Written by Gertrude Chandler Warner
Read by Phyllis Newman
Format: MP3
Bitrate: 128 Kbps
Unabridged The Boxcar Children Collection: The Boxcar Children, Surprise Island, The Yellow House Mystery This pleasant story opens as four tired and hungry siblings, aged 5 to 15, press their noses against a bakery window, eyeing the lovely goodies inside. They have recently lost their parents and are on the run from their mean grandfather, whom they have never met. They find an abandoned boxcar in the woods, set up housekeeping, and live quite happily on berries, bread, and a little meat bought with the oldest boy's gardening pay. Life is very good until one of the girls becomes sick and they must tell an adult about where they live. The book was written in the 1942 by a teacher who cleverly used only the 500 most common words in the English language to create a very easy to read, yet exciting, beginning chapter book for 7 and 8 year olds. Most of the story concerns the children's sense of fun and boundless resourcefulness, as they take care of themselves, all the while being cheerful and thankful for what they have. Children who are ready for a chapter book will be delighted to find this one is very easy to read. They will enjoy the children's adventure of living in the woods without adults, and, of course, it has a very happy ending. This book is the first (and I think the best) of a very long series of adventures for the Boxcar Children. http://www.amazon.com/The-Boxcar-Children-Collection-Surprise/dp/0739364545/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1392492554&sr=8-11&keywords=boxcar+children+surprise+island