The More the Merrier
Books with Sibling Shenanigans!
Growing up, I loved watching Yours, Mine, and Ours (the original with Lucille Ball and Henry Fonda!) and dreamed of having that many siblings (although I didn’t have lots of siblings, I did get two pretty awesome siblings). So naturally, I am drawn to books where it really is the more the merrier when it comes to siblings. From the big city to rural estates, join these siblings in all their adventures!
As a reminder, if you are looking for specific book recommendations for the 8-12 year-old reader in your life, let me know and I’d love to help out!
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Ana María Reyes Does Not Live in a Castle
(Realistic Fiction) Ana Maria Reyes is stuck in a tiny apartment with two parents, three sisters, everyone's friends, and then her parents announce a new baby is coming. But when she hears about a scholarship opportunity at the Eleanor School, New York City's best private academy, she’s determined to win the scholarship. But it means she’ll need time to practice on the piano, which is not easy with her sisters' antics, the neighbors' visits, a family trip to the Dominican Republic and the impending new baby!
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The McNifficents
(Animal POV) Every day, Lord Tennyson the Miniature Schnauzer does his very best to care for the six McNiff children and keep them from destroying their pink New England farmhouse. But the kids are home together all day during summer break and his job is now more challenging. Can Lord Tennyson get the McNiffs’ under control and teach them to behave before the summer’s out?
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The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy
(Realistic Fiction) The Penderwick sisters are enjoying the summertime magic of Arundel estate. But Mrs. Tiftonn, the cold-hearted owner of Arundel, is not so happy to have the girls playing on the estate and she warns the girls to stay out of trouble. Will they be able to stay out of trouble or will the magic of summer be too much temptation to resist?
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Squished
(Graphic Novel) Eleven-year-old Avery is tired of feeling squished by her six siblings! They're noisy and chaotic and the younger kids love her a little too much. All Avery wants is her own room. And then her older brother Theo gets his own room and she is furious. Avery concocts a plan to finally get her own room, but when Avery finds out that her family might move across the country, things get even more complicated.
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Unlikely Story of a Pig in the City
(Realistic Fiction) On Thanksgiving Day, Josie’s older brother Tom brings home a piglet he rescued from a nearby farm. Josie’s parents give her until Christmas to find a forever home for Hamlet. A delightful story about family set during the Christmas season perfect for fans of the VanderBeekers (see next recommendation!) and Charlotte’s Web.
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The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street
(Realistic Fiction) Just five days before Christmas the VanderBeekers find out they have to move out of their NYC brownstone by January 1. This is unwanted news, so the five siblings set off to find a way to convince the landlord, Mr. Biederman, to let them stay. But things don’t go as planned.
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And now one more bonus recommendation, because in a newsletter about having lots of siblings, I couldn’t leave these rabbit siblings off the list!
The Remarkable Rescue at Milkweed Meadow
(Animal POV) Butternut lives in the burrows of Milkweed Meadow with her nine rabbit brothers and sisters. They live by certain rules that are meant to keep them safe, but what if you need to break the rules to help another animal in crisis? A beautiful story about community, friendship, and doing the right thing.
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As someone from a big family, I really I love reading about sibling shenanigans. I also loved writing about them in my Curious McCarthy series.
Reading this list reminds me of a series I recently discovered: The Great Peach Experiment by Erin Soderberg Downing. There are only 3 Peach family siblings, but it has a great family adventure storyline, from starting a food truck business to turning an old house into a B&B then a trip to an ice hotel in Sweden. I’m looking forward to introducing them to my elementary age students in the fall.