Harriet, You'll Drive Me Wild!
By Jennifer Gennari,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Simple story isn't quite right for target audience.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this book.
Where to Read
Community Reviews
There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
Harriet drives her mother crazy with her pesky antics in this funny book.
Is It Any Good?
It’s hard to tell whether this book is intended for a toddler who gets into everything and is occasionally yelled at, or for a toddler's mother who, at times, loses patience and yells. The book doesn't fit either group: The toddler won't understand the subtle concepts involving accidents, impatience, and losing one's temper, and a mother might feel guilty about being upset with her kids.
Although the text is appropriate for first-graders who read on their own, the subject matter is too babyish for them; kids like to read about kids their own age or 1 to 2 years older. On a positive note, both Harriet's and her mother's faces show a wide array of emotions in Marla Frazee's realistic illustrations. Anger, frustration, and final loss of control are wonderfully drawn on the bug-eyed mom, and it's obvious Harriet is truly sorry for her spills.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about emotions -- specifically, anger and control. Is it ever OK to yell? If so, in what situation(s)? Can you think of better ways to express anger or disapproval?
Book Details
- Author: Mem Fox
- Illustrator: Marla Frazee
- Genre: Family Life
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Harcourt Brace
- Publication date: January 1, 2000
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 4 - 7
- Number of pages: 30
- Last updated: July 12, 2017
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Read
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate