Betty MacDonald facts for kids

Betty MacDonald (March 26, 1907 – February 7, 1958) was an American writer. She was famous for her funny true-life stories. Her most well-known book is The Egg and I. She also wrote the popular Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle series for children. Betty MacDonald lived in the Pacific Northwest, especially Washington state.

The Life of Betty MacDonald

Betty MacDonald was born Anne Elizabeth Campbell Bard. She was born in Boulder, Colorado. Her family moved to Seattle, Washington, in 1918. She graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1924.

Early Life and Moving Around

In 1927, at age 20, Betty married Robert Eugene Heskett. They lived on a chicken farm in the Olympic Peninsula in Chimacum Valley. This was near Port Townsend. She left the farm in 1931 and moved back to Seattle. She worked many different jobs to support her two daughters, Anne and Joan.

In 1937, Betty spent nine months at Firland Sanatorium near Seattle. She was there for treatment of tuberculosis, a lung disease. On April 24, 1942, she married Donald C. MacDonald. They moved to Vashon Island. She wrote most of her books while living there. In 1956, the MacDonalds moved to Carmel Valley in California.

Becoming a Famous Author

Betty MacDonald became very famous when her first book, The Egg and I, was published in 1945. It was a huge bestseller. The book was translated into 20 different languages. It was based on her experiences living on the chicken farm. The book introduced funny characters named Ma and Pa Kettle. These characters became so popular that they were featured in the 1947 movie version of The Egg and I. They even had their own series of nine more movies!

In the movie The Egg and I, Betty MacDonald was played by actress Claudette Colbert. Her husband in the book was called "Bob." In the movie, he was called "Bob MacDonald" and played by Fred MacMurray.

Other Books by Betty MacDonald

Betty MacDonald wrote three other books about her own life.

• Anybody Can Do Anything tells about her struggles to find work during the Great Depression.
• The Plague and I describes her time at the tuberculosis hospital.
• Onions in the Stew is about her life on Vashon Island with her second husband and daughters.

She also wrote the popular Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle series of children's books. These books are about a magical woman who helps children with their bad habits. Another children's book she wrote was called Nancy and Plum. After she passed away, a collection of her writings called Who Me? was released.

Betty MacDonald died in Seattle on February 7, 1958. She passed away from uterine cancer.

Betty MacDonald's Family

Betty MacDonald had three sisters and one brother. Her sister, Mary Bard (Jensen), was also a published author. Her other sisters were Dorothea and Alison. Her brother was Sydney. All of her siblings have passed away.

Betty MacDonald's younger daughter, Joan MacDonald Keil, passed away in 2005.

Betty MacDonald's Legacy

In 2007, Betty MacDonald's daughter, Anne MacDonald Canham, published a new book. It was called Happy Birthday, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle. This book was based on stories and characters her mother created. Both mother and daughter are credited as authors.

In 2008, BBC Radio 4 in the United Kingdom broadcast a special program. It celebrated 100 years since Betty MacDonald's birth. In 2009, BBC Radio 4 also broadcast a reading of her book, Anybody Can Do Anything.

In 2016, Annie Parnell, Betty MacDonald's great-granddaughter, published another book in the series. It was called Missy Piggle-Wiggle and the Whatever Cure. She wrote it with Ann M. Martin.

Books by Betty MacDonald

• 1945 The Egg and I
• 1947 Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle
• 1948 The Plague and I
• 1949 Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's Magic
• 1950 Anybody Can Do Anything
• 1952 Nancy and Plum
• 1954 Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's Farm
• 1955 Onions in the Stew
• 1957 Hello, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle
• 1959 Who, Me? The autobiography of Betty MacDonald (published after her death)
• 2007 Happy Birthday, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle (finished by her daughter Anne and published after her death)

Books About Betty MacDonald

• Looking for Betty MacDonald: The Egg, the Plague, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, and I by Paula Becker, 2016, University of Washington Press