Product Description

The Penderwicks are four sisters, as different as chalk from cheese, yet as close as can be. The eldest, Rosalind, is responsible and practical; Skye, stubborn and feisty; dreamy, artistic, budding novelist, Jane; and shy little Batty, who doesn't go anywhere without her butterfly wings. And not forgetting Hound, their large lumbering lovable dog. The four girls and their absent-minded father head off for their summer holidays, but instead of the cosy tumbledown cottage they expect, they find themselves on a huge estate called Arundel, with magnificent gardens ripe for exploring. It isn't long before they become embroiled in all sorts of scrapes with new-found friend, Jeffrey - but his mother, the icy-hearted Mrs Tifton, must be avoided at all costs. Chaotic adventures ensue, and it soon becomes a summer the sisters will never forget...

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #20537 in Books
• Published on: 2007-05-03
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 240 pages

From the Publisher
A deliciously nostalgic and hilariously charming story of four sisters and their adventures/mishaps on holiday - a refreshingly realistic tale.

From the Inside Flap
Meet the Penderwicks, four sisters, all as different as chalk and cheese. Rosalind is the eldest, responsible and practical; Skye is next, stubborn and feisty; Jane, third in line, dreamy and artistic. And shy Batty, the youngest, won't go anywhere without her butterfly wings and Hound the dog.

When the girls, their father and Hound head off on holiday, little do they know they are about to enjoy a summer that will change their lives. Instead of the cosy cottage they expect, they find themselves on a beautiful estate called Arundel. Soon, the girls are discovering the magic of the sprawling gardens, treasure-filled attic, tame rabbits - and, best of all, they meet a boy called Jeffrey who becomes a friendly accomplice in all their adventures.

But the girls gain an enemy; the icy-hearted owner, Mrs Tifton. She doesn't approve of the four sisters at all, and they are given dire warnings to stay out of trouble - something that proves impossible for the accident-prone Penderwicks...

From the Back Cover
Meet the Penderwicks: Rosalind, Skye, Jane and Batty. Four sisters, all as different as chalk and cheese. When the girls, their father and Hound the dog head off on holiday, little do they know they are about to enjoy a summer that will change their lives. Instead of the cosy cottage they expect, they find themselves on a beautiful estate called Arundel. Soon the girls are discovering the magic of the sprawling gardens and treasure-filled attic, and they meet a boy called Jeffrey, who becomes a friendly accomplice in all their adventures.

But the girls also gain an enemy: Mrs Tifton, the ice-hearted owner. She gives them dire warnings to stay out of trouble - something that proves impossible for the accident-prone Penderwicks . . .

WINNER OF THE US NATIONAL BOOK AWARD 2005

'An enchanting book . . . genuinely gripping because the writing is so good and the characterisation so warm. I loved it' Daily Mail

'Engaging . . . great fun' Books for Keeps

Cover illustration by David Frankland

Customer Reviews

Fantastic
A review of The Penderwicks

This is the brilliant story of four sisters and their dog and the adventures they have while on holiday on a beautiful estate called Arundel. On the holiday they meet a kind and funny boy who they immediately become friends with. The mother of the boy, Mrs Tifton, is a mean person rather like a witch. She does not like children and especially does not like the Penderwicks. The Penderwicks have an adorable dog called Hound which she does not like either.

The Penderwicks have a very hard life because the only have a Dad. Their mum died when the youngest child Batty was being born. But together they have fun because all the children stick together and normally get on well. Hound who always stays close to Batty is a loyal dog who is involved in all the adventures.

I loved this book because of all the adventures with the girls, their dog and the new friend they make on holiday.

An old-fashioned family story
This is the kind of book that few authors seem to write these days. Four very different sisters and their father move to a New England(?) village for the summer, and encounter a lonely boy and his cold, forbidding mother. Mishaps and adventures ensue during what seems, to an adult reader such as myself, like an idyllic summer. Children will be drawn to the lively characters, who seem not to be plagued by the "issues" that weigh down so much of children's literature these days. There is nothing wrong with that, but it is nice to have a break sometimes, and this book is the perfect escape. It could be set any time during the mid- to late-twentieth century, such is the timeless feel to the story and the prose. HIghly recommended to those who enjoy E. Nesbit or Elizabeth Enright, and to anyone longing for summer in the middle of winter!