Title: The Trolley Car Family
Author: Eleanor Lowenton Clymer
File Under: Chapter book
I came across this book in the vintage edition that you see in the photo about ten years ago, at a yard sale. What a sweet, lively book! I know that if we had had it when our children were young, we would have had many hours of “playing trolley” and making pies to shore up the family finances.
Come to think of it, maybe it's good we didn't, because as intense as our kids were about living the life of the books they read, hearts would have been broken over our declining to move into a trolley car right then and there.
This book has everything kids love: a pressing difficulty that the family must solve, a grouchy neighbor they must win over, an adventure that takes the children away from daily life, and a mother and father who, unlike their own boring and unimaginative parents, are willing to just go with their brilliant ideas already.
Some of you will think of The Boxcar Children when you hear about this book. My kids always felt that The Boxcar Children let them down sadly after the first book in the series. True, it has the undoubted advantage of being about orphans (children love books about orphans!). But otherwise, I think The Trolley Car Family is just more fun (and maybe had the wisdom to leave it at that first book).
What is the Like Mother, Like Daughter Library Project?
*I am reluctantly bowing to pressure to post ages for the books. I live by Lewis’ maxim, “A children’s story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children’s story in the slightest.”
Joy says
Great book! I love the pictures too, especially the little floor plan of the trolley conversion. I also love how the grumpy neighbor is really a wonderful man; he is grumpy because of the hard work and unreasonable schedule he must keep. Helps me and children remember to forgive and show much grace to husband/ daddy, who also works an unreasonable schedule and sometimes becomes grumpy. I also love the happy ending and the bit of middle age romance.
Mamabearjd says
Thank you for sharing that about Boxcar Children. I always feel like we “failed” because we only enjoyed the first one.
Leila says
Mamabear, it was the kids who finally told me, “They’re just not that great after the first one.” Usually I read all the books but in this case I didn’t. Too bad.
lisa says
We have the same copy of this book, and my kids love it! So nice to see it here!:)
Rozy says
I haven’t seen that book since I was a young girl. Wow, the memories. I totally wanted to live in a trolley car. Thanks for sharing this!
Laura Jeanne says
This looks like so much fun! Thank you for the recommendation. I have discovered so many wonderful books through your blog Leila – thank you! 🙂
sibyl says
I can’t wait to read it!
May I recommend the Melendy children books? Written by Elizabeth Enright. The second book, I think, might be the best, but they’re all really good. In order, The Saturdays, The Four-Story Mistake, And Then There Were Five, A Melendy Maze.
Leila says
Yes, Sibyl, Bridget is going to write about them, as she says “they have it all”!
Elizabeth Enright is very good!
Kate says
I was wondering why I hadn’t read this book to the kids. It looks like something we’d enjoy. Answer: It’s not on our shelves. How can I have not come across it in my many years of combing through thrift shops and stocking our immense home library? Our library doesn’t even have it in its system (yet they have Belloc’s “Short Talks with the Dead.”)! I’ll have to go rummaging around online.
Sophie says
I am new-ish to your blog and have so much enjoyed perusing the archives. I have been looking at your posts on books lately, and I have to ask–are you a reader of John Senior? So much of the wisdom in your writing reminds me of his ideas. If you are not familiar with him, here is a link to one of his books: http://www.amazon.com/Restoration-Christian-Culture-John-Senior/dp/1932528164/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395710141&sr=8-1&keywords=john+senior
Leila says
Dear Sophie,
In the first Library Post (linked at the bottom of each subsequent Library Post) I wrote about, among others, John Senior and his book list.
http://www.likemotherlikedaughter.org/2013/06/the-like-mother-like-daughter-library/
Stephanie says
I purchased a more recent copy of this last year and read it for the first time – loved!
Jenny says
You’ve caused a little book buying storm. I clicked through the link yesterday and all the copies were selling for $0.01 + 3.99 shipping for a total of $4. Now the cheapest book is over $18 + 3.99 shipping. Amazon’s dynamic pricing system at work. 🙂 I’ll have to wait a few weeks before attempting to buy.
Angela says
I didn’t know about amazon’s “dynamic pricing”! When I looked for the book the copies available ranged from $13 to a whopping $234. Good to know that if I wait things will settle down a bit. Our library system doesn’t have it either.
Rayna says
A great addition! This reminded me of another childhood favorite: the All Of A Kind Family books by Sydney Taylor. Do you know about them? They’d definitely fit under your “warm family life” category. Wonderful!
Leila says
Rayna, our kids enjoyed those as well!