When Karina Yan Glaser's The Vanderbeekers on 141st Street was first published it was an instant hit. The heartwarming series about a large New York City family feels like the classic books you grew up with, but with a contemporary sensibility.
When you've finished reading The Vanderbeekers, whether as a read aloud or independently, you will no doubt be looking for another series to love just as much. This list of books for fans of the Vanderbeeker family includes themes like large families, communities and neighbors, and exploring, with perhaps a few wild card books thrown in the mix to keep your kids on their toes.
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The Penderwicks (series) by Jeanne Birdsall
Birdsall's popular Penderwicks series is the obvious choice for families who enjoyed The Vanderbeeker books, especially if you are looking for a read aloud. The Penderwicks rent a house for summer vacation and have such splendid adventures with the musically talented boy who lives in the "big house" you'd be hard pressed to remember they exist in the same world as cell phones and Wiis. Ages 8 and up.
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The Misadventures of the Family Fletcher (series) by Dana Alison Levy
This book made me laugh out loud. A family of 2 dads and 4 adopted sons (all together they span several ethnicities and religions) lead a rather disordered and hilarious lifestyle. The boys all have different personalities, which could lend themselves to stereotypes, but thankfully do not. After finishing this book I wanted to move right in to the Fletcher household, if only to try out their DIY hockey rink. Ages 8 and up.
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The Saturdays (series) by Elizabeth Enright
Just like the Vanderbeeker family, the Melendy children and their father live in a New York City brownstone, only this time the adventures take place about 75 years earlier. Together, the four children decide to implement "Independent Saturday Afternoon Adventure," in which each of of the siblings spend an afternoon any way they wish while out and about in the city. Heartwarming, old-fashioned fun. Ages 8 and up.
Voyage of the Sparrowhawk by Natasha Farrant
Farrant's marvelous novel reads like a classic. In 1919, 13-year-old Ben wants to find his adoptive brother, Sam, who disappeared in France during the First World War. Back in England, he meets Lotti, who is about to be sent away to boarding school. She and Ben decide to take the Sparrowhawk, a narrowboat that is Ben and Sam's home, across the channel to find Sam and Lotti's grandmother. On their journey, Ben and Lotti meet supportive adults who help them to their destination. The story is full of dynamic characters who pull at your heartstrings. Don't miss this one; it also makes a terrific read aloud. Ages 9 and up.
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Surviving the Applewhites (series) by Stephanie S. Tolan
Jake was kicked out of his last school and is now living with the eccentric, artistic, homeschooling Applewhite family. The father is directing a local production of The Sound of Music and no one is more surprised than Jake when he discovers he loves performing. I loved the quirky characters and the boundless energy of this book. When the family has to pull together to get the show up after they are blackballed by a local stage mom, the results are hilariously successful. I really enjoyed how the story reinforces the necessity of cooperation when putting on a play and also recommend it as a terrific read aloud. Ages 9 and up.
The Lotterys Plus One (series) by Emma Donoghue
The quirky Lottery family live in a rambling house they bought after winning the lottery (also the source of their surname) where they homeschool and do chores by drawing lots. The family was "born" when two dads and two moms decided to merge their families of multiethnic, adopted children. Now the family is learning how to adapt to living with Grandfather, or "Grumps" as he is called, the newest household member. Ages 8 and up.
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All-of-a-Kind Family (series) by Sydney Taylor
All-of-a-Kind Family is the first title in a classic series about a Jewish family with five girls growing up on the Lower East Side of New York City in the early 20th century. The old-school adventures of the family are heart-warming and entertaining. Ages 7 and up.
The Next Great Paulie Fink by Ali Benjamin
Caitlyn has just started seventh grade at a new school where the very small class can't stop talking about a quirky, prankster former classmate, Paulie Fink. Caitlyn's new classmates seem odd to her because they don't conform to the social rules she was used to in her previous middle school. When the class decides to have a contest to find the next Paulie Fink, Catilyn is enlisted to serve as the judge. Although the book offers lots of laughs, it also digs deep into peer relationships and I absolutely loved the tie-in with Greek classical studies. Ages 10 and up.
Ways to Make Sunshine (series) by Renée Watson
Heroine Ryan Hart is absolutely delightful. She is the first one to see the silver lining in any situation, and she always tries to see the best in people. But that doesn't mean everything always goes according to plan. Dad loses his job at the post office and the family has to make some big changes, not to mention her sometimes bossy older brother! A great choice for families looking for a realistic story about contemporary life. Ages 7 and up.
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Letters from Cuba by Ruth Behar
I could not stop turning the pages of this excellent epistolary novel. In 1938, Esther leaves her mother and brother in Poland and joins her father in Cuba. Esther tells her story in a series of letters to her sister. Making the journey by herself, as a Jewish refugee, Esther looks forward to her new home. Once in Cuba, she falls in love with the island and her neighbors. Her father has been working as a peddler, but Esther is a talented seamstress and finds success selling sought after dresses so that she and her father are finally able to send for the rest of the family. Ages 9 and up.
The Way to Stay in Destiny by Augusta Scattergood
Just after the war, Theo lives with his uncle, a Vietnam vet, in a boarding house. While he tries to solve a local mystery involving a famous baseball player, Theo makes friends with the proprietor of the dancing school, who lets him play the piano. Ages 8 and up.
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Front Desk (series) by Kelly Yang
Mia Tang lives in a motel where her immigrant parents are the managers. She takes over running the front desk of the motel and makes friends wherever she goes. Mia dreams of winning a writing contest so her parents can own their own hotel instead of working endlessly for little pay. Yang based the novel on her own experiences growing up in similar circumstances. A winning, funny and heartwarming novel; not to be missed. Ages 9 and up.
The Sky at Our Feet by Nadia Hashimi
If you loved the NYC setting of The Vanderbeekers stories, Hashimi's book will introduce you to even more of the city's wonders. Jason was born in America, but he learns that his single mother is in the country on an overstayed visa from Afghanistan. When he sees is mother being led away, he panics and an accident lands him in the hospital where he meets Max, a girl with epilepsy. The two team up to escape and find Jason's aunt, which takes them on a nail-biting journey around New York City. Ages 9 and up.
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The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels by Beth Lincoln
First of all, how can you not love a heroine named Shenanigan Swift? When someone pushes Arch-Aunt Schadenfreude down the stairs at the Swift family reunion and treasure hunt, Shenanigan is on the case! Everyone one in the Swift family is expected to live up to their name but Shenanigan thinks her legacy can be more than just chaos. With some help from her sisters, Phenomena and Felicity, Shenanigan makes progress solving the case and choosing her own path. Utterly delightful, clever and hilarious. Ages 9 and up.
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The Moffats by Eleanor Estes
If you are looking for a gentle, humorous classic read aloud book, this is a lovely choice. The Moffat family lives in the town of Cranberry and the Moffat children do things like get stuck in bread boxes, hop on trains, and enjoy life around them without the aid of an iPad. There are several books in the series: The Middle Moffat, Rufus M., The Moffat Museum. Ages 8 and up.
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