The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street

The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser is possibly up there next the Penderwicks series for me. It is captivating and heartwarming. The Vanderbeeker family is very large. Besides the parents, there five siblings: Jessie and Isa, (the 12-year-old twins) Oliver, (the one boy, who’s 9) Hyacinth, (6) and Laney (4). The family has three pets as well: George Washington, the cat—not the president, Paganini, (the rabbit) and lovable Franz, (the family dog) the storyline is interesting and quirky: The holiday season is rolling around and the Vanderbeekers are going about their typical life in their New York City brownstone, when Mr. Beiderman (their landlord) tells them that he is not going to renew their lease, and that they are to move out after the holidays, they are devastated. But the children are sure they can get “The Beiderman” (as they call him) to change his mind. This launches them into a series of mishaps, as they try to befriend the crotchety, grumpy man. Their attempts do not always go as planned, and they begin to wonder if they will ever change his mind. Will they? When my dear friend told me about these books, I knew I had to have them! And I hope you enjoy this wonderful, charming, and as I said: heartwarming book.