It’s such a delight to read my childhood favorites with my kids, but there’s something even more wonderful about discovering a new treasure together. I don’t know how I missed this a kid, but it’s lovely and we’ve already started the next book in the series! It’s about a Jewish family of five little girls (Ella, Henny, Sarah, Charlotte, & Gertrude) growing up on the Lower East Side of NYC in 1912. The storylines about the local librarian, scarlet fever, and their friends Charlie were all memorable. ( )

Meet the All-of-a-Kind Family -- Ella, Henny, Sarah, Charlotte, and Gertie -- who live with their parents in New York City at the turn of the century.

Together they share adventures that find them searching for hidden buttons while dusting Mama's front parlor and visiting with the peddlers in Papa's shop on rainy days. The girls enjoy doing everything together, especially when it involves holidays and surprises.

But no one could have prepared them for the biggest surprise of all!

I will treasure these books forever and ever. ( )

I love this book! It's about a Jewish family of seven living in east side of New York City in the early 1900s. Many details are included about how the five girls played and interacted with each other and their parents. Mama manages the girls very well and cooks so much delicious food for many different Jewish holidays! Papa runs a junk shop (that was described in detail) and regularly attends synagogue. They are a frugal family. The book is fun to read because the details are so vivid and realistic. From a Jewish market, to the grocery stores near the family's apartment, to the junk shop, to an amusement park on Coney Island....the scenes lived on the pages. One of my favorite parts of the book is how Papa felt conflicted about the birthday present he received from his five girls. His first thought was they had spent too much pocket money on something fancy that he doesn't really need, so he was sad and upset :D Only after a couple of seconds did he remember to show appreciation of the girls' intention. I thought that was so real! The family members are all likable and nice. You get a sense of warmth from reading about their days. ( )

3.5 stars
This is such a charming, cute and sweet book. I especially loved the look into Jewish American lives in the early 19oos, and in such a child/ gentile friendly way. ( )