Customer Reviews

Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's Farm

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

 

 

This is the last of the four Mrs Piggle-Wiggle books, but it was probably my favourite when I was little - I loved horses as a little girl, and these stories include a pony. My parents read the Mrs Piggle-Wiggle books when they were kids, and these books have been a family tradition.

The stories aren't coy about the fact that they set out to show how kids ought to behave, but they're so much fun that I don't think anyone minds that they teach a lesson. After all, who minds when Mrs. Piggle Wiggle is the teacher? These stories, unlike those in the other 3 books, are set on a farm, and teach kids about responsibilty, self-reliance, and trust. Read them if you have kids, read them if you don't have kids. Just read them!

I remember sitting in the library when I was little reading Mrs. Piggle Wiggle books over and over again. I loved everyone one of her "cures" and now that I have a daughter of my own I want her to have her own copies of these classics from my childhood.

As much as I love the Piggle-Wiggle books containing the magic, I could not help but be touched by the return to good ol' child psychology where Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, now a farm owner in the country, takes in problem children for the necessary amount of time it takes to cure them of lousy habits. Honestly, while the other books are full of whimsical charm, this one seemed to be the most down-to-earth of the bunch and finally allowed Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle to become an actual character rather than just the lady on the other end of the phone. This is Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle in reality and the tales are delightful!

I loved the Mrs. Piggle Wiggle series growing up. Very funny, and various interesting cures to children's faulty habits. Throughout it all Mrs. Piggle Wiggle showed her immense love for children and never broke a frown in their direction.

That is the problem I have with this book. Mrs. Piggle Wiggle acting uncharacteristically Mrs. Piggle-wiggleish. She gets impatient with the children or downright rude. Nothing in the other books ever broke her placid composure and her real love for the kids. In this book she commits that sin several times, and the results always dimmed my enjoyment of the stories. (Such as the can't find it cure boy where she gets upset and sends him to his room.)

I realize that even Mrs. Piggle Wiggle can be pushed to certain limits, but considering how well those children tested or ran over those limits in earlier novels without her so much as frowning....she was created for a good reason and it just doesn't do for her to break that pattern.

As an aside, this book was written by a shadow writer, I believe.

When I was a young girl I read Mrs. Piggle Wiggle and I loved it! I kept the book, read it to my three daughters, and now have bought it for my grand-daughters. I'm sure they'll love it and get as much pleasure out of it that I did.

I liked this book very well. I think it takes you back to the original Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, in that the "cures" are reverse psychology or clear demonstrations, rather than "magical" powders and potions. Being with a loving, confident adult works wonders on the children in the stories. This is a good book, and it's fun to read aloud.

*** update, October 2009 -- used this for a second grade book report -- perfect!

I grew up reading Mrs. Piggle Wiggle, and she was my favorite. Now I am so excited to read these stories to my children. My oldest son is 4, and we just started reading them this week. He loves the characters and the cures. I love to listen to him talk about the various bad behaviors and then watch him as his brain ticks through the times he is whiny, bossy, etc.. I also love that these stories use big words-great for building vocabulary in a very natural way. At 4, he is only just old enough to be read these, so I anticipate many more happy years of enjoying Mrs. Piggle Wiggle together!

I grew up reading the Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle series. I loved every single story and I still remember them vividly. They may be a little dated but the lessons are still current and they are still very amusing.

Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle books are by far some of the best stories for kids in any decade. What a fun way to learn acceptable behavior and manners from a very quirky lady who delights children and parents at the same time. I enjoyed Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle as a child, have read them to my children and I am now collecting the hardcover books to read with my grandchildren.
Jacqueline Young, Author of "The Tail of Squabbit".

This is one of the few books that I remember having read to me as a child. I think I was in about 3rd grade. My 6 year old is enjoying it now. I was so excited to find it here when I searched for it. I thought it would be out of print. It's a small paperback book - nothing fancy but entertaining!