ALL OF A KIND FAMILY, by Sydney TaylorIndieBound Description: 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!
My Thoughts: It was only as an adult that I learned that this book (the companions to it were lauded as exemplary books of Jewish literature-- there's even an award named after the author. I read the "All of Kind Family" books books completely unaware of their cultural importance. Even though I wasn't quite familiar with all the customs practiced, I adored reading about this fun, loving family. In fact, the unfamiliar customs were made familiar to me with this book, in a way that I didn't even notice but enjoyed. I think that is the greatest testament to these books, one that I aspire my books The Year of the Dog & The Year of the Rat to accomplish.