Review: The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy

The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An old-fashioned summer adventure story

Last night we read the dramatic bunny scene. Just typing "dramatic bunny scene" makes me giggle.

I'm very admiring of Birdsall's structure. Real old children's books tend to consist of chapter-length adventures without an overall story arc. Birdsall manages the little adventures and an arc that holds the book together as a novel. Plus, the Offspring are fascinated by the family traditions of the Penderwicks.

We're almost there. The girls are really loving this, in part because they each have someone to identify with, and because there's a lot to make them laugh. The interactions between Hound and Batty almost always elicit guffaws.

I hope Jeanne Birdsall manages to publish a great many books. A great read-aloud, with a most satisfying ending.


1 Jan 2004
4 Jan 2006
28 Jul 2008
13 Aug 2016

daughter's copy

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