As an avid child reader, I recall that one of the most compelling books I read was Uncle Wiggly. Probably because each story ended with an exciting encouragement to read the next one.

Have ordered a copy for child's birthday gift and hope he will like it as much as I did. Wondering if this "old" stuff is as interesting to kids nowadays, with all the latest stuff out, computer games, etc. Do children still read a lot?!

-- HV (veggie@ourplace.com), January 24, 2002

Answers

Uncle Wiggly was one of my favorites. My original copy was discarded during a childhood move (not by ME!), and I was crushed. Years later I found a new copy in a bookstore and was happy to see it back (still?) in print. I bought it, and tried to get my nephews interested in it, to no avail. They are both avid readers, but just weren't interested in poor old Uncle Wiggly.

-- Elizabeth (ekfla@aol.com), January 24, 2002.

I have my old Uncle Wiggly book still from childhood! Those stories were some of my favorites, and I read them to my 7 and 4 year old boys all the time. They really love them too, but we don't have a TV, so maybe they aren't too corrupted yet LOL:) The trouble with all the cartoons and other kids' movies is that they move so hectically, jumping from scene to scene just insanely fast. I guess after too much of that, anything else seems slow and boring. I just don't know.

-- Elizabeth in E TX (kimprice@peoplescom.net), January 24, 2002.

My son got a uncle wiggly game from his grandma for xmass and he loves it.

-- kathy h (ckhart55@earthlink.net), January 24, 2002.

Yup. Was given a book back in 65 or 69 for a birthday and still have it! Even have the dust cover!!

-- Gailann Schrader (gtschrader@aol.com), January 24, 2002.

I have fond memories of Uncle Wiggly, I also wondered for years what every happened to Song of The South and Uncle Remus. After several years my daughter found a copy on vidiotape in Australia. I also located the book in a used book store. Must not be politically correct to tell these stories any longer.

-- Paul (treewizard@buffalo.com), January 24, 2002.

It does make one wonder, Paul. Little Black Sambo was such a cute story. We used to love the Sambo's Restaurants, best buckwheat pancakes ever. Heard they went out of business because of the politically incorrect them.

-- HV (veggie@ourplace.com), January 24, 2002.

Oops! Need to correct that to "politcally incorrect THEME."

So many typos!!

-- HV (veggie@ourplace.com), January 24, 2002.

Oh you pulled a memory out of me. I had a Uncle wiggly game as a kid. I remember that. Now, I miss it. I know my kids love to read, sometimes they dont appriciate my old childhood books as much as I did, but kids books are kids books, and although they have so much more technology, i.e. video games and such, the classics never go out of style. Im sure if I read them an Uncle wiggley they would love it, not only because of the wonderful story, but because they love books in general. By the way does anyone think frog and toad are really, (for lack of better word) dumb books? I just dont think they make much sense. Correct me if Im wrong.

-- Laurie L. Smith (oceanic725@yahoo.com), January 26, 2002.

If anyone here is looking for books on "the old rabbit gentleman", you won't find them spelled "Wiggley" or "Wiggly" The title of the books contain "Uncle Wiggily" and the author is Howard R. Garis. A good source for searching for used books is

http://dogbert.abebooks.com/abe/IList

Type "uncle wiggley" (w/o quotes) in the Title box and you will see about 1000 copies for sale, from the late 1910's on, and priced from $2 to over $400. I think there are a lot of re-prints out in the market place, and some of the books could still be re-printed today.

There were various illustrators over the years: Lang Campbell, Mary & Wallace Stover, Art Seiden, Pheobe Erickson, Elmer Rache, Aldren Watson. Some of the illustrations are very nice! My daughter has scanned 3 pictures into her web page at:

http://www.frostbit.com/NeighborNet/David_Pederson/anne.html

-- (david.pederson@frostbit.com), February 24, 2002.

Enjoyed reading the Uncle Wiggly responses. I found a book at a yard sale. I never had one as a kid so was very glad to get it. I have this year had the privilege of sharing the stories with my grandson's 2nd grade class at school and also reading them to a kindergarten class. I usually do this on a Friday morning.

I just completed reading through the entire book (2 chapters a week) to the 2nd graders. I asked their teacher what she would like read next. Without waiting for an answer, all the class save one shouted they wanted us to read Uncle Wiggly again.

I have agreed to go through the book again, however, I wish I could locate other Uncle Wiggly books. Does anyone know of an outlet for these materials?

Thank you, David S. Fleming

-- David S. Fleming (david_fleming@mindspring.com), March 15, 2002.