Harriet, You'll Drive Me Wild
Cassandra's Reading Corner

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Fox, Mem. 2000.  Harriet, You'll Drive Me Wild. Harcourt Inc. New York: ISBN: 0152019774 

Harriet Harris was a pesky child. She didnt mean to be. She just was.

In Harriet, You Drive Me Wild, readers are introduced to an extremely active little girl named Harriet, and her mother, a woman whose patience is constantly being tested by her daughter.

Harriet knocks over juice, dribbles jam on her jeans, drops paint onto the carpet, slides the tablecloth off the table, and rips a pillow!  Initially, Harriets mom looses control and starts to yell at her daughter because of her careless behavior.  The story ends with Fox highlighting the unconditional love shared between mother and daughter.

This story contains hilarious illustrations and repetitious text young readers will adore!

One morning at breakfast, he knocked over a glass of juice, just like that.

At lunch, Harriet slid off her chair and the tablecloth came with her, just like that. 

Throughout the story, Fox presents the mothers delicate approach to discipline by constantly using a catchy cultural phrase that happens to also be the title of the book.

Harriet, my darling child.  Harriet, you'll drive me wild.

Each of Harriet's humorous antics is supported by Frazee's colorful pencil-like drawings.  The illustrations uniquely depict all of Harriet's careless yet comical mishaps. Young readers will fall in love with Harriet as she is presented with rosy cheeks and a slightly disheveled appearance.

Little boys and girls will be driven wild with laughter and a lighthearted reminder that carelessness happens to the best of us.  Nevertheless, mothers will always love us, regardless!

5903 Multicultural Lit