Rating 2 out of 5]

Grade 3 and up; this reboot of the classic series features Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's niece Missy moving into the upside-down house in the town of Spring Valley to help the town's children when Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle has to suddenly leave to help her lost pirate husband. Each of the children and families featured has some sort of problem- a child who is never on time, one who becomes obsessed with chewing gum, parents who work constantly. I liked the idea that Missy was helping children and parents improve themselves (and I think young readers would love the storylines about realistic children like them), but her methods bothered me: the young characters and their parents changed their ways with her wacky magical "cures" that very mildly shamed, disgusted, or scared the characters into dropping the habit. It would've been nice to see the characters make better choices due to more positive motivations - and the tone throughout, though cheerful, felt subtly preachy to me. The ending sets this up to be the first in a series; hopefully the ensuing books will be a little less didactic.

[A Canadian Girl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Inspired by a beloved series published over seventy years ago, Ann M. Martin has written Missy Piggle-Wiggle and the Whatever Cure for readers (like me) who know nothing about Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle. To the parents in Little Spring Valley, Missy, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle’s great-niece, is a bit like Mary Poppins in that she can cure children of their bad habits. Although younger readers might be amused by the annoying habits of some of Little Spring Valley’s children and relate to them, I couldn’t help but notice how overly reliant the parents were on Missy to solve their problems instead of parenting their children themselves. For example, the Freeforalls are too busy working and have no rules for their kids so it’s no surprise that their kids are rough and tumble. But of course Mr. and Mrs. Freeforall have no idea why their children are so unruly, and think that their kids need to be cured.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is an extension of an older book (Miss Piggle Wiggle), though I am unfamiliar with it. Readers in my position will not find this to be a stumbling block, however, as the scene is reminiscent of Mary Poppins, with a young lady who is called upon to entertain and discipline other peoples' children, which she does with a balance of common sense, fun, and a touch of something magical.

It is sweet enough, and a pretty easy read. Still, I could not get my 2nd grade son interested enough to even listen for a chapter (this is a story bent toward girls, I think), and there are so many characters to keep track of (including a love-interest of Missy's!), young readers may have a hard time keeping up.

It was just okay for me.

[Shirley Freeman]

What a fun re-do! I remember reading Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle as a child though I can't remember many details so I can't comment on consistency. But this is a charming story in it's own right. Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle needs to go find her pirate husband and she asks her great-niece to come stay in the upside-down house to take care of the animals. Like her great-aunt before her, Missy uses a powerful combination of magic and common sense to create happier and more well-adjusted children -- and parents too. The book will be published in September - I read the ARC which did not contain the illustrations but if the cover is an indication, they will be charming too.

[Josh Newhouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a huge fan of the original books this brought me back so many warm feelings. Once it got going it felt like it really captured that timeless magic. Only 2 minor quibbles, there is 1 page where rap, and a movie title are name-checked that felt like it was a little less timeless dating the books, and 1 story in which the kids fault was having a vivid absentminded imagination that the cure to me did not really address... Her issue was being late, and I would have liked it to be addressed without stifling her creative mind... Loved the parents being addressed as it was a pretty obvious issue, and the gentle romance that slipped in.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a delightful book. I am really just at a loss for words. It made me feel like a child again.
I recommend it to young and old.
I received this book for free through Goodreads Giveaways.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun book - done after a similar style as the original Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle.

[Monica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somewhat less zany than the originals, but nice update overall. We especially enjoyed the parent cure and the illustrations from Ben Hatke.

[Joseph · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet continuation of the fun stories of Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review can also be found on A Thousand Lives Lived, check it out for more!

Missy Piggle-Wiggle and the Whatever Cure was a lovely middle-grade read that was so refreshing. It was different than everything I normally read, especially because I really do not pick up fantasy children's stories as I am always afraid that I will be put face-to-face with a Harry Potter wannabe story. (Sorry to all of you Harry Potter fans. It's just not my kind of read.) However, I have always been a fan of Ann M. Martin's books (she stole my heart with her Babysitters Club series) so I was hyped up to pick this up. It's been a long time since I received this in the mail, but I am SO glad I enjoyed it. This is a fun, adorable story that has that kind of cute vibe to it. It just warmed my heart and reminded me of the kind of books I always wanted to read when I was a kid.

SO. What is this book (with a weird title) truly about? Our protagonist, Missy-Piggle-Wiggle, lives in her aunt's house, since her aunt is trying to find where her husband is after he was abducted by pirates. This introduces us to a magical world, which I appreciated so much! My head was spinning with this imagery, so I can imagine what kids will go through when they read this lovely story. All of the children's parents in their town know about Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's magical skills to cure annoying habits (of the kids, obviously). Thinking that Missy didn't know how to perform the magical "work," the parents became worried as she was their only hope. Eventually, they figured out that she has the same skills as her aunt, so they took their problematic children to Missy. This is the story about the various journeys everyone encountered involving Missy's skills. In fact, it is a lovely story.

I really appreciated the characters that Martin created — as always. We have a huge pack of characters in Missy Piggle-Wiggle's world that are both humans and animals and even... houses. My favourite was Melody, from all of the characters. She's a bookworm (like me) and shy, showing that characters that are kids don't have to be perfect and loud and have a full HUGE personality. She had her own kind of magic in her character, which I really appreciated. Missy Piggle-Wiggle as a protagonist was just so cute - I think children would find her to be a great role model as she fixes situations and is just a positive influence. NOW - if you look at the cover of this book, would you expect a moving, listening house to be a character? I know I wouldn't, but this is what happened! That was really creative and interesting. I can honestly say that everything about this book was entertaining - the parents were (who were so anxious that it became hilarious) and the adorable animals like Lester the Pig (who acted like Missy's personal butler) and Wag the Dog! AH. IT'S SO CUTE!

As for the plot, the beginning was kind of slow for character development (in order for Martin to introduce the characters aside from the weird talking house). However, it was never boring - it was action-packed and fun, and I didn't want it to be over. Another flaw was the ending, which was kind of upsetting. But hey - there's a sequel which I will be reading, so I guess there'll be a continuation there!

Missy Piggle-Wiggle and the Whatever Cure was really enjoyable - I was never bored and I was entertained. If we can only cure the 2017 kids like that! (CURE THE DAB AND THE FIDGET SPINNERS!)

*A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for a honest review. Thank you so much!*

[Lois R. Gross · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was always an extra special day when the elementary school teacher declared that we had been good all week and, as a special reward, she would read from one of Betty MacDonald's "Mrs. Piggle Wiggle" books. The originals were charming, funny (at least for children in the 50s), and contained stories of slightly obnoxious children who whispered together, refused to wash behind their ears, and wouldn't clean their rooms. Mrs. Piggle Wiggle always came up with a peppermint stick or a fizzy drink with magical powers that fixed the problem, spit spot (oops, wrong magical nanny!) Years later, as a Children's Librarian, I tried to establish a club in which I would read chapter books to children beyond story time age. Epic fail! the stories, for their gentle humor, were dated and stodgy. They were also long for children with attention spans notably shortened by mass media and much more interested in wizarding schools than gentle correction cures. A revision, some years later, by MacDonald's daughter, simply didn't have the good humor of the earlier books.

When I saw this new incarnation on the library shelf, I couldn't resist. Could Ann M. Martin, of "Babysitter's Club" fame, really revive this much beloved classic? I'm glad to say she has done admirably well, although I do question how Mrs. Piggle Wiggle herself, a nd all of her farm animals and pets, are still around fifty years after I first met them.

Martin and Annie Parnell have freshened up the books with Mrs. Piggle Wiggle's niece, Missy, coming for an extended visit while Mrs. Piggle Wiggle is out chasing pirates who have her husband captive. Missy is as eccentric as her great aunt and employs more out and out magic (smoky puffs and mysterious child-encasing bubbles) than the original. While Mrs. Piggle Wiggle's charms worked directly on the offending child (the one I remember vividly is two snotty little "whisperers" who excluded a third child and ended up not being able to speak above a whisper courtesy of some sucking candy), these cures are more outwardly oriented. The child who snatches other people's goodies so she always has the biggest and best, finds the goodies becoming miniscule. The closest to the original is the boy who has been raised with healthy habits only to find that junk food and candy are irresistible treats, gets gummed up by a giant magical gumball.

The most refreshing "cure" is a cure for parents so involved with jobs and technology that their children beg to come live with Missy. They are cured, not by magic, but by overhearing their children (although another child is "cured" of eavesdropping. Hmmm.) bemoaning the loss of family time and convinced that their parents love work better than them. I can think of a number of people who would benefit from learning that life is more important than the next shiny "toy".

There is a touch of adorable romance as Missy and the neighborhood bookstore owner seem to be on the verge of a bashful courtship. Illustrations by Ben Hatke are charming, although have much to live up to when compared with the classic and memorable illustrations of Hillary Knight.

All in all, Ann M Martin (who, I was devastated to learn is now in her 60s and is no longer eligible, I suppose, for the Baby Sitters Club) has done an admirable job of revising a classic which just might have magical appeal for audiences not quite ready for the Potter books.

[Hannah Lulu · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel bad giving this book a bad review.

It's not a horrible book. Some of what I'm going to say is almost tongue in cheek criticism, as in I don't think they are necessarily that serious, but they still made the book just kind of "eh" for me instead of fun.

At first I liked the book. She lives in an upside down house. The house has a personality of it's own. The descriptions of people's family's and the frustrations the parents faced from the kids all seemed realistic. One of the first "cures" for the children's behavioral ailments was mostly just a shift in attitude and it seemed like a genuine helpful resolution.

But in the end, all of Missy Piggle-Wiggles cures are pills. So the solution to every child behavior issue is medication. Besides being a disappointment from an ethical and psychological point of view, it's also just creatively lazy. An author shouldn't use magic to solve every problem. If anything, a creative magic-tale has to have some element of strategy where there are limits to the magic, or conflicts about how it might work, or antidotes--something where the magic creates a complication, not a quick fix. Also, in every situation, it is the children's behavior that must be fixed, that must be medicated, there is never any investigation into the parents causing problems, the children being misunderstood, or layers of meaning to the children's behavior. There is never any real respect for the children's point of view who are being referred to Missy Piggle Wiggle for fixing.

Another problem with the book is that all of the kids love hanging out at Missy Piggle Wiggle's house for fun all the time, and she's okay with that and encourages it. What adult in their right mind spends that much time with other people's children all day all by themselves and without getting paid for most of it? That's just not reasonable. Also, the children all proclaim to love this woman and to love her house, but she doesn't actually do anything to demonstrate that she is that lovable.
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I don't want to give anything away, but I'd say there really is no build-up to the story, just a series of anecdotes about how various pills worked on various children and then a melodramatic ending that just has parents and children proclaiming ridiculous things to each other that do not make sense for the story or for any useful type of lesson or resolution for kids who might be reading, and then the book ends. Essentially the kids want the parents to work less so they can spend more time with the kids, and the parents agree that they will. It's a really shallow attempt at introspection or practicality, or even wish-fulfillment for that matter.

So yes, this is a kids book. It wasn't made to entertain me that's fine. I don't think it's horrible or should be banned or anything like that, but it's just kind of not that good. I would never encourage a child to read it, but if one of my kids wanted to read it, I wouldn't necessarily stop them.

[Whitney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty fun and imaginative. My daughter loved it, even though a lot of it was based on, "this kid is inconsiderate because of X" and the cures to said behaviour. She loved the concept of an upside-down house and a magical adult who helps and improves the behaviours of kids. She also likes Mary Poppins and Nanny McPhee.

For my part, I enjoyed Missy and her cures, some of the children, and when one set of parents got a much-needed cure of their own. Showing young readers of this book that the world isn't so simple as parents being faultless and children needing improvement is good and healthy. But this book is LONG, a bit redundant, and doesn't pack much of a punch for older readers, who seem the most likely to read a book of its length and complexity. Not bad at all, and potentially a setup for sequels with more weight and fun.

Also, the illustrations by Ben Hatke are extremely charming. We always looked forward to seeing the pictures. Even though there was generally just one per chapter, it would be the most dramatic part of the story and have many details. This would probably have been a lot of fun as a graphic novel.