I just reread this with my 6yo. Some of it doesn't hold up well against my childhood memories. I was particularly disturbed by the cure for bullying -- something called a "Leadership Pill" that magically made Nicky Semicolon nice to little kids because he was busy leading them in a project. It didn't feel like he learned a lesson at all. That's not helpful or even very fun to read about. Also, Nicky's bullying behavior was borderline sadistic. It doesn't follow that the cure would be to put him in charge of the little kids he's been beating up.

On the other hand, the crybaby cure was very funny (a potion makes her cry so much that she literally has to swim in her tears).

This 1950s book doesn't align with my modern parenting sensibilities at all, but it's still an amusing way to start a conversation about misbehavior and correction. Not every book has to teach a lesson. Some are just for fun and provide a great example of how you can't believe everything you read. ( )

fair

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