Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
HarperCollins (1979), 80 pages
Description
A daring imagination has woven a simple rhyme into a brilliantly original tale [about Jennie, the Sealyham terrier, who seeks Experience and becomes the star of the World Mother Goose Theatre]. Notable Children's Books of 1967 (ALA) 1968 Fanfare Honor List (H) Best Books of 1967 (SLJ) Children's Books of 1967 (Library of Congress)
User reviews
LibraryThing member deadlibrary
This is my favorite of Sendak's books. The story is both sad and humorous. Sendak's illustrations are precise and charming. Higglety Pigglety Pop! can be read as a metaphor for death or leaving home (or simply an odd, lovely, and surreal tale to be enjoyed); regardless, it's a wonderful children's
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classic for readers of all ages. Show Less
LibraryThing member carsonandreas
Childhood favourite.
Remember finding it profoundly sad, disturbing, beautiful and compelling.
A seminal book for me.
Remember finding it profoundly sad, disturbing, beautiful and compelling.
A seminal book for me.
LibraryThing member nbmars
Jennie is a spoiled dog who has everything but runs away in search of more. In the process of trying to gain experience, she takes care of a baby, outsmarts a lion, learns responsibility, and gets the lead in The World Mother Goose Theater (which performs Higglety Pigglety Pop!). Maurice Sendak
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writes with a twinkle in his eye and tongue in cheek, and couldn't be more fun for the adults who read his unusual stories to children. Illustrations, done in the Victorian mode, are both expert and fanciful. (JAF) Show Less
LibraryThing member VioletBramble
Last September I saw the Sendak on Sendak exhibition at the Rosenbach Museum and Library in Philadelphia. I was drawn to some black and white illustrations of a dog with a suitcase. Sendak wrote this book after the death of his sealyham terrier Jennie. In the book Jennie decides to pack up her
I gave this book five stars because of the beautiful black and white illustrations. They are unlike Sendaks other drawings.
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belongings and leave home. Jennie had everything she wanted but thought there must be more to life than having everything. Jennie makes the acquaintance of various other characters, eats ALOT, gathers experience to become a baby nanny and eventually travels to The Castle Yonder. Jennie sends a letter home from the Castle Yonder to say "look for me when you get here". If you've ever lost a dog that you loved this book will touch your heart. I gave this book five stars because of the beautiful black and white illustrations. They are unlike Sendaks other drawings.
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LibraryThing member Superdaisy
I must have had this book on tape when I was younger, because certain voices pop out at me as I read it. Goodreads readers suggest that the dog dies at the very beginning, and this is her afterlife. I don't know what to think of that, but this book has always struck me as rather dark.
LibraryThing member hollyhox
Fun story about a little dog who runs away and becomes an actress. Jennie will eat anything. Sendak based this story on his own beloved dog.
LibraryThing member Whisper1
Now I remember why I never liked fairy tales -- they are spooky and complicated -- and so is this book.
Sendak wrote the book after his beloved dog Jennie died. Taking lines from a Mother Goose poem, Sendak created a fairy tale of multifaceted layers.
Jennie is bored and has everything a dog or man
Longing to be a lead star, she is told experience is necessary.
When Jennie becomes a nanny to a spoiled baby who refuses to eat, she longs to find the parents who live in Castle Yonder.
When the baby destroys Jennies possessions, the dog that had everything now has nothing.
When the lion in the basement eats the baby, Jennie no longer has a mission.
Leaving the home of the baby, Jennie is re-united with the World Mother Goose Theatre members and because she now has experience, becomes a star.
While highly creative, I'm left feeling like I missed something.
While Sendak laughs, I ponder the meaning of it all.
The illustrations seemed spooky and surreal.
The face of the baby was adult like and haunting.
Sendak wrote the book after his beloved dog Jennie died. Taking lines from a Mother Goose poem, Sendak created a fairy tale of multifaceted layers.
Jennie is bored and has everything a dog or man
Show More
could want. Leaving her abode of comfort, she travels and meets members of The World Mother Goose Theatre. Longing to be a lead star, she is told experience is necessary.
When Jennie becomes a nanny to a spoiled baby who refuses to eat, she longs to find the parents who live in Castle Yonder.
When the baby destroys Jennies possessions, the dog that had everything now has nothing.
When the lion in the basement eats the baby, Jennie no longer has a mission.
Leaving the home of the baby, Jennie is re-united with the World Mother Goose Theatre members and because she now has experience, becomes a star.
While highly creative, I'm left feeling like I missed something.
While Sendak laughs, I ponder the meaning of it all.
The illustrations seemed spooky and surreal.
The face of the baby was adult like and haunting.
Show Less
LibraryThing member brandib90
"Higglety Pigglety Pop!" is an exceptional story that is so simplistic and yet is filled with so much truth. The author Maurice Sendak does a fantastic job at taping into the human spirit. He did this by showing that even when people have everything they are still not satisfied with their lives. He
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shows this by having the dog say that she has everything, but for some reason she is not happy with her life. She sets out on a journey with all of her belongings in search of something more. Then in the story everything she has gets destroyed and she is left with nothing, and even after loosing everything the dog still went in search of something more. Sendak uses this to show that no matter what we are given/ have in the life we will always be unhappy and always be in search of something that we may never attain. Show Less
LibraryThing member MiguelPut
A. really liked it. Probably because it was so whimsical and difficult for her to comprehend.
LibraryThing member pussreboots
Strange, wonderfully odd book.
LibraryThing member sweetiegherkin
A dog named Jennie has everything she wants, but it's not enough. She packs up her belongings and leaves one day in search of adventure. When she sees a sign advertising a spot for a leading lady in a new play, she wants that but is disappointed to learn she needs experience. She continues along
If I recall correctly, Sendak wrote this book after the death of his beloved dog (also named Jennie). As an adult, it's easy to see this book as an allegory for death and the afterlife. For a child, however, it seems that it will just appear that Jennie is a bit selfish -- she has everything yet she wants more. That is a big downfall to the book for me. Again, for adults, it's a charming story envisioning a happy end for a much-loved pet. It just doesn't seem to work as a well as a children's book, in my opinion.
The rest of the book reads like a fairy table, with obscure riddles, talking animals, and mysterious castles. The final play at the end is a fun and clever twist on the titular rhyme. Sendak's black-and-white illustrations clearly show artistic talent and mostly serve as visuals that replicate the text, with the big exception being that final performance in which the illustrations add humor.
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her way looking for experiences, and some madcap adventures ensue.If I recall correctly, Sendak wrote this book after the death of his beloved dog (also named Jennie). As an adult, it's easy to see this book as an allegory for death and the afterlife. For a child, however, it seems that it will just appear that Jennie is a bit selfish -- she has everything yet she wants more. That is a big downfall to the book for me. Again, for adults, it's a charming story envisioning a happy end for a much-loved pet. It just doesn't seem to work as a well as a children's book, in my opinion.
The rest of the book reads like a fairy table, with obscure riddles, talking animals, and mysterious castles. The final play at the end is a fun and clever twist on the titular rhyme. Sendak's black-and-white illustrations clearly show artistic talent and mostly serve as visuals that replicate the text, with the big exception being that final performance in which the illustrations add humor.
Show Less
Awards
National Book Award (Finalist — 1980)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1967
Physical description
80 p.; 6.75 inches
ISBN
0064430219 / 9780064430210