The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street

This family read goes to the heart of how love and hard work in a family draws hearts together. This family is the epitome of effort, failure, more effort, and a positive result that isn't perfect, but it is a steppingstone to a better life. The characters are distinct, the setting is real. This story is part of a most wonderful series. As a children's librarian, wife, mother, and grandmother, I love it.

There is so much to love about The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street, everything from the setting to the characters and the storyline were just wonderful. First off is the setting of Harlem with all of these fun detailed descriptions of the brownstone and surrounding shops and landmarks, the darling black and white illustrations by the author for the layout of the ground floor apartment, an illustration of where the other residents of the building live and full-page map of Harlem on the front inside cover. And look at that cover, utterly gorgeous, the colors just pop. The Vanderbeekers are a large family that includes two parents, five siblings, a dog, a cat and even a bunny, together they bring all the joyous sounds of a bustling household with siblings who love and care about one another. Each of the children is delightful on their own and so individually realized and unique. There's even an extended family made of friends, relatives, and neighbors with lovely interactions between the Vanderbeeker children and their friends that appear in natural ways, with everything from the mailman who while dropping off the mail gets homemade dog treats from Hyacinth, Oliver and his best friend Jimmy who talk on their walkie talkie's, the upstairs neighbors Miss Josie and Mr. Jeet who visit with young Laney and even Isa's music teacher Mr. Van Hooten, who together give this book a warm, comfy feeling of both community and family. Not to mention there is a side story between one of the twins and Benny, whose mom owns the local bakery and a bit of a mix-up over an upcoming dance. Plus food, glorious food references making me want to try the hot chocolate with cayenne and cinnamon that was mentioned. I really love how the Vanderbeeker siblings are trying to win over their curmudgeonly landlord by drawing on their individual strengths in writing poetry, drawing, crafting, music, and kindness toward animals to make gifts for the Beiderman in hopes he would see how valuable they were and renew their lease. Their plans to smoother him with kindness don't always go as planned, but they aren't easily discouraged and they do make a lovely team. I was really touched when the reason Mr. Beiderman hasn't left his apartment was revealed, and how the children realized that "home is more than a place" and that what they really wanted is for Mr. Beiderman to feel better. The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street

Cute Christmas story of siblings working together, slightly mischievous and also sweet, to make a new friend and save their home. I read aloud to my upper elementary kids and they enjoyed it.

The story of the Vanderbeekers and how they saved their home is heartwarming and tender. It took a bit to get into as there were too many characters (one too many Vanderbeeker kids) which weren’t necessary. Once you get into it and understand the dynamics of the kids, it’s a much easier read. I wish the author included details of them being a mixed race family. It would paint a better picture, perhaps include a bit about their culture instead of them just being a large family. That was one of the reasons why I had purchased this book. Overall, it was a lovely story, the illustrations ares charming and my 9 year old thoroughly enjoyed it.

My 10 year old granddaughter loved this book.

This is the 3rd year in a row I’ve read this book to my 4th grade class. Each year’s class has fallen in love with the Vanderbeekers and I had kids clamoring over my copy of the 2nd book in the series when we finished the book today. I try to start it a little before thanksgiving so we can finish it right before winter break-it’s set Dec. 20th-Dec. 25th so the timing is perfect!

I ordered this in February for the Middle Grade at Heart newsletter book club, but saved it, knowing that it was exactly my favorite kind of book and wanting to read it when I really needed it. That moment came this week. A couple of different things combined to make for a really stressful start to the week, and more than anything I needed to be able to dive into a book was comforting and sweet. I've always loved middle grade family adventures, and many of the classic and modern families from these books have become dear friends. From the minute I saw promotion for this book last year, I knew that it was when I was going to love, and I was not disappointed. VANDERBEEKERS is like a warm cup of tea in book form: sweet, soothing, and utterly enjoyable, the kind of thing that can't help but restore some of your faith in humanity. I loved it so much I immediately went out and pre-ordered the sequel, which is not something I do very often! Karina Yan Glaser utterly captures the old fashioned feel of the large Vanderbeeker family and their equally heartwarming and madcap adventures, managing to make the story feel perfectly classic but also modern and fresh. The Vanderbeeker are definitely going in that special place in my heart along with families like the Melendys, the Penderwicks, the Fletchers, and all of the classic middle grade families I discovered in my childhood.

Very good

I loved this book so much, it was such a warm hug of a book. The Vanderbeeker household is delightfully chaotic with a hyperactive dog and kids who get up to hilarious antics. It’s also such a loving household, I adored reading about the bonds between the siblings, their parents and their lovely neighbours. Speaking of neighbours, Mr Jeet and Miss Josie are so sweet, I love them so much. Without spoiling anything, I also want to say just how heartwarming the Christmas breakfast was, I loved it. This book was so wonderful and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series!

10 year old loved it so much. She kept bugging us until she got hold of the full series. A much loved and re-read series.

As a homeschooling family we always have multiple read-alouds on the go. I picked this one up on a whim after hearing it recommended on one of my fave podcasts. We have loved this light-hearted, Christmassy family read-aloud! It was above change of pace for December and none of us could wait to get reading the next chapter. I got many request for ‘just one more page’ till the very end. Don’t hesitate in adding this one to your home library, it’ll get read and reread and you’ll all find yourselves invested in trying to save the Vanderbeeker Family home and cheering up that nasty old Beiderman!

New York Harlem 141丁目の集合住宅(Brownstone : New York等にある古い形式のアパート)に暮らす5人兄弟の心温まる物語。誰でも読んだ後につい本をHugしてしまいそうな気持になると思います。Young adult向けの本ですが、大人(中年パパ)でも十分楽しめる内容です。本物語は、Vanderbeeker家のアパートの大家で、意地悪で気味の悪いMr Beidermanが「次月以降アパートの賃貸契約を延長しない」と通告してきたところから始まります。元々New York市立大学で美術史を教えていたMr Beidermanがどんな人生を歩んできた人物なのかは読んでからのお楽しみ。登場人物５人兄弟中唯一の男の子である女姉妹に囲まれた男の子のOliver、思春期を迎えようとしている中学二年生の双子のJessieとIsa(詳細は記しませんが、Jessieは美味しいパン屋の息子であるBennyがIsaに心をを寄せていたことに嫉妬心があったのかも...)、まだよく物事がわからないまでも自分の気持ちに素直に行動するHyacinthとLaneyが、全員素晴らしい活躍をします。作者であるMs Karina Yan Glaser自身もHarlemに住んでおり、本作品は彼女のデビュー作。作者にも2人の娘さんがいるそうですが、娘さんのAnticsやJoyful spiritが大いに物語に貢献しているのでしょう、彼らへ向ける愛情と同じくらい、彼女が本書に登場するこの5人兄弟に愛情を注いでいることが手に取るようにわかります。また、本作品には犬やウサギ等のペットも登場し人の気持ちの上で大きな役割を果たしています。大人の生活 - 特にDog eats dogのビジネスの超多忙な生活を送る私達にとって、ちょっと立ち止まって数十年前の自分や家族を想うことが出来る、そんな物語だと思います。余談ですが、作者Ms Karina Yan Glaserが本書を書き上げるに際して、彼女の旦那様は何度も何度もお茶を彼女に入れていたそうです。ちょっと見習おうと思います。