Betty MacDonald wrote a series of Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle books in the 1940s.  Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle helped children overcome bad habits and correct misbehaviors employing ingenious cures.  She lived in a crazy upside-down house full of animals and charm.  The series is now reimagined when Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle is off to search for her pirate husband and enlists her great-niece, Missy to take care of her house and animals while she is away.

Children and parents are drawn to the friendly and capable Missy.  She quickly jumps into action and tackles common misbehaviors.  The premise of the Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle books is there, helping children overcome a weakness or bad habit.  The cures are cute and exceedingly quick.   However, the charm is missing when compared with the original. Thinking it was perhaps the childhood nostalgia of the Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle books, I re-read several of the stories from the original and yes, they are superior.  This new series should gain a new generation while hopefully pointing readers to the original Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle stories that are timeless.

eGalley review                                          Publication date 9.6.16