Editorial Review

There's something to be said for a book that makes you wish you'd been part of a poor immigrant family living in New York's upper east side on the eve of World War I. Sydney Taylor's time-honored classic does just that. Life is rich for the five mischievous girls in the family. They find adventure in visiting the library, going to market with Mama, even dusting the front room. Young readers who have never shared a bedroom with four siblings, with no television in sight, will vicariously experience the simple, old-fashioned pleasures of talk, make-believe, and pilfered penny candy.The family's Jewish faith strengthens their ties to each other, while providing still more excitement and opportunity for mischief. Readers unfamiliar with Judaism will learn with the girls during each beautifully depicted holiday. This lively family, subject of four more "all-of-a- kind" books, is full of unique characters, all deftly illustrated by Helen John. Taylor based the stories on her own childhood family, and the true-life quality of her writing gives this classic its page-turning appeal. Read more

Reviews (74)

Sweet story for girls into historical fiction
My daughter just received this book and just loved it.I read it as well.The general plot has been well outlined by other posters, but what I wanted to add was that it's a great read for girls who are interested in historical fiction.For intance, my daughter has loved all the American Girl stories. This story takes place at the turn of the century, about when the American Girl "Samantha" story takes place.Samantha and the All-of-a-kind Family girls live at the same time in the same city, they just come from very opposite socio-economic backgrounds, which makes for an interesting and educational read.I liked that my daughter could read about different religious traditions than our own in simple terms that explain holidays and customs in age appropriate ways.Even though the family is poor and has no money for luxuries we don't get the feeling that anyone is going without food or proper care.The family may be poor, but the mother is portrayed as a strong proud woman nevertheless.I'm sure to look for the other books in this series.

A respite for girls
I had heard good things about this book and since we're going to the Lower Eastside later this week, I thought my daughter might enjoy it.I picked it up at the library and worried, when I saw it, that she might not be terrifically interested in it:the cover art is old fashioned and I was afraid she might think it was too "young" for her.We read the first couple of chapters together and then, on her own, she devoured the rest of it and asked me to find all of the sequels.It's a beautiful book: simple and affecting and a fascinating source of information about Jewish life and culture, although not in any way preachy or didactic.I was so grateful for this book, such a nice break in the long line of books written for 9-12 year olds these days--good, well-written novels--that seem to focus chiefly on loss:a dying mother, a missing father, a loss of a childhood friend...I think the book was deeply comforting for my girl and I recommend it highly.

Family Values Of Yesteryear
I ordered this book so that my children and grandchildren could have the same experience I had as a little girl in Mississippi in the 1950's reading about a close family of young Jewish girls in New York.This book (and the series related to it) has lost none of its charm and pull to the heartstrings!Thanks, Ms Taylor and Amazon for helping me find a lost part of my childhood! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - Historical    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 3-4    4. Family - General    5. Family life    6. Fiction    7. Historical - United States - 20th Century    8. New York (N.Y.)    9. Religious - Jewish    10. Juvenile Fiction / Family / General   

Reviews (1)

Delightful Sequel
In this sequel, Ella finds a boyfriend and Henny disagrees with Papa over her curfew.This story continues the tale of a Jewish family who lived in the Lower East Side of New York in the early 1900's.Entertaining as wellas educational, this book describes the joys and fears in that place andtime.I also enjoyed learning about some of the Jewish traditions.Adelightful classic that every little girl will enjoy. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 4-6    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    4. Family - Multigenerational    5. Family life    6. Fiction    7. General    8. Historical - United States - 20th Century    9. Jews    10. Juvenile Fiction    11. New York (N.Y.)   

Reviews (6)

all of a kind family uptown
I think all of a kind familyis a wonderful story with a bit of everything. Happy times,sad times and even times of love.

The family moves to the Bronx
Ella, Henny, Sarah, Charlotte, Gertie, and baby Charlie move with their parents from New York's lower East Side to the Bronx in this wonderful sequel.In this story, Ella's beau joins the army to fight for the causein WWI.You briefly learn about how the city was coping with the war overseas and about more Jewish traditions.This story is an educationaldelight for all ages and should be reprinted for the next generation ofreaders.

A great children's book - why is it out of print?
...I loved the entire series as a child, and this book was noexception.This book is also an excellent learning tool for children,Jewish or non-Jewish looking to learn more about Jewish culture in the earlier part of this century. The author writes with such a genuine affection for her subjects (her own family, apparently), the reader can't help but be drawn into the world of the story...END ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 4-6    3. Family    4. Family - General    5. Fiction    6. General    7. Jews in New York (City)    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Lifestyles - City & Town Life    10. Fiction dealing with family issues   

Reviews (2)

A story of family and friends
Although this is the 4th book of the series, it actually takes place between All-of-a-Kind Family and More All-of-a-Kind Family.This story is part of the continuing tale of a Jewish family living in New York's lowerEast Side in the early 1900's.Although they are poor, they are rich intheir love of each other and their friends.Now there is a new baby in thehouse and talented Ella, mischevious Henny, studious Sarah, dreamyCharlotte, and little Gertie help Mama with the baby and find friends alongthe way. In this book, we meet Guido, a poor Italian boy who is trying tocare for his sick mother and Miss Carey, a nurse who works at theSettlement House.Through the eyes of these characters, we understand whatit must have been like growing up in the lower East Side before World WarI.We learn about their sorrows and their joy over the little things inlife.A highly recommended book.

So real I thought I was there.
I have read All-of-a-Kind Family.It's about five little girls.Their names are Ella, Henny, Sara, Charlotte, and Gertie.This book has so much detail it feels real.One time Sara lost her library bok .She was so upset when she had to tell the library lady about it.The library lady was so nice that she said she could take out more books, but she still had to pay for the book she lost.I thought I was Sara.At the end of the book, their mother has a baby.Its name is Charley.Everyone was expecting a girl, but it was a boy.Gertie used to be the baby and did not want to be abig sister.When she sees the baby she bounces up and down because of him.Everyone was happy,Now that's an all-of-a-kind family!I Like this book a lot. It has lots of adventures.Read one page and you can't stop. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - General    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Family - General    5. Family life    6. Fiction    7. General    8. Jews    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Lifestyles - City & Town Life    11. Lifestyles - City Life    12. New York (N.Y.)    13. Fiction dealing with family issues   

Reviews (8)

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I'm actually over thirteen but I can't be bothered with the whole account system at the moment. I agree, it is less charming than the other books of the series, but Mrs. Taylor (formerly Sarah Brenner) was simply retelling a story loosely based on her own childhood. As you can see form hte previous books, and her dedication in this one, Sarah looked up to her older sister and felt obliged to write a book about her. Mrs. Taylor wasn't making up a disappointing plot, it just happened. Consequently, the baby was a boy- but I'd very much appreciate his name if anyone can find that out. The rest of the series is charming and nostalgic. It makes you feel as though you are a part of this family's childhood.

OK, Just OK
I absolutely loved the All of a Kind Family series but I was disappointed in this one.As much as I liked Ella, I agreed with the reviewer who said she was disappointed in Ella.She was so close to her sisters in the other books but now she finds them a pain, especially Sarah, the one she was closest to.I realize Ella was 19 in this book, but Sarah was 15 so she and Ella should have had a lot more in common.I'm sorry the series ended with this book.I would have liked to see one more book--maybe one that took place 5 or 10 years later when the other children were young adults.I would have liked to have seen how they turned out.I also would have liked to have known about the 7th child.Was it a girl or a boy?It would have been nice to have some closure on this series.
Weak and disappointing
I first read the All of Kind Family series in grade school, and I loved them. But I had never read Ella, which is the final one. I saw the book lying out at the library the other day, and on impulse, I sat down and read it. I must say, it had none of the magic I remember from the other books. And I don't think it's because I'm an adult now--I have reread other favorite childhood stories and they are still wonderful.Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - General    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    4. Family - General    5. Family life    6. Fiction   

Features

• Unabridged

Subjects:  1. Children's Audio - 9-12    2. Children's audiobooks    3. Children: Grades 3-4    4. Classics    5. Family life    6. Fiction    7. General    8. Jews    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. New York    11. New York (State)   

Reviews (2)

Wonderful book!
I read this book (as well as the others in the series) when I was in grade school, as did all my friends. We loved them-and even today I can recall the characters and the interesting things I learned from reading these wonderful stories. Would highly recommend this one or any in the series!

Revisiting my childhood
I loved these books as a kid and I'm thrilled to see them re-printed. Can't wait to get back to them ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - Religious    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Family - General    5. Juvenile Fiction    6. Religious - Jewish    7. Juvenile Fiction / Religious / Jewish   

Features

• Unabridged

Subjects:  1. Children's Audio - 9-12    2. Children's audiobooks    3. Children: Grades 3-4    4. Classics    5. Family life    6. Fiction    7. General    8. Jews    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. New York    11. New York (State)   

Reviews (1)

One of My Favorite Childhood Books!
"Mama and her two young daughters, Szerena and Gisella, never thought they would be without Papa for five long years. Ever since he left their small farm in Czechoslovakia for America. they have been waiting for him tosend for them. In the meantime, with the help of family and neighbors, Mamaand the girls work on the farm. Every day Szerena wishes for "a papalike everyone else," but Gisella can't remember their papa, and wisheshe had not gone away without them. Finally the big day arrives and Mama andthe girls leave for America. What will it be like to travel on a train, anda ship? And what will happen when at last they see Papa?" This is abrief synopsis of a wonderful book by Sydney Taylor, who is better knownfor her "All-of-a-Kind Family" series. "A Papa Like EveryoneElse" seems to be almost a precursor to those books and focuses on"the old world" of Eastern Europe. Hungarian and Czechoslovakiantraditions and customs are explored, along with daily Jewish life in asmall farming community in the early part of the 20th century.I wishsomeone would put this and therest of Sydney Taylor's books back intoprint! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12    2. Children: Babies & Toddlers    3. Czechoslovakia    4. Family    5. Fiction    6. General    7. Jews    8. Jews in Czechoslovakia    9. Non-Classifiable   

Subjects:  1. Children: Grades 2-3    2. Customs and practices    3. Fasts and feasts    4. Fiction    5. Jews    6. Judaism    7. United States   

Subjects:  1. Animals - Dogs    2. Children's 4-8 - Fiction - General    3. Children: Grades 1-2    4. Dogs    5. Entertaining    6. Fiction    7. Readers - Beginner   

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - Historical    2. Family - General    3. Historical - United States - 20th Century    4. Religious - Jewish   

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - Historical    2. Family - Multigenerational    3. Historical - United States - 20th Century   

Subjects:  1. Children: Grades 4-6   

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - General    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Family - General    4. Juvenile Fiction   

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - Historical    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Family - Multigenerational    4. Historical - United States - 20th Century    5. Juvenile Fiction