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Summary: This was one of my childhood favorites!
Review: An "adult" book disguised as a children's book, children will love the illustrations and silly phrases, but only adults will truly appreciate the basic "message". A favorite gift for friends who have everything! I have it shelved along side my tattered copy of "Jonathan Livingston Seagull" - the interpretation changes yearly. Enjoy it with your children!
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Summary: Higglety Pigglety Pop!
Review: Emily Robertson ENGL 385.5 Dr. Michelle Martin Critical Reflection #3 Sendak, Maurice. Higglety Piggltey Pop! Or There Must be More to Life. New York: Harper and Row Publishers, 1983. Pp 69. Taylor, Mary-Agnes. "Which Way to Castle Yonder?" Children's Literature Association Quarterly. 12.3 (1987): 142-44 Higglety Pigglety Pop! Or There Must be More to Life, by Maurice Sendak is a book about a dog, Jennie, who is discontented because she has everything in life and leaves her home in search for something else. Although Jennie doesn't know what it is she's looking for, all the characters that she comes in contact with do. She is lacking experience and the other characters lead Jennie to her goal with food. Jennie's world and all her adventures are centered around food, and by enticing her with food, the surrounding characters help Jennie to live out her life of selfishness and greed, sacrifice, and eternity in Heaven after death. Higglety Pigglety Pop! Or There Must be More to Life starts out with Jennie deciding that she is going to look for more in life. Jennie tells the plant in her window that she is leaving because she is discontented, "I want something I do not have. There must be more to life than having everything" (Sendak 3). The first reference to food is made while Jennie is talking to the plant, she is nibbling off parts of the plant while she talks, and when the conversation is over all the leaves of the plant are gone. "The plant had nothing to say. It had nothing left to say it with" (Sendak 5). Eating the leaves is a representation of Jennie's greed. In an article "Which Way to Castle Yonder?" Mary-Agnes Taylor comments about Jennie's life, "...in the whole of Jennie's life she has been showered with physical comforts and material possessions; however, these externals, even to the master who loves her, are all passive of nature. They do not satisfy her budding sense of self" (143). Jennie has come to realize that life does not only consist of material things and this leads her into her journey to find what else there is. After Jennie leaves her house she comes in contact with a pig that is looking for players in The World Mother Goose Theater. The pig tells Jennie, "To be the leading lady of The World Mother Goose Theater you must have experience" (Sendak 8). The pig plants in Jennie's mind the idea to look for experience. The entire time the pig and Jennie are talking Jennie is eating the free sandwiches and finishes the last one just in time to catch the milk truck. The milkman takes Jennie to the home of Baby where his task as Baby's nurse is to make baby eat. Jennie has one chance to get Baby to eat, or the lion will eat her. Baby won't eat so Jennie eats the food herself and before she realizes it all the food is gone. In an attempt to save herself from the lion Jennie calls Baby's mother at Castle Yonder. The mother then requests that Baby be sent to her immediately by way of the Lion. If Jennie says Baby's name the Lion will take her to her mother but if she cannot say it the lion will eat the baby. Jennie doesn't know the Baby's name and offers herself as a sacrifice in attempt to save the baby's life. Taylor remarks, "At this point, the selfish, spoiled little dog has turned into a brave and generous heroine" (143). Jennie's life is now fulfilled because she found what she was looking for, experience. She can now be a member of The Mother Goose World Theater at Castle Yonder. Castle Yonder represents Heaven and Jennie can now live happily for all eternity as a member of the theater. Taylor discusses the idea of Castle Yonder as Heaven, "They associate the name Castle Yonder with the lines from a hymn that was a learned in childhood. 'When the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there.' To them, 'up yonder' is heaven and Jennie is blissfully 'there'" (143). Sendak once again makes a reference to food. Jennie's job as leading lady is to eat a mop made of salami. It is obvious that Jennie loves to eat so it would make sense that her eternity in heaven would revolve around eating. Sendak's book Higglety Pigglety Pop! Or There Must be More to Life is a deep fable of one's selfish desire for food and love. Jennie lives out the life of a hero including selfishness, sacrifice and death. Castle Yonder is a hidden represntaion of Heaven because Sendak felt that every person has their own image of heaven and this way everyone is able to create their own idea in their mind. Taylor remarks, "It follows therefore that my Castle Yonder need not be the same as yours, or Selam Lane's - or even Maurice Sendak's" (144).
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Summary: a great first chapter book for the youngest ones
Review: I have read this book to my daughter since she was about 3 and we return to it at least 3 times a year. The language is simple and witty, with a wonderful depth of feeling for Jennie and her desire to gain "experience". The darkly humorous chapter with Jennie attempting to placate the Baby is one of Sendak's best pieces of writing and both child and parent will find themselves imitating Baby's shouted speech with glee. This is a wonderful book to read aloud, but take time to savor the illustrations. Their off-kilter warmth caps a great reading experience.
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Summary: Amazing book, two generations of fans!
Review: I loved it as a kid and had my husband read it years ago. Some of Jenny's quirks became permanent jokes between us (like when she passes out yet still wants syrup on her pancakes...)My 7-year-old son, a tough customer, also thinks the book is hysterical. It's funny on so many levels and the illustrations are beautiful.
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Summary: Wonderful fantasy for kids
Review: I read this book when I was a child and have vivid memories of certain sections. I was telling my daughter and son about "Jenny" the other day when we saw a dog that looked just like her. I haven't read the book for 20+ years (my mom bought the hardcover when it first came out), but I still remember it like it was yesterday. I thought the story within a story would appeal to my daughter. This book will appeal to the precocious young reader and to the parent who wants to read along. I just wish I could get it in hardback as my childhood copy seems to have vanished...
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Summary: Belongs on every shelf
Review: This book belongs on every shelf, possibly next to The Little Prince or Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are. This beautifully illustrated fable (Sendak wrote to deal with the death of his beloved Sealyham Terrier, Jennie) stars the always hungry, always selfish and always charming little dog Jennie. Though Jennie has everything, she decides there must be more to life and sets off to find it. Along the way, there are feline milkmen, job applications to theatre companies, babies who won't eat, lions and the bit of Mother Goose rhyme from which the book takes its title. Somehow, the ending manages to be both uplifting and very sad at the same time, and when you're done, the little voice in your head will plead "read it again!". Sendak's art is brilliant, carefully rendered black and white illustrations with charming characters and whimsical details that add to the text of the story. Sendak's storytelling as at it's peak here as well. It's much wordier than Wild Things, and also aimed at an older audience. If your kids are too young for this, buy it anyway. That way, it's there when they're ready.
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Summary: Best Children's Book Ever!
Review: This is my absolute all-time favorite book from childhood. When I got pregnant the first book I bought for my little guy was this one. Every child must have one. It doesn't follow the usual guidelines for children's literature, which is usually boring and has some obvious moral theme. Higglety Pigglety Pop can be thought of as somewhat nonsensical and stimulating to the imagination. Your little one will love it! The characters are genius.
Rating:
Summary: Best Children's Book Ever!
Review: This is my absolute all-time favorite book from childhood. When I got pregnant the first book I bought for my little guy was this one. Every child must have one. It doesn't follow the usual guidelines for children's literature, which is usually boring and has some obvious moral theme. Higglety Pigglety Pop can be thought of as somewhat nonsensical and stimulating to the imagination. Your little one will love it! The characters are genius.
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Summary: A Coven of Sealys
Review: When I was showing dogs, I had the pleasure of spending time with a "coven" of Sealyhams - they were playful little witches, for sure. This book conveys the basic disposition of the breed and the deep love an owner can have for his Sealy. Highly recommended.
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