something old, something new… introducing Missy Piggle-Wiggle

Missy Piggle-Wiggle and the Whatever Cure, written by Ann M. Martin with Annie Parnell, illustrated by Ben Hatke
published in 2016 by Feiwel and Friends
242 pages

How many of you have read Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle? If you have, I’m guessing a warm wave of happiness just washed over you!

For those of you unacquainted with her, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle is the short, plumpish little woman who lives in an upside-down house full of marvels, fresh baked cookies, and magical cures for ill-behaved children. She’s one of the most beloved characters in children’s literature, having made her first appearance in 1947, in Betty MacDonald’s collection of chapter books about her.

With her wise notions and secret potions Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle is always the right person to call on whether children suffer from resisting baths, tattling, or downright selfishness. Her clever cures work like a charm every time! You can read more about her in my earlier review of that book here.

Now, almost 70 years later, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle’s grand-niece has arrived on the scene to welcome a whole new batch of children into that magical home. It seems that Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle has finally decided to find out what happened to her mysterious pirate-husband who’s been missing ever-so-long, and has left the house in charge of Missy.

Sequels written by others can be touchy things. Putting such a beloved person as Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle into another’s hand for potential mistreatment — that raises the hackles on any bonafide booklover, right? Well, rest easy. The skillful Ann M. Martin has beautifully handed over the keys of the house to this newcomer and written an excellent first entry into what I’m hoping will be several episodes.

As a matter-of-fact, I think Martin anticipates the trepidation of long-time fans. The House itself is decidedly mistrustful of Missy upon her arrival, employing all the underhanded tricks a House might have up its sleeve in order to propel her right back where she came from. As our hearts warm towards Missy, so does the House, and we all wind up happily, comfortably, nestled in together.

Missy has her own set of ill behaviors to cure in the children she meets, including greediness, gum-smacking, the ol’ just-one-more-minute-itis, and a know-it-all who needs setting straight. She tackles them with the same mix of gravity and kindness as her great-aunt, winning the trust of the townful of children and their parents. There’s also a blush of romance between Missy and the awkward young bookseller in town, Harold Spectacle, just to sweeten the deal.

Ben Hatke brings these characters into the 21st century beautifully as well, with his knack for infusing personality into his figures. He mixes the freshness needed by a new generation of readers with a lovely old-fashioned sensibility that respects the atmosphere of both the original stories and this new batch. Just look at that enticing cover!

I heartily recommend you read the original story first. No need to read all five of those previous books, but do read Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle. Then dip into this new installment for a delightful treat. Great read-alouds for a wide age-range, or trusted staples for independent readers ages 7 and up.

Here’s the Amazon link: Missy Piggle Wiggle and the Whatever Cure