Missy Piggle-Wiggle and the Whatever Cure

Starred review from June 27, 2016
Betty MacDonald’s beloved Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle always had one-of-a-kind ways to remedy children of their annoying or impolite habits. Now, nearly 70 years later, her singular magic can enchant a new generation, thanks to this delightful contemporary follow-up from Martin (Rain Reign), writing with MacDonald’s great-granddaughter, Parnell. Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle is off searching for her husband, “called away some years ago by the pirates,” so great-niece Missy Piggle-Wiggle arrives in Little Spring Valley to take over her duties. After settling into the upside-down house and reacquainting herself with Mrs. Piggle Wiggle’s unusual pets, Missy follows in her great-aunt’s footsteps, using a “Greediness Cure” on Petulance Freeforall (it shrinks everything she claims for herself) and a watch that chimes with “the sound of a thousand bells gonging and a million phones ringing” to help with Heavenly Earwig’s tardiness, among other humorous fixes. (the authors are more than up to the task of coming up with wonderfully oddball names for the children, as in MacDonald’s original books.) Missy’s blossoming romance with a quirky bookstore owner gives this magical tale extra spice. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 8–11.

September 1, 2016

Gr 2-5-In the classic "Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle" series, the title character "cured" children of annoying habits without belittling them. By helping the children see how others were affected by their behavior, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle taught empathy in a humorous manner. The tradition lives on in Missy, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's red-headed great-niece. Having spent time with her aunt as a child, Missy learned to make magic potions and spells. She also absorbed her aunt's kind approach to child psychology. Called to take care of the upside-down house and pets while Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle is away, Missy must form her own relationships with the inhabitants of Little Spring Valley. The initial exposition drags a bit. In an attempt to bridge the new book with the old, three chapters are devoted to Missy's arrival and her introduction to the town. The pace picks up when the cures begin. Parents are concerned about greediness, tardiness, and procrastination. They would like their children to stop being spies, know-it-alls, and gum-smackers. With thoughtfulness and patience as well as magic gumdrops, bubbles, and a noisy watch, Missy helps improve the situations. Martin adds depth to the story by using one family, the Freeforalls, as a unifying thread throughout the narrative. Work-focused Mr. and Mrs. Freeforall need some Piggle-Wiggle assistance as much as their three children do. Although modernized in many ways, the tale, like its predecessors, relies on the premise of a small, mostly white town where parents let their children roam freely during the day. Hatke ("Zita the Spacegirl"; Julia's House for Lost Creatures; Little Robot) provides charming cover and black-and-white interior illustrations. VERDICT A fun family read-aloud, this version will win new fans without alienating devotees of the original series.-Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

m1lk3y_w4y - Missy Piggle-Wiggle and the Whatever-Cure was such a good book. “Piggle-Wiggle” might sound familiar to those who have read about Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle’s adventures before. Missy Piggle-Wiggle is Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle’s great niece. Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle lives in an upside-down house, which has a mind of its own. In the house lives some interesting animals. Lester, the talking pig, is very polite and has good etiquette. Penelope is the parrot, Wag is the dog, and Lightfoot is the cat. Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle was known for curing people in this town with interesting potions and other unusual things. The kids loved Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle because she let them come over to the upside-down house and do whatever they want. They can cook, read, play, and even make crafts. However, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle left suddenly, and she asked her great niece, Missy Piggle-Wiggle, to take care of the house while she was gone. Missy Piggle-Wiggle also cures people, and parents start calling her, telling her about the problems with their children. She cures children who are always late, who like to say “whatever,” and kids who are know-it-alls. This book follows the adventures of Missy Piggle-Wiggle as she uses unusual tactics to cure problems, like you have never imagined! This book is great for young readers and I recommend this to anyone who is into chapter books.