The Wiggles Magic The Wiggles is a popular Australian children's music group formed in 1991. They have created a magical world for children through their music, performances, and colorful characters. The Wiggles magic lies in their ability to captivate young audiences and provide them with a joyful and educational experience. First and foremost, the music of The Wiggles is enchanting. They have created numerous catchy and upbeat songs that children can easily sing and dance along to. The melodies are simple yet memorable, making it easy for children to learn and enjoy.

Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's Magic

Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle loves everyone, and everyone loves her right back. The children love her because she is lots of fun. Their parents love her because she can cure children of absolutely any bad habit. The treatment are unusual, but they work! Who better than a pig, for instance, to teach a piggy little boy table manners? And what better way to cure the rainy-day "waddle-I-do's" than hunt for a pirate treasure in Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's upside-down house?

Genres ChildrensFictionFantasyMiddle GradeHumorClassicsChapter Books

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1949

About the author

Betty MacDonald

MacDonald was born Anne Elizabeth Campbell Bard in Boulder, Colorado. Her official birth date is given as March 26, 1908, although federal census returns seem to indicate 1907.

Her family moved to the north slope of Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood in 1918, moving to the Laurelhurst neighborhood a year later and finally settling in the Roosevelt neighborhood in 1922, where she graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1924.

MacDonald married Robert Eugene Heskett (1895–1951) at age 20 in July 1927; they lived on a chicken farm in the Olympic Peninsula's Chimacum Valley, near Center and a few miles south of Port Townsend. She left Heskett in 1931 and returned to Seattle, where she worked at a variety of jobs to support their daughters Anne and Joan; after the divorce the ex-spouses had virtually no contact.

She spent nine months at Firland Sanatorium near Seattle in 1937–1938 for treatment of tuberculosis. On April 24, 1942 she married Donald C. MacDonald (1910–1975) and moved to Vashon Island, where she wrote most of her books. The MacDonalds moved to California's Carmel Valley in 1956.

MacDonald rose to fame when her first book, The Egg and I, was published in 1945. It was a bestseller and was translated into 20 languages. Based on her life on the Chimacum Valley chicken farm, the books introduced the characters Ma and Pa Kettle, who also were featured in the movie version of The Egg and I. The characters become so popular a series of nine more films were made featuring them. In the film of The Egg and I, made in 1947, MacDonald was played by Claudette Colbert. Her husband (simply called "Bob" in the book) was called "Bob MacDonald" in the film, as studio executives were keen not to raise the matter of MacDonald's divorce in the public consciousness. He was played by Fred MacMurray.
Although the book was a critical and popular success at publication, in the 1970s it was criticized for its stereotypical treatment of Native Americans. It had also been claimed that it "spawned a perception of Washington as a land of eccentric country bumpkins like Ma and Pa Kettle."

MacDonald's defenders point out that in the context of the 1940s such stereotyping was far more acceptable. MacDonald faced two lawsuits: by members of a family who claimed she had based the Kettles on them, and by a man who claimed he was the model for the Indian character Crowbar. One lawsuit was settled out of court, while the second went to trial in February 1951. The plaintiffs did not prevail, although the judge indicated he felt they had shown that some of the claims of defamation had merit.

MacDonald also published three other semi-autobiographical books: Anybody Can Do Anything, recounting her life in the Depression trying to find work; The Plague and I, describing her nine-month stay at the Firlands tuberculosis sanitarium; and Onions in the Stew, about her life on Vashon Island with her second husband and daughters during the war years. She also wrote the Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle series of children's books and another children's book, entitled Nancy and Plum. A posthumous collection of her writings, entitled Who Me?, was later released.[citation needed]
MacDonald died in Seattle of uterine cancer on February 7, 1958

The melodies are simple yet memorable, making it easy for children to learn and enjoy. The lyrics are fun and educational, teaching children about various topics such as animals, numbers, and the alphabet. The Wiggles' music has a magical quality that encourages imagination and creativity in children.

Ratings & Reviews

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Community Reviews

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One of my favorites of the Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle books, because it introduces the well-mannered pig Lester, and ends with a treasure hunt through Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's upside down house, as the children try to help her find her husband's pirate treasure! I yearned to find a lucky gold piece wrapped in a black silk scarf as a child! In fact, I still do!

My five-year old enjoyed it, but it got kind of old for me, as the stories all follow the exact same formula: WASP-y family with a common WASP-y last name and three children (two boys and a girl, or two girls and a boy), submissive homemaker Mom, and grumpy, half-absent Dad, have problem with kids acting up, usually starting at the breakfast table while Mom serves them a hearty, traditional breakfast while Dad grumps and sometimes yells from behind his newspaper. Distraught Mom calls Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle after sending kids and Dad off to school and work. Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle has kids stop over on the way home from school and gives them magic powder/formula that will miraculously foil their misbehavior (why kids don't ever seem to question what they're delivering to Mom and Dad I'll never quite understand). Kids arrive home from school and Mom, still wearing her apron from and having barely broken a sweat, serves kids a freshly baked treat. Kids exclaim "Hot Diggity", "Oh Boy", and "Swell" a few times. Mom applies magic powder/formula at opportune moment and misbehavior miraculously begins to dissipate. Two days later, everything's peachy again, and Dad gets to disengage and read his morning paper in peace.

In short, there’s absolutely no magic in this sequel. Unlike the original Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, in which the cures were inventive and writing quite funny, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle’s Magic depends on silly magical potions sprinkled through a book that’s only occasionally amusing. Stick with the first one.

I enjoyed Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle. I thought the book was cute, easy to read and the solutions, although out there (hello Radish Cure) were believable enough.

That said, I was disappointed in Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's Magic. I should have known by the title that this book would be different.

Instead of the cures outlined in Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, in this book Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle resorts to magic to cure the naughty children. While some of it is amusing (tattle-tales), after a few chapters even my niece and nephew started to get bored. That made me sad - because, as I said, I really enjoyed Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle.

Another thing I disliked, and this is more personal preference, but the 20 page chapters were really difficult to read in one sitting. The first book was perfect. I could read out loud for 20 minutes and complete a chapter before bedtime, but I was constantly having to split them up with this one.

If you want to introduce your children to Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, don't bother with this book - get the first. It's well worth your time.

5 books 212 followers

Make sure you get your regular dose of Betty MacDonald. She's one of my very favorites. If nothing else, you'll meet children with names like "Paraphernalia Grotto." I mean.

These stories are dated; boys and girls have specific gender roles and girls are expected to grow up to be good wives for their husbands and make flower arrangements without actual flowers for some strange reason. Learning disabilities and ADHD behavior is treated with powdered magic which today just means dose your kid up meds, so I have mixed feelings about these books. They're your basic morality/behavior tales which kids absorb and learn to stand tall and fly right. Parents are usually portrayed as strict and very concerned with what the neighbours think, and they'd rather give a spanking than spend the time teaching proper behavior. Despite all these things that raised an eyebrow for me, I did enjoy a couple of the stories such as the pirate treasure one where Mrs. Piggly-Wiggly is vulnerable and skint, and kids are helpful and entertained by going through her entire house looking for hidden treasure which appeals to us all even as adults. I also loved Lester (?) the pig who taught a boy proper table manners so he wouldn't embarrass his family when he went to a friends house for dinner though it did spoil it a bit that it was to hear about a trophy hunter who shot lions, tiger, and what have you for no legitimate reason other than to think himself a manly man by uneven combat. I understand people hunting to feed their families, but killing beautiful animals minding their own business so you can think you're a real man makes me want to get a baseball bat and express my opinion not using my words except as NSFW qualifiers.

For me these stories are a bit of nostalgia and I am looking for a specific one my dad used to read to me in a funny voice when I was little. I can't quite remember the boy's name, (Fetlock??) but my dad did this great voice for this character who was a chronic liar and claimed his father was a cat burglar. My dad and I laughed like hell over this voice for a lot of my childhood, and I'd like to find the story and read it to him now that he is almost 95.

MRS. PIGGLE-WIGGLE’S MAGIC is the second of four books by Betty Macdonald, in which an energetic, eccentric widow cures children of bad habits (1947-1957). At the request of distraught parents, Mrs. P-W cures “Thought-You-Saiders” (children who deliberately mishear what is said to them), Tattle-Tales, Interrupters, Never-Want-to-Go-to Schoolers, and other young malingerers.

Each fault is comically exaggerated. The father of the Heedless Breaker tells his daughter: “You’re only eight years old and I’d like to keep you for another twelve or thirteen years at least but at the rate you’re breaking things I won’t be able to afford it. Let’s see, last week you broke eleven cups, there are fifty-two weeks in a year and 52 X 11 is 572 cups and year and we have at least twelve more years to go. . . (74). Mrs. P-W cures most children with magic potions. The pattern of out-of-control children returned magically to normal became repetitive for me--but would not for a child.

For me, two chapters stood out: “The Never-Want-to-go-to-Schooler” (negatively) and “The Bad Table-Manners Cure” (positively). The former is the only chapter that would be uncomfortable to 21st century sensibilities. Jody repeatedly fakes illness to avoid school. After taking Mrs. P_W’s “IGNORANCE TONIC,” Jody no longer knows how to use tools, cannot count, and talks with a speech impediment. When other children shun him, Judy decides that being a “dubby” is no fun and returns to school. In the 1940’s, “Little Moron” jokes were popular, but a 21st century reader would find the mockery of mental retardation distasteful.

My favorite chapter is “The Bad-Table-Manners Cure.” Because of his atrocious table-manners (“He picked up his soup bowl and held it just under his chin while he slurped his soup. . . . he gestured with a fork full of food so that bits of food shot around the room like stones from a slingshot“ [40].), Christopher’s distraught parents appeal to Mrs. P-W. She loans them her pig, Lester. Lester models impeccable table manners and gently corrects Christopher: “Christopher’s mouth was open but full, he had whipped cream on his upper lip and crumbs on his chin. Lester reached across the table and gently closed Christopher’s mouth. Then he wiped the whipped cream off his upper lip and the crumbs off his chin” (45). Mrs. P-W prematurely retrieves Lester, because other parents have a manners crisis. However, through Lester’s influence is brief, Christopher is fully cured. Mrs. Thompson tells Mrs. Brown that her son’s “table manners are simply perfect” (57)

I grew up in the 1940’s. My mother, an elementary school teacher, believed passionately that reading to children was essential to their intellectual and moral development. Though I was never introduced to Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, my mother read aloud stories with the same comically exaggerated didacticism. I remember the GOOPS books by Gelett Burgess: line drawings of children doing disgusting things with the caption: “Don’t be a Goop!” There were Goofus and Gallant: washing dishes, playing a game, reading a book, Goofus behaved boorishly, while Gallant modeled correct behavior. In Munro Leaf’s cartoon series, Watchbirds watching obnoxious children functioned as their super egos.

The Goops, Goofus and Gallant, and the Watchbirds books are no longer in print. In contrast, the original Mrs. P-W books are not only available, but MacDonald’s daughter wrote a sequel in 2007 sequel, based on notes in her mother’s papers: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MRS. PIGGLE-WIGGLE. The friend who loaned me MRS. PIGGLE-WIGGLE’S MAGIC told me that her nieces and nephews love Mrs. P-W and delight in making up bad habits for her to cure. Rather like being a scold like the Watchbirds, Mrs. P-W loves and respects children. When their failures are due to inexperience rather than willfulness, she helps them find solutions and save face. The Mrs. P-W books would make a wonderful gift for a child in upper elementary school.

Rabbit, Read

Compared to the other books, I’m not sure that Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle’s Magic really lives up to its title. Sure, there’s magic afoot in all of the stories, but it’s not as creative and exciting as I remembered.

(On a side note, I always wondered if the star effect on the end of Mrs. P-W’s wand and at the top of her hat on the cover were meant to make her seem less like a witch. I used to live across the street from a family who wouldn’t let their kids play the video game The Legend Of Zelda because it included witches. I also remember a conversation I had with a wonderful woman I took Taekwondo with, where I told her I was excited about the premiere of that hot new show, Sabrina, The Teenage Witch. She told me that she wouldn’t let her daughter watch it, just as she wouldn’t watch Bewitched back in the day, because they glamorized witchcraft.)

Anyway, we get an intro chapter here, part of which I have never forgotten. Molly O’Toole is eating a candy cane and reading Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle’s big dictionary, when she accidentally drools juice on the colored pictures of gems. Mrs. P-W, of course, is totally cool and says:

“There’s nothing as cozy as a piece of candy and a book. Don’t look so embarrassed, Molly, I almost drool every time I look at those gems–which one is your favorite?–I think mine is the Lapis Lazuli.”

(Of course, back when I read it, I had to look up a Lapis Lazuli to see what they looked like, and while they were pretty, they wouldn’t have been my favorite!)

This time around, we get:

• The Thought-You-Saiders Cure – A magic powder in the ears makes kids’ hearing hypersensitive.
• The Tattletale Cure – Black licorice pills cause kids to exhale smoky “tattletales” that hang overhead for every time they tattle.
  
• The Bad-Table Manners Cure – Lester, the trained pig (who cameos in Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle’s Farm) teaches good table manners by example and with a firm hoof. He even handles a mother’s attempts to serve him spareribs and bacon gracefully!
• The Interrupters – Magic blowers render interrupting children (and parents) speechless.
  
• The Heedless Breaker – More powder makes a little girl unable to move any way except slowly and gracefully.
• The Never-Want-To-Go-To-Schooler – Tonic turns a little boy who keeps missing school stupid until he’s shamed into returning.
  
• The Waddle-I-Doers – More on this below–there’s no cure given.

My favorite moment in the whole series–and a testament to how much I love the absurd, even as a kid–occurs in the “Thought-You-Saiders Cure” chapter, where the Burbank children keep creatively mishearing things for maximum comic potential. While their father walks them to school, they ask Marilyn Matson’s mother if she’ll be coming to school with them, but Marilyn “fell in her coaster and hurt her head.”

“Now what’s so funny?” Mr. Burbank asked.

Darsie said, “Marilyn’s mother said Marilyn fell in the toaster and is burnt up dead.”

I remember giggling, giggling, GIGGLING over that line–it’s a sucker-punch you don’t expect. The absurd extreme of falling into a toaster and “burning up dead” in a book as sweet (mostly) as these tickled me then, and does now.

And, like all the great children’s book authors, MacDonald mingles the sweet with the spiky–the tattletales flying out of Wendy and Timmy’s mouths hang grotesquely above them, multiple tales wagging; there’s real pathos when Jody Jones finds himself unable to read, count or do anything but watch “the candle wax drip down the candles in the middle of the table.”

One of my favorite moments in the book is when Mr. Franklin, the father of the interrupting children, asks his wife why she doesn’t use flowers in her flower arrangements.

Mrs. Franklin smiled indulgently at her husband and began explaining, “Flower arranging is an art–“

Later, after her youngest son interrupts her to mention his freshly caught little green frog, he suggests that it would be the perfect addition to her arrangements.

“Why, Stevie, what a wonderful idea,” said Mrs. Franklin excitedly, “But how would I get him to stay in the bowl?”

“Oh, Cheeper’d stay,” said Stevie. “He’s awful tame. He does just anything I want him to.”

The most interesting thing about this book is the last chapter, “The Waddle-I-Doers.” Mimi and Lee Wharton are upset that it’s raining on a day when Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle was leading a hike and picnic to Big Rock. They don’t want to do anything until Mrs. P-W invites them over for lunch and dinner.

On the way there, the storm has flooded the streets, and I love how MacDonald presents the feeling of a heavy rain making your familiar neighborhood unfamiliar. On the way, stuck in a storm drain, Mimi finds a black silk scarf. At Mrs. P-W’s, she discovers that it contains a piece of pirate gold.

While Mimi’s still marveling at her luck, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle shares some backstory, describing how she ended up with an upside-down house (Mr. Piggle-Wiggle flipped the blueprints of a regular house) and how she’s been paying the bills and buying the gingerbread (hidden treasure drawers left by Mr. P-W).

Whether she is being sincere, or this is another manipulative cure for “Waddle-I-Do-Itis,” she tells the children that she’s out of money, and couldn’t have afforded to go on the picnic if it hadn’t rained. She asks them all to search her house for the remaining hidden drawers and cupboards. Mimi’s pirate coin brings her luck and she finds a secret door in the attic that contains enough treasure to last Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle for the rest of her life. Shortly after, Dick Thompson finds a note from Mr. P-W to his wife in the basement.

Dear Wife:

My last secret cupboard is very hard to find so I am leaving this letter on your gardening shelf in the basement as I am sure that before too many years this shelf will become so crowded and cluttered you will have to clean it off and then you will find this letter. The last secret cupboard of treasure is behind the chimney in the attic. Just jerk hard on that old loose board.

Your loving husband,

Mr. Piggle-Wiggle

It’s frustratingly oblique–no personal touches, no big reveal, no, “I will always love you” to the Mrs. We’re never told (unsurprisingly) how/when Mr. P-W died, but he must have had some inkling since he had time to plan this elaborate scavenger hunt. (Guess a savings account wasn’t as sexy.)

Even so, then, as now, I love the idea of hidden treasure, and wouldn’t it be fantastic to be searching an old house for jewels and gold and money during a thunderstorm by candlelight? My favorite thing about this book has always been that sense of adventure on a rainy day, that your own house can have magical surprises for you, and who knows what’s going to wash down the street during a storm?

I remember looking out at the rain as a kid, the outside world suddenly a scary and exciting place making being inside so much cozier and warmer. I miss that feeling of security but this book helped remind me a little of it.

Mrs piggle wiggles magic

Additionally, The Wiggles performances are full of energy and excitement. They engage the audience by encouraging them to sing, dance, and participate in fun activities. The stage is filled with vibrant colors, costumes, and props, creating a visually stimulating experience for children. The members of The Wiggles, including Anthony, Lachy, Simon, and Emma, have a wonderful rapport with their young viewers, making them feel like they are part of the magic. Furthermore, the colorful characters of The Wiggles add to the enchantment. Each member of the group has a distinct personality that resonates with children. Whether it's the energetic and playful nature of Anthony, the wisdom and patience of Lachy, the cool and laid-back style of Simon, or the bubbly and imaginative personality of Emma, children can connect with these characters and let their imaginations run wild. The magic of The Wiggles is not just limited to their music and performances. They have also created a wide range of merchandise, books, and television shows that further immerse children in their magical world. The Wiggles have become a beloved brand for children around the world, creating a lasting impact on their early childhood experiences. In conclusion, The Wiggles magic lies in their ability to create a joyful and educational experience for children through their music, performances, colorful characters, and merchandise. They have created a magical world that captures the hearts of young audiences, encouraging them to sing, dance, and learn. The Wiggles have become an iconic and cherished brand in the world of children's entertainment, leaving a lasting impact on generations of children..

Reviews for "The Wiggles' Magic Wand: Entertaining and Educating Kids"

1. Jenna - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "The Wiggles Magic". The magic tricks were so cheesy and poorly executed. The Wiggles themselves seemed disinterested and didn't bring any energy to their performances. The songs were also forgettable and lacked the catchy tunes that the group is known for. Overall, it just felt like a lackluster and amateurish production.

2. Mark - 1 star - "The Wiggles Magic" was a complete waste of time and money. The magic tricks were predictable and didn't have any wow factor. The performances by the Wiggles were lackluster and it seemed like they were simply going through the motions. The whole show felt like a cheap cash-grab with no creativity or effort. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone, especially if you're a fan of the Wiggles.

3. Sarah - 2 stars - I have been a fan of the Wiggles for years, but "The Wiggles Magic" was a letdown. The magic tricks were poorly executed and seemed like something you could see at a children's birthday party. The energy from the performers was also lacking and it felt like they were just going through the motions. The show didn't have the same charm and entertainment value as their previous productions. I hope they come back stronger in their next show.

4. Michael - 1 star - "The Wiggles Magic" was a complete disappointment. The magic tricks were basic and didn't have any surprises. The Wiggles themselves seemed tired and unenthusiastic. The songs were forgettable and lacked the catchy melodies that the Wiggles are known for. Overall, it was a lackluster and unimpressive show. I would not recommend wasting your time or money on it.

The Wiggles' Magical Rhythms: From Singing to Dancing