Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's Won't-Take-a-Bath Cure (1947)

    This 1999 Scholastic publication of of Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's Won't-Take-a-Bath Cure by Betty MacDonald is adapted from the Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle Books. The obvious silliness at the beginning of the story sets the stage for Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle’s won't-take-a-bath-cure. It’s a cartoonish absurdity that allows readers to laugh at the pranks Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle’s cat, Lightfoot, plays on her dog Wag. We need to imagine Wag surprised but unhurt so that we can imagine Patsy Brown surprised but unhurt by the prank adults play on her. And Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle is a friendly, local celebrity who would never hand out harmful advice. When she proposes the Radish Cure we can expect a humorous lesson awaits.

     Patsy Brown's anxious parents patiently wait for her to learn a lesson about filth. One morning she yells, “’ I won't ever take a bath! I hate baths! I HATE BATHS.’” And she doesn’t take a bath—for weeks. The dirt that collects on her face and in her hair has social consequences, but Patsy doesn’t seem to mind. Finally, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle’s prank sends Patsy running into the shower.

I used to have a Picture Book Talk for this story, but then I decided I didn't like how the lesson of the story seemed at the expense of the child. 

     

Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's Won't-Take-a-Bath Cure (1999)

      Allowing children to learn life lessons by experience can be difficult for parents. Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle supports young Patsy's mother in this process. In Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's-Won't-Take-a-Bath-Cure, Betty MacDonald  portrays parents who follow Mrs Piggle-Wiggle's advice to patiently apply the Radish Cure. They stop demanding their little girl take a bath. "At the end of the third week Patsy skipped out to get the mail, and the postman . . .gave a terrified yell and fell off the porch." Patsy had gotten very dirty!

     Teaching Toddlers has a Taking Teaching Home: Bathtime" Parent Handout for children who have hearing loss and/or language delay. Study Silly has Bathtime Token Board for maladaptive behaviors or increased independence. Awesome ABLE Accessories has a Bathtime Social Story.

 

Pigsty (2007)

      Wendell's mother gives him the option to learn by experience. "'If you want to live in a pigsty, that's up to you,'" she says. And he does. In Pigsty, (2007)Wendell's room is such a mess that actual pigs take up residence. He and the pigs play Monopoly every night and leave "the pieces lying all over the floor." It's a young child's dream come true. Alas, there are consequences. "Wendell told himself he didn't mind, but then he found hoofprints on his comic books." Mark Teague knows what's important to a young boy. Life becomes unbearable and Wendell solves his own problem. This book reminds me of Mrs. Piggle Wiggle's Won't-Take-a-Bath-Cure, which I reviewed here. The plot is uncomplicated and the illustrations compelling. The lesson is clear without onerous judgement because the humor is amusing.  

     The Jasemine101 has Pigsty Story Questions. Lauren Marchell has Pigsty by Mark Teague. My lesson for Mrs. Piggle Wiggle is here.