Little Homeschool on the Prairie: Albert Whitman & Company Review

Disclaimer: I received a FREE copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.

My family adores the Boxcar Children and has fond memories snuggling on the couch reading these books out-loud. We created wonderful adventures and crafts based of the many stories of the Alden children throughout the years.

The last few weeks my daughter has been revisiting these beloved stories with The Boxcar Children Early Reader Set from Albert Whitman & Company. The set includes the original The Boxcar Children, Surprise Island, Mystery Ranch, and The Yellow House Mystery from author Gertrude Chandler Warner.

The set is based on the first four books in the series and is intended for ages 5-7, grades Kindergarten through 2^nd grade. The rating is Time to Read™ Level 2.-Reading with Help. The sentences are shorter and simple dialogue is used in the story. The illustrations support the story within the book.

The books came as a set and are hardback books. However the books are available in paperback books too.

All the books are full colored and completely illustrated. The books are a shorter versions of the original chapter books.

The Boxcar Children

Based of the 1^st original book. The story starts off with Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny standing outside the bakery looking for a place to sleep for the night. Inside they buy some food and ask if they can stay the night to sleep. Much to the older children’s dismay they overhear the woman wanting to send their little brother away as he’s too little to work. They sneak away into the night looking for a place to sleep.

They find themselves heading to the forest and happen about an old boxcar. The kids end up making a home in the old boxcar and many things happen that reunite them with their grandfather whom they feared wouldn’t like them.

My daughter said, “The original story is still my favorite of all the books in this series.” “Living in a boxcar sounds like an adventure.” She also said, “I like the pictures in the book and it really brings the story alive.”

A fun craft we did with this story many years ago was building a diorama of the boxcar.

Surprise Island

School is out and it’s time for summer vacation. The kids can’t wait to hear grandpa’s surprise for them. Grandpa shares with them that, “Our family has an island!” and as a boy he stayed there in the summer. Off they go on a new adventure to explore an island and stay on the island all by themselves.

They dig for treasures, find clams, and shells. They quickly discover they aren’t alone on the island. They decide to make their own museum and show off their finds. They find a mysterious cave to explore and barely escape before the water comes in. With the help of Joe they are able to safely go back into the cave later to find some more artifacts. The biggest treasures they find is family as they find out they have a cousin.

My daughter said, “I would be so scared going into a cave and water coming into it!”

A fun craft we did when my kids where younger was created our own museum. We collected rocks, sticks, and items to display at the end of the story.

Mystery Ranch

The kids are meeting more family as they head off to see Aunt Jane. She is awful lonely at her ranch. Henry, Jessie, Violet, Benny, and Watch are there to cheer her up. On the train Benny befriends a man who shows him a map and calls him the “Mystery Man” when he gets off in Centerville too.

Henry notices some strange looking rocks on Aunt Jane’s property and learns that they are rare. The kids and Watch make their aunt smile. The kids get to work with chores and getting the ranch in order. One day while exploring the property they find a mysterious hut on their aunt’s property. They find out that someone is camping on the property and go to the sheriffs.

The “mystery man” shows up and informs the family that the men who camped on Aunt Jane's property want to buy her ranch for the strange rocks. Aunt Jane is afraid she will lose the ranch. Mr. Carter helps the family get the land mined and sell those strange rocks. Aunt Jane isn’t as lonely anymore and is given a four legged best friend to keep her company.

A fun activity we did many years ago is to learn about maps and geology. We collected rocks and identified them when the kids were younger. You could also watch some videos on mining.

The Yellow House Mystery

The kids are back on Surprise Island with the family. They have explored the entire island except for the yellow house. Grandpa shares with them that “Bill use to take care of the island but he disappeared and never came back. Grandpa had loaned him some money and he and the money disappeared. Grandpa wasn’t angry with him as it was a long time ago and he hopes Bill is okay. The kids search the house for clues and find a note that the money is at the little house on Bear Trail in a tin box.

The kids are ready for another adventure and a mystery to solve. They head out to Bear Trail and some camping. Along the way they ask about Bill but no one knows who he is. They canoe, hike, and see some wildlife. Eventually they get to Old Village and are greeted by an old man. He offers them dinner and they discover his real identity along with the tin box. Bill and grandpa are reunited and Bill gets a new start.

You could go camping, learn about moose’s, and hid a box with memories for a time capsule in your house.

What did we do with The Boxcar Children Early Reader Set in our homeschool?

We have many fond memories of The Boxcar Children books over the years we have homeschooled. My 17 year old daughter is a struggling reader and in the pass we have read the chapter books as a read out loud. This time she enjoyed reading all four of the books herself.

My daughter loved the illustrations throughout all the books. The sentences are short and make her reading the books easy. Books like these are enjoyable for her and it builds her confidence. Reading The Boxcar Children is a treat with these wonderful timeless classic adventures.

She has read all four books several times over the pass few weeks. Are you ready to have your child go on an adventure with The Boxcar Children?