Rating: 
Summary: Excellent at age 8 and again as I share with my little one
Review: Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle was a book that I enjoyed tremendously at age 8 when it was read aloud to me by my third grade teacher. Every day the entire class looked forward to hearing another chapter describing the shennanigans of some child that was having issues that we were having at that time (ie didn't want to go to bed, didn't want to eat, didn't want to clean up your room etc...).At 32 years of age, I once again am enjoying Betty MacDonald's creative way of capturing her audience with fun filled stories as I share them with my little one. This is a classic, along with anything by Beverly Cleary or Beverly Cleary.
Rating:
Summary: This series inspired the love of reading in me.
Review: My mother read these books to me as a child. Every night my brother and I would listen to fantastic tales of a woman who lived in an upsidedown house and taught naughty children lessons in genlte, understanding and creative ways. I can say without a doubt that my love for Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle fostered my love for books. Definately a book to share with the children you love.
Rating: 
Summary: Values of our Childhood Now Outdated
Review: Reading these Mrs. Piggle Wiggle stories to my own kids was a kind of Proustian experience. Not having thought of them for 35 years, I remembered every word, every name ("Yes Hearthrug dear...)" only now perhaps I understand Betty McDonald's wonderfully ironic sense of humor. ... In the 50s, perhaps these books worked on levels available to both children and their parents; today, unfortunately, they only stand as a kind of sad reminder to parents who have actually GROWN OUT of the "normal" violence of a thankfully past age. Publishers reprint famous books that sold well in the past; here, they're banking on our memory of the titles to keep these books profitable for them. They don't care, obviously, about their message. Reading them as adults, however, we should realize it's time to retire Betty McDonald's assumed value system. "Ramona" is flat-out annoying, but at least she teaches kids better expectations for relationships between men and women.
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