Everyone agrees that life with the VanderBeekers is not calm, tidy, boring, or predictable. It’s the week before Christmas and the family of five children and their parents must move from their apartment in the beloved brownstone house on 141st Street in Harlem. Their secretive and cranky landlord, Mr. Beiderman, will not renew their lease.
But perhaps the children can make him change his mind by showing him just how wonderful they really are. Using their powers of persuasion and everything from fresh pastries to a not-so-nice letter, the VanderBeekers struggle to find the right way to coax their landlord into letting them stay.
The VanderBeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser joins other favorite fictional families such as the Penderwicks and the Moffats. Their everyday escapades and small adventures provide a quiet sense of delight and enjoyment, like sinking into a comfortable chair at the end of a hectic day. Ages 7 and up. (HMH Books for Young Children)
