Suggested Age: 8-12 years old
(However, our family enjoyed this book for the first time when my kids were spanning the ages: 7, 5, 3, and 1- the 3 and 1 year old were mostly playing as I read it aloud).

The Book

The first ever Around the Spinney Book Club Companion is for “The Penderwicks” by Jeanne Birdsall. Book Club Companions are designed to help you dig even deeper into the books and should be enjoyed with discussion and connection.

We have been enjoying this book as a read aloud for 5 years. Our family has one boy and three girls and it is hard to find books that are suitable for all of them, spanning their different ages. I think we enjoyed “The Penderwicks” so much because the sisters are spread out in age, but also have very different personalities and giftings. Rosalind is the oldest and needs to be responsible for her sisters. She suffers from some of her own flights of fancy, but for the most part she is very level headed. Stubborn Skye is a math genius with a hard exterior, but has a lot of love and loyalty to give when it counts. Jane is the artistic writer who is always day dreaming a new plot, and is a devoted friend. Batty is the youngest. She is shy, loves nature, and loves her sisters.

For a few months, my two eldest children would schedule “MOOPS” just like the older Penderwick Sisters. If you have not read the book yet, “MOOPS” stands for “Meeting of the Older Penderwick Sisters.” My kiddos didn’t even switch the surname to make it their own, which made me laugh.

The other reason why this book worked for us is that it doesn’t only feature the sisters, but also a couple of boys that they meet during their summer at Arundale Cottage. Jeffrey is the son of the owner of the cottage and Cagney is the gardener who tends the grounds.

Along with the Book Club Companion, I suggest taking some time to discuss a few things together. Books are a wonderful way to dive into topics that are very familiar to you, as well as, those that may be very unfamiliar to your family.

Discussion Questions:

1. The Penderwick sisters have lost their mother before the book even starts. How do they deal with their loss, how does it affect their relationships with one another, and how would you feel about losing a parent?
2. What would be your dream summer vacation? Would it be to go to a cottage like the Penderwicks or would you want to go somewhere else?
3. Jeanne Birdsall writes from the point of view of each one of the sisters, which means you get to hear what they are thinking and feeling. Who do you relate to the most and why?
4. Jeffrey has a very hard time speaking to his mother about how he feels, do you ever feel like that? How do you think he could have dealt with his situation better?
5. Sometimes seeing a story from someone else’s point of view gives us a really good insight into right and wrong decisions. Both Jeffrey and Batty make some rash decisions that could have been very dangerous. If you feel like adults aren’t hearing you, what is a good way to deal with that?

Some Extra Book Club Games!

Math Game: 101 and Out

I got this one from a fun webpage that has a variety of math games to try out. Skye loves math so much that she even practices it during summer break! Do you? Here is a fun way to keep math fresh during breaks and to be a little competitive as well.

Supplies:

• Die (enough for two large groups or every person, explained below)
• Paper
• Pencil

Goal:

To be the person or team that can get a score as close to 101 points as possible without going over.

Instructions:

1. Divide into two groups if you have a lot of kids in your book club or play against each other if you only have a few.
2. Take turns rolling the dice. Each number rolled can be used like it is or multiplied by 10. If you roll a 4, you can use it as a 4 or a 40.
3. Add the number or it’s multiple of 10 to your sum total. Keep track with your pencil and paper.
4. Continue to take turns rolling the dice and adding up your sum until someone wins!

“I Went to the Zoo and I Saw”

This is the game that the Penderwicks play in the car at the very beginning of the book!

Goal:

To keep building the story alphabetically remembering what each person said during their turn.

Instructions:

1. The first person starts with the letter A and says “I went to the zoo and I saw an…. (an animal that starts with the letter A).”
2. The second person continues by repeating “I went to the zoo….” including the animal and then finishes “and a (an animal that starts with the letter B).”
3. The game continues and you try to get all the way to Z, remembering each animal chosen along the way!

Here is the example from the book:

“Let’s do I Went to the Zoo and I Saw,” said Rosalind. “I went to the zoo and I saw an anteater. Jane?

“I went to the zoo and I saw an anteater and a buffalo,” said Jane.

Batty was between Jane and Skye, so it was her turn next. “I went to the zoo and I saw an anteater, a buffalo, and a cangaroo.”….

“The Penderwicks” by Jeanne Birdsall, ch. 1, p. 3.

“Hound Draw for Order”

I love this suggestion from Brightly’s Book Club for “The Penderwicks”.

The girls use their dog Hound to decide who gets to do something first. Think of a fun way to pick a random order.

One example is when everyone starts to set their hands on the table, thumbs up, until more and more people notice. The last person to do it is the one chosen to go first. You can also do this by touching your nose with a finger and waiting for everyone to do it. These are fun because they are silent games that are a little sneaky and make everyone laugh.

What is a fun game you can think of for a random order?

The Book Club Companion

At Around the Spinney, we love to inspire others with our love of sewing. In this edition you’ll get to make your own:

• 4-patch Pillow, perfect for highlighting the 4 sisters and their time at Arundale cottage. You can design your own or use the Pillow Kit curated by me! Pattern included.
• Your own “Yaz” and “Carla,” Cagney’s beloved rabbits. A hand sewing pattern and tutorial are included, along with links to videos.
• There is a cookie recipe as well, “I’m Sorry” cookies that are delicious and a fun tradition to start when you need a good gift to give along with an apology.