Penderwicks / Jeanne Birdsall 262 p.

The Penderwicks, Rosalind, 12; Skye, 11; Jane, 10; and, Batty, 4, are off for a summer vacation in the Berkshire Mountains with their widowed professor father. Their diverse personalities make for excitement and happenings. With their cottage on Arundel comes Jeffrey Tifton, son of “Lady of the Manor”. The portrayal of the children is so charming that one cannot help but fall for them. Children are typical children—disobeying, keeping secrets from dad, first crush, and more. Batty became my favorite with her endearing habit to telling all to Hound, the family dog. This may be used with those who enjoy humorous stories about family like the Ramona books.