Book Sharing Monday

My children and I have been listening to a series of stories on tape written by Betty MacDonald.  Just recently I've been able to find them in book form as we've been reading them.  The book that we're sharing today is the first chapter book in the series, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle.

In this book you're introduced to Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle.  Here's what is shared on the front flap of the book:

"Meet Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle! She's the kind of grown-up you would like to have for a friend--and all her friends are children.  She is a little lady with brown sparkly eyes.  She lives in an upside-down house, with a kitchen that is always full of freshly baked cookies.  Her husband was a pirate, and she likes to have her friends dig in the back yard for the pirate treasure he buried there.

Best of all, she knows everything there is to know about children.  When a distraught parent calls her because Mary has turned into an Answer-Backer or Dick has become Selfish or Allen has decided to be a Slow-Eater-Tiny-Bite-Taker, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle has the answer.  And her solutions always work, with plenty of laughs along the way.

So join the crowd at Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's house--and enjoy the comical, common-sense cures that have won her so many friends."

These stories are written so that children understand what's happening and give parents a nice laugh.  They also assist in giving a different perspective on curing inappropriate behavior.  We are enjoying this book (which we've read out of order) and also enjoyed her other books: Hello, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle & Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's Farm.

Disclaimer: Since these books were written in the late 1940's/early 1950's, there is quite a bit of stereotypical father's role/mother's role.  I've used it as an opportunity to talk to my girls about this directly.  There is also a bit a ridicule in the parenting style and I've adjusted that (discussed it in some cases/left it out in others).  There is a lot to be learned from these stories and I've made it a point to use each of these things.  Wanted to share this with you upfront so that you can make a choice about them before getting in the middle of a story and being caught off guard! :D

Happy Reading!!