Rereading this one to my daughter meant I had to do some research on Uncle Tom’s Cabin, which features heavily in this story. The importance of that novel in the anti-slavery movement and then the influence of the play (which the girls see and discuss) in enforcing painful stereotypes was something I talked about with her. Again, so many nuances that I missed when I read as a child that hopefully I helped her understand a bit. Still really enjoyed this.

Read aloud this fourth book in the series to C (almost 10) and V (almost 5). By the end of the book C was shrieking for joy and V was too, following C’s lead

Another solid four stars.

This was my favorite of the four in the treasury volume I have. Lovelace grows as a writer between the first and fourth books, and this has a bigger story that's introduced early on and wrapped up by the end. The first two books didn't have that at all, and while the third did have it, it was done better in this one.

The girls are now twelve years old and behaving accordingly. They're still kids but wanting to act more grown up, and it's kind of cute to watch. One of the childish things they did that I enjoyed was when they tried to hypnotize Winona by staring at her all day. It's really the illustration that's the kicker, though.

n  n
(Shown here: the OGs of the Three 6 Mafia Hypnotize Camp Posse).

I believe that was the inspiration for The Village of the Damned.

n  n

I'm afraid I don't have much to add since most of what I have to say I said in earlier reviews, all of which are linked in my review of the treasury which is linked above.

Another great Betsy and Tacy book! Betsy, Tacy and Tib are up to their usual hijinks. The chapter where they try to hypnotize their frenemy Winona into taking them to see a play via the power of their collective thoughts is hysterical. And Betsy’s dramatic reading of the story she wrote, “Flossie’s Accident,” which involves a girls head literally falling off of her body and she has to keep on tragically living while carrying her head around, is fantastic. The girls’ friendship with Mrs. Poppy is so sweet, as well as the Uncle Keith sideplot, and I found myself desperately trying not to cry by the end of the book.

Another fun filled entry in the series!

This time around, the girls attend an incredibly racist performance of Uncle Tom's Cabin, and befriend a lonely former actress. Winter frolics abound with sledding, and a merry Christmas celebration, AND Betsy begins to take her writing (and reading) more seriously.

Looking forward to number five.

3.5 stars

I don't know, for some reason I just didn't like this one as much as the first few. The girls are at an awkward age and starting to realize that other people exist beyond the three of them and their immediate families, which is always a weird time; they aren't always the nicest to those other people, which is understandable but not the most pleasant to read about.

Still, I'm definitely hooked on this series and I'll probably come back to finish the rest eventually.

I know I have already said this, but these books just keep getting better and better! This is probably the first one in the series I would have finished even without my daughter

lovely!!!!

this book reminds me of my childhood so much. the wonder i felt at the horseless carriage!!! and betsy going to the library all on her own!! ugh me

there’s some odd stuff like how mrs poppy is repeatedly mentioned as being like really overweight but…when you consider the amount of discourse on the topic at that time, it would have been important for maud (who was drawing from her own experiences) to write in what were her primary observations about this rich, lonely lady when maid herself was about 12. also there’s blackface but again, sign of the times—play acting is a big theme of this book and the historical setting obviously was a different time.

the vibes at the end!! i remember stuffing myself in my family’s coat closet because i wanted to have my own private space like betsy. her writing desk on and old trunk inspired hours of my own imaginative places. 10/10

And now these feel like novels, more like I remember them reading. Although, oddly, I don't specifically recall reading this one. Bits felt familiar, like with her uncle, and Margaret's doll, but the rest not. How odd.

Anyway, I loved it. I loved the girls growing up, and how so many fewer of Tib's lines had the tag, "Of course Tib would say that." 'Bout time we were allowed to know Tib without author intrusion. I also loved all the winter scenes, and Christmas, and Christmas shopping. How do I not remember Christmas shopping?? That was lovely.

Mrs. Ray is possibly my favorite secondary character - she'sa neat person and a wonderful mother. I didn't recall Winona at all, and I'm not too sure I like her very much at all. I skipped over Winona's Pony Cart, but I may jump back to read it, or at least skim it.

Meanwhile, I think I need to track down this book to own.

(8-08)

2020: I had such fun reading the Christmas chapter for Dial-A-Story!!

This one is a bit longer with many events in it. We liked the tobogganing with the older kids part. Betsy goes to the library for the first time. Her dad’s/moms (I don’t remember which) talk about books is so sweet- what a good parent!

My favorite Betsy-Tacy so far! So good.

Another fun reread of a childhood favorite. Reading it aloud with my daughter. This one talks about how Betsy and her friends start watching plays and eventually get to be in one. It was fun because we went to a play while reading this book.