THE WIGGLY, GIGGLY GUEST
RECOMMENDATIONS
Amos Maor 'The Magic Shelf' - Children's and Youth Books at Stimatzky
Date: March 9, 2026
The plot of this sweet book opens on a seemingly ordinary day at kindergarten, except that this time everyone is expecting a new and special guest. The two heroines, twin sisters Maya and Daniel (who were inspired by the author's nieces), are very excited about the meeting and make a host of plans: they plan to take the guest for a ride in the car, sing him songs, draw pictures, teach him the letters, and even build a tower of blocks in his honor.
Alongside the great excitement, there are also natural concerns about meeting the unknown: Will the guest be big or small? And how will he be able to tell the difference between the two twins? With so much planning and energy, the garden becomes a complete mess and the girls rush to tidy everything up just before the door opens.
At the climax of the plot, the long-awaited "ding dong" is heard at the door. The mysterious guest is revealed to be a small, mischievous puppy, who comes to the kindergarten once a week for "petting time." In an instant, the puppy overturns all the order the girls have worked hard to create and brings with it a new, happy, and liberated mess.
The book sensitively touches on significant issues from the world of children: dealing with changes (the tension between the expectation of something new and the fear that accompanies it).
Order and chaos (the delicate balance between the desire for organization and the playful and explosive nature of childhood).
Friendship and curiosity (generosity and the desire to give and share our experiences with others)
The illustrations by the talented Yaniv Shimoni are characterized by a colorful and vibrant style that wonderfully visually illustrates the "mess" that celebrates the garden and adds a layer of humor and life to the text.
THE WIGGLY, GIGGLY GUEST
By: Idan Amit
Illustrations: Yaniv Shimoni
Editing: Atara Ofek
Toddlers and children
AGAM PUBLISHING
Review by Pnina Aharonov: "THE WIGGLY, GIGGLY GUEST "
Date: March 20, 2026
A cute, colorful, and amusing children's story.
A guest is supposed to arrive at the kindergarten.
Who is the guest???
The twins, Daniel and Maya, have a plan: to take him for a car ride, sing him songs, draw pictures for him, teach him the alphabet, and maybe even playfully confuse him while identifying the letters.
The kindergarten is a total mess, and you can't find a thing.
The children tidy up the room and say goodbye to the mess!!!
But then, the mischievous guest arrives and turns the kindergarten upside down all over again...
Who is this guest? You’ll have to read it to find out.
My grandchildren (ages 3-5) absolutely loved the book, especially the guest who showed up at the kindergarten.
Highly recommended!
