Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day by Winifred Watson ★★★☆☆

A charming light read with a bit of depth.

Fiction – Adult - Classic

234 pages
Publication Date:  1938 

After a colorless life as an English governess, Miss Pettigrew, is mistakenly sent to work for glamourous nightclub singer, Delysia LaFosse, changing the course of both women’s lives.    

This story takes place in a different time and setting than I usually read, but I found it rather refreshing, especially since this was written as a contemporary piece instead of the usual historical fiction I see.  It was beautifully contrived, with lovely writing and a fascinating premise and well executed plot.  And being written before England entered WWII puts an interesting perspective on life during this time.

Miss Pettigrew was an interesting mix of contradiction and a stark contrast to Delysia and her anything goes crowd.  I would by no means this book a sort of moral compass, but I did love Miss Pettigrew opening herself up to new experiences and ideas.  This allows her to decide things for herself and stop depending on the morality forced upon her by others.  She finally got to become more herself and less what she was told to be.  A sort of universal human struggle, we can relate too.

Because of its time period I was a little taken a back my by the language, but I did quickly adapt, but it should be noted that there are a couple of blatantly racist parts that really threw me.  I will make no excuses for them, and only mention them as something to be aware of.

I also really adored the movie with Frances McDormand and Amy Adams, but the book and movie should really be treated as two separate things and not the book coming to life on the big screen.

Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle by Betty MacDonald, Hilary Knight (Illustrator) ★★★☆☆

A fun way to have teaching moments! 

Fiction – Juvenile - Classics

Age Range: 8 and up Grade Level: 3 - 7
119 pages
Publication Date:  1947

Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle #1

Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle loves children and they love her.  From her upside house to her genius for costumes to the possible pirate treasure in her backyard Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle is a child’s delight.  She is also a great help to parents, helping them solve problems and curing childhood behavioral ailments.

Ms. MacDonald has a real understanding of children and has written a manuscript that can withstand the cultural changes more than half a century later.  She starts the story off speaking directly to the in a vocal story telling style, making the story feel very personable and intimate.  The writing is relaxed and easygoing and fun.  A good chapter book to read out loud or have the kids read on their own.    Each chapter presents great teaching moments to talk over while avoiding the pitfalls of preaching and nagging.  Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, is imaginative and whimsical, always ready to play, but still very responsible.  A lot of the names are very silly, but the main issues like, eating slowly and constant fighting among siblings happen all of the time.  The subjects in this book can create a good chance for discussion and a way to spend time with your child.

Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne ★★★☆☆

Classic adventure story. (not exactly original I know but that is what it is)

Fiction – Classic – Adventure
240 pages

Age range: Grade 6 and up

Mr. Fogg makes a bet that he can circle the globe in eighty days, taking him and his new French servant, Jean Passepartout, on the adventure of a life time.

My first introduction to Jules Verne stands out quite vividly in my memory, but not in a good way.  When I was a preschooler I saw part of the movie, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, from the 1950s.  I had nightmares of being attacked by a giant squid for years.  So needless to say, it has taken me a while to warm up to the idea of reading his books (I’ve actually had this book for a couple of years, but only recently got the nerve to read it).  But with a little courage, I managed to do the hard part and start it.

Always when I begin to read an older book I am rather concerned how it will translate to my modern understanding (Charles Dickens was a complete disaster, and I never could tell whether I was coming or going with him, and don’t even get me started on Shakespeare).  Fortunately for me I bought a copy full of footnotes to help me put things into their historical context: the Penguin Classic series tend to be my favorite.  In addition I was very comfortable with writing style from the start, for the most part all of the antiquated language and references were easily explained.  I especially found it an interesting window into a different time period and thought process.  This is by no means a politically correct book and I don’t believe we should try to impose our modern opinions on it.  If you can’t handle this policy and understand the mindset and era of the author, then I really recommend not putting yourself through the ordeal of reading it.

Jean Passepartout, was the real human connect in the story, while Mr. Fogg, had a rather off-putting personality.  The only humanizing characteristic of this incredibly methodical man was his tendency to be generous.  Mr.  Fix could never seem to get the right end of the stick and by the end I felt rather badly for him.  And Auoda, a companion they pick up along the way, was a very special woman who cared more for character than money.  Like with most adventure stories the goal wasn’t to really show the inner life of the characters, so much as the action.  So the characters were only fleshed out so far.

This is a historically significant book: a notable change in the way people viewed the world.  Could you just imagine what it was like when it first came out?  It must have just entranced the imagination of its readers, and fueled dreams for new possibilities. It would be like us being told we could travel to the moon easily for the first time.  I recommend reading it not only because it is important classic (trust me some “classics” aren’t all they are cracked up to be), but, also, because it is a fun, quick adventure story that is completely non-taxing.

The Borrowers by Mary Norton ★★★★☆

A joyful foray into the world of possibilities.

Fiction – Juvenile - Fantasy

Age Range: 9 and up

180 pages

Publication Date: 1952

The Borrowers #1

Carnegie Medal in Literature 1952

Arriety is a Borrower, a race of miniscule people who live in the houses of human Beans and borrower from them to live.  Pod, Arriety’s father, wants to teach her the ways of survival, but Arriety rather see what the world outside is like.

I picked up this book with every intention of being delighted and I would have to say in the past sometimes these high expectations have led to crushing disappointment, but not in the case of The Borrowers.  Even after 50 years in print and dramatic shifts in our culture I found this book to be ageless.  The storytelling style is very homey and comfortable and the story just carries you along for joyful little foray into the world of possibilities.  And the idea of Borrower’s living in houses just lit up my imagination with a childlike wonderment.  I loved the delightful descriptions of the things they borrowed and how they used them with detailed illustrations to accompany.  I just adored it.

ISBN  0152099875 (ISBN13: 9780152099879)

Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli ★★★★☆

The Birth of a Legend

Fiction – Juvenile

Reading Level:  Age Range: 11 and up

184 pages

Publication Date:  1990

Literary awards: Newbery Medal (1991), Rebecca Caudill Young Reader's Book Award (1993), Charlotte Award (1992), Nene Award (1996), Massachusetts Children's Book Award (1993) Flicker Tale Children's Book Award (1992), Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award (1992), Pacific Northwest Library Association Young Reader's Choice Award (1993), Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis Nominee for Jugendbuch (2001), New Mexico Land of Enchantment Award (1993)

In a town divide by race, Jeffery Lionel “Maniac” Magee, shows up to defy the norm and birth a legend that crosses boundaries and breaks down barriers.

My class read this John Newberry Medal winner back when I was in 5^th grade, but I only vaguely remembered that I like it and a few other snippets from the story.  Wishing to refresh my memory and relive my childhood I settled in to read the tale of Maniac Magee.  From page one I fell under the spell of this story. Well-constructed, with a nice rhythm and very engaging writing the spirited and cheeky narrator regales you with story of Jeffery Magee and how he brought together a town.  Jeffery Magee is a lovable character who displays athleticism, strength, independence, depth of emotion and vulnerability.  His inability to see race makes him unique in a town where you’re race defines most of your life.  The author Spinelli uses this legend to dissect the issue of race versus just people in a relatable way that can span many ages.  I would say it is a very nice tool for helping younger children understand that we are all just people while giving its more mature readers a good quality, multi-layered story with depth to enjoy.

ISBN  0590452037 (ISBN13: 9780590452038)