Customer Reviews

Mrs. Biddlebox (Golden Kite Awards)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I chose this book because I liked it and, particularly, because my family loved Smith's previous title, WHEN MOON FELL DOWN. With its purposely gloomy-looking cover, MRS. BIDDLEBOX was a bit of a sell for my three-year-old (whose tastes usually run more to the FROGGIE titles), but as soon as I started reading it to Meredith, she was enthralled. My seven-year-old enjoyed it too. The illustrations are adorable and a perfect compliment to the extended metaphor of the text. It is a wonderful book about making the best of a bad day.

That first time I sat down with MRS. BIDDLEBOX, I had to read it three times . . . and I enjoyed every one of them!

After great reviews here, I ordered this book for my 3 1/2 year old. But when I received it, I didn't think she would like it and considered returning it. The pictures have a lot of black and white, and normally she loves very colorful books, like her favorite The Spiffiest Giant in Town (only in paperback here at Amazon). But when she saw this sitting out, she opened it up and immediately said, "Mama, what's this book? Read it!" Then she had me read it two more times! She sometimes has me read a book for a second time, but hardly ever for a third time-- and she referred to this box quite a few times the rest of the day! Guess I can't assume I know what a little girl would like. I thought the concept would go way over her head-- how Mrs. Biddlebox put the yucky day in a pot and baked it into a yummy cake-- but my daughter found the whole ideal so intriguing. When I gave it a first read, I analyzed the sentences as we went along so she'd understand. After that, I'd just read, and she'd ask questions. It's amazing how creative a child's imagination is, and this book added to my daughter's imagination.

In author Linda Smith's two year battle with cancer she may have learned more than her fair share about "waking up on the wrong side of the bunk" but she also learned about how to use her talents to deal with those "dreary little funks." She has given us the delightful story of Mrs. Biddlebox, a very clever and talented witchey lady with a big curly black ponytail who, one day, wakes up in a very dreary funk indeed! Even the singing birds give her a headache. She decides "I will cook this rotten morning! I will turn it into cake! I will fire up my oven! I will set the day to bake!" With a wealth of magical know-how Mrs. Biddlebox does exactly that and the results are tasty! Marla Frazee has illustrated the enchanting Mrs. Biddlebox to perfection and helped to create a wonderful picture book filled with humor and whimsy that is guaranteed to cure any dreary funk that might come your way. Enjoy!

"On a knotty little hill,/In a dreary little funk,/Mrs. Biddlebox rolled over/On the wrong side of her bunk..." What a terrible morning, dark and dreary. An ill wind "mussied up her hair", her chair creaked, the tea was bitter, her crumpets, stale, and the birds' singing was giving her a headache. But Mrs Biddlebox is not one to sit and complain. She's a woman of action and decides to turn this awful day into a scrumptious treat. "I will cook this rotten morning!/I will turn it into cake!/I will fire up my oven!/I will set the day to bake!" And so she gets busy collecting the gloom and grubbies, a filthy shadow, the damp, dank fog, the low, gray sky, and just a ray of hidden sunshine to sweeten the pot. "So she whipped and whisked and beat it./She rolled the day out flat./Mrs. Biddlebox laughed gleefully;/Her hands went pat-pat-pat..." At last she was ready to put her cake into the oven, and bake that sad, bad day away..... Linda Smith's rhyming, lyrical text is charming and engaging, and filled with rhythm, energy, and humor. Marla Frazee's swirling, dark and expressive illustrations complement the text beautifully, and together word and art sends a positive message that won't be lost on little ones. Don't let a bad day get you down... take control, and turn it into something wonderful. Perfect for youngsters 4-8, Mrs. Biddlebox is a read-aloud crowd pleaser kids will beg to hear again and again, and is sure to become an instant favorite at your house.

This is a wonderful book that really captivates kids interest. The lyrical rhyming catches their interest and the story is really empowering. Mrs. Biddlebox refuses to accept her bad day and, with determination and zeal, changes it. The illustrations are completely charming. Mrs. Biddlebox will stay with any reader as will the idea that we can have a hand in our own world.

I got this book since 2004 for our 1st child. We now read this book to our 3rd child and never got sick of reading it. The pictures are great. The words rhymes and flows. Love the last line when putting my kids to bed: "Mrs. Briddlebox rolled over, closed her eyes and went to sleep." My kids love this book. When my 1st and 2nd children were young they wanted to skidoo into the book like Blue on Blue's Clues.

This book is fun and amazing. It was shipped with care, and came with an autograph from the illustrator which was fun and sweet!

Even adults will find Mrs. Biddlebox and her antics amusing! She scoops up the totally rotten day and makes it into a cake and gobbles it all up! After yesterday, I couldn't think of a more appropriate story for me to read to my kids! It was one heck of a day at the office and I wish I could have scooped up all that stinkiness and made a cake out of it!

It's a story about making lemonade out of lemons...of turning your frown upside down...of making the best of a bad day and having it end peacefully.

I loved it, and so did the kids!

Originally found this book at the local library. What a treat of a book for both my 5 year old daughter and myself.
The humorous nature of the illustrations and the witty, unique way offered to deal with a bad day (eating it!) made it an instant favorite. We especially had a lot of fun signing songs to the "witch's" (my daughter's take on Mrs. Biddlebox) cake dance as she stomps the bad day into a cake pan and bakes it!
I've used Mrs. Biddlebox as an example several times when my little one had a bad day. Great fun!

This book is amazing and makes me feel good every time I read it.
My children LOVE the illustrations, and the story and images together are just amazing.
My daughter said she wanted to curl up the grey clouds the other day like the spaghetti from Mrs. Biddlebox so that she could go to the playground!
Excellent.