We listened to the audiobook for The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, 2 Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy for a book club. All of my kids loved it. It’s rare to find a book that both the 5 year old and 10 year old enjoy, but this one satisfied everyone.
Title: The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy
Author: Jeanne Birdsall
Publication Year: 2005
Website: https://www.jeannebirdsall.com/the-penderwicks
Age Group: Mid Elementary, Late Elementary
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Comments: When we started listening to this book in the car, I really didn’t think it was going to be a winner with my kids. I knew I liked it, but with 3 boys, I really didn’t think a book about 4 sisters was going to capture their interest. I expected the complaining to start any minute. My oldest really doesn’t want to listen to anything but Harry Potter and is usually pretty vocal about his displeasure if we read something he doesn’t like.
I was wrong. My 5, 8, and 10 year olds all loved this book. It had them all laughing out loud in parts and sitting quietly as a captive audience in others. The sisters are different enough that I think they each related to the characters in different ways. They all thought the youngest sister, Batty, was simultaneously funny and awesome. I don’t really know how well my 5 year followed the story, but he still occasionally quotes the book from time to time. There is a part where the dog, Hound, thinks, “Aren’t I wonderful? Aren’t I great?” and my kindergartner continues to think that was hysterical.
This is a book that will stick with my kids for awhile. I love creating family experiences around books. I highly recommend this book to any family with elementary-aged kids.
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Michelle has a PhD in Engineering from Stanford University and a Bachelor's Degree from the California Institute of Technology. 
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