Hello, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle

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Hello, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle (1957) is the fourth book in Betty MacDonald's comic series about the expert child-curative Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle. The series begins with Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle and continues with Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's Magic and Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's Farm. None of the books can be considered novels, but episodic problems with children and their exasperated parents in Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's neighbourhood, and the always winning solution provided by Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle.

Hello, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle (illustrated by Hilary Knight) presents the most confusing chronology in the series. Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle seems to be back in her old neighbourhood, but neither her "upside-down house" or what happened to her farm is mentioned. Also, in the flip-flop of the series, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle is back to magic for her cures. It is now revealed, though, that Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle is not herself magic, but simply inherited the magic potions and powders from her dead pirate husband. What will happen when she runs out is not discussed. MacDonald died the year after this book was published, so the continuance of the series is a mystery. The list of problems here:

• "The Show-off Cure"
• "The Crybaby Cure"
• "The Bully"
• "The Whisperer"
• "The Slowpoke"