Beginning with Mrs. McBee

Written by Cecil Maiden

Drawings by Hilary Knight

Copyright 1960

Sometimes, a book written for the express purpose of teaching a lesson can be obnoxious and cloying. This one, however, is really delightful. Beginning with Mrs. McBee is all about paying it forward. In fact, a repeating line from the book is, “Doing something you can do very well, for somebody who needs it being done, not only pleases him, it pleases you.” The line was first spoken by lonely Mrs. McBee, when Mr. Broadhurst wanted to pay her for helping him with his garden. The following day, Mr. Broadhurst took the advice to heart, taking old, retired fisherman Mr. Grigsby for a joyful ride in his boat. The kind deeds continue throughout the neighborhood until Mr. Mumble, having just enjoyed a home-baked pie, was told by Ethel to just “find somebody who really needs something you can do very well – then go ahead and do it!”

The next morning, Mr. Mumble, upon seeing lonely Mrs. McBee sitting in her rocking chair, gazing longingly up the road, offers to take her for a ride. The story ends with Mr. Mumble and Mrs. McBee riding off into the hills, chatting and singing happily.

Mrs. McBee’s act of kindness caused a chain of events that eventually led full circle right back to her doorstep. That time she spent unselfishly helping her neighbor solve a problem in his garden eventually led to her own feeling of loneliness being swept away by another’s kind deed. This lovely little book, charmingly illustrated by the artist best known for illustrating the Eloise picture books, is truly a gem!