Title: The Boxcar Children 1-4
Author: Gertrude Chandler Warner
First published January 1, 1942
672 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9780807508541 (ISBN10: 0807508543)
Rating: 4.23
Overview
Discover the beloved adventures of the Alden siblings with The Boxcar Children 1-4, now in a convenient paperback set! Follow Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny as they solve mysteries and explore new places in The Boxcar Children, Surprise Island, The Yellow House Mystery, and Mystery Ranch. This classic series is perfect for young readers looking for wholesome and exciting stories.
The set comes in a sturdy cardboard case for easy storage and transport. Join the Aldens on their amazing journey today!
About the Author
Gertrude Chandler Warner was born on April 16, 1890, in Putnam, Connecticut. Her parents, Edgar and Jane Warner, raised Gertrude alongside her sister, Frances, and her brother, John.
Since she was five, Gertrude dreamed of becoming a writer, and she wrote stories for her Grandfather Carpenter as Christmas gifts. Gertrude is best known for writing THE BOXCAR CHILDREN MYSTERIES.
As a child, Gertrude enjoyed many things that girls love today, such as furnishing a dollhouse with handmade furniture and reading. Her favorite book was ALICE IN WONDERLAND.
She and her sister, Frances, would visit their grandparents’ farm on Sundays after church and pick wildflowers. Gertrude’s favorite flower was the violet.
Gertrude’s family was musical, and they formed a family orchestra. Gertrude enjoyed playing the cello, which her father bought for her from New York.
The cello, bow, case, and an instruction book cost $14 in total. As an adult, Gertrude played the pipe organ and sometimes substituted for the church organist.
Due to ill health, Gertrude left high school in the middle of her second year and studied with a tutor. In 1918, when teachers were called to serve in World War I, the school board asked her to teach first grade.
She taught forty children in the morning and forty more in the afternoon. Ms. Warner taught in that same room for 32 years, retiring at 60 to have more time to write.
Later, Gertrude attended Yale, where she took several teacher training courses.
One time, when Gertrude was sick and had to stay home from teaching, she came up with the story of THE BOXCAR CHILDREN. The story was inspired by her childhood dreams of living and keeping house in a boxcar or caboose.
Gertrude read the story to her classes and rewrote it many times to make it easy to understand, especially for her students who spoke other languages at home and were just learning English.
When the original version of THE BOXCAR CHILDREN was written, it raised a storm of protest from librarians who thought the children were having too much fun without any parental control. Gertrude wrote the story for children to enjoy, and most of her childhood exploits, such as living in a freight car, received little cooperation from her parents.
The version of THE BOXCAR CHILDREN that we know today was first published in 1942 by Scott Foresman. Albert Whitman & Company publishes this classic story and the next eighteen Alden children adventures written by Gertrude Chandler Warner.
Gertrude Chandler Warner passed away in 1979 at the age of 89. She lived a full life as a teacher, author, and volunteer for the American Red Cross and other charitable organizations.
After her death, Albert Whitman & Company continued to receive mail from children across the country, asking for more adventures about Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny Alden. In 1991, Albert Whitman added more stories to THE BOXCAR CHILDREN MYSTERIES so that today’s children can enjoy many more adventures about this independent and caring group of children.
Editoral Review
The Boxcar Children 1-4 by Gertrude Chandler Warner is a classic series of childrens literature that has been beloved by generations since it was first published in 1942. Warner, born in 1890, was a teacher and an author who wrote over 130 books during her lifetime, but none have been more cherished than The Boxcar Children.
The Boxcar Children revolves around the adventures of four siblings: Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny Alden. After being orphaned, the children run away and find shelter in an abandoned boxcar in the woods.
The children create a home in the boxcar, scavenge for food and supplies, and even make friends with a nearby baker who gives them bread. As their story unfolds across the four books, the Alden children encounter a series of mysteries to solve, ranging from lost treasure to missing parents.
The first book in the series, The Boxcar Children, introduces the siblings and their initial challenges as they adapt to life in the boxcar. In the second book, Surprise Island, the Alden children spend the summer on an island where they discover clues to a long-ago pirate treasure.
The third book, The Yellow House Mystery, sees the children take on a group of robbers in a deserted yellow house, while the fourth book, Mystery Ranch, takes them west to a sprawling ranch where they tackle another mystery. Warners style is simple, yet engaging, making the series accessible to children of all ages.
Although written over 70 years ago, the stories remain timeless and engaging, with strong themes of family, independence, and self-sufficiency. The characters are relatable, and the Alden childrens resourcefulness and ingenuity in the face of adversities make the reader root for them.
One of the strengths of the series is how Warner expertly weaves practical skills into the story, teaching children useful lessons about self-reliance and problem-solving. Readers will learn valuable survival skills, like how to fish, bake bread, and create makeshift shelters from the surrounding environment.
However, it must be said that the series may not be for everyone. The stories have a simplistic nature that may not offer as much exploration for older readers.
Also, there is a lack of diversity among characters, with Caucasian and culturally homogeneous characters abound. Despite these minor flaws, The Boxcar Children 1-4 remains a must-read for young readers.
Warner immerses children in a world full of nature, exploration, and adventure, without relying on technology or gadgets. The books provide a welcome break from our gadget-filled lives and allow children to tap into their own creativity and resilience.
The Boxcar Children series is a great starter for children looking to enter the world of literature. They will enjoy the adventures the Alden children embark upon, and in the end learn great moral lessons that can guide them as they grow older.
The series receives a rating of four stars out of five. Its realistic depictions of survival in the wilderness, combined with its spirit of adventure, and the Alden children’s childlike wonder and curiosity, earns it high marks.
Yet, its simpler nature and lack of diversity leave room for improvement. Regardless, parents and educators alike should consider introducing children to these timeless and classic tales.
