I really love these little stories. Betsy and Tacy (and Tib) were 12 in this one. They were allowed to walk to town where they saw the new Carnegie Library that was being built and Betsy was ecstatic because she had read all of the books on her parents bookshelves. They learned more lessons, particularly about making new friends, even when they were a little different or of a different age.

We’ve really enjoyed the first four books of the Betsy-Tacy series. They’re funny and sweet and show life from a different time. This one was no exception, but it’s the one I’ve liked the least in the series. I can’t really put my finger on it, but it just seemed to be lacking in the charm the other books have.

Here’s what I loved though: the girls trying to hypnotize Winona with their eyes was hilarious, and I loved Betsy’s first trip to the library and how her parents encouraged her budding writing talents by making her a desk and enabling her to read quality books. We also liked seeing the town’s reaction to the first “horseless carriage”.

What I really didn’t love was the book’s treatment of Mrs. Poppy, the wife of the town’s rich hotel owner. She is portrayed as being kind and generous which is great, but the author goes out of her way to point out repeatedly how large this woman is. She’s based on a real person (my copy has photos of the real inspiration for the character), and I imagine that was painful to read herself described that way so often. Here are a few direct quotes:

“Although she was so large, Mrs. Poppy looked young after her hat was removed.”

“In spite of her weight Mrs. Poppy danced lightly, with a skill that fascinated Tib.”

Is it really necessary to speak so negatively about her? I would rather have the author focus on Mrs. Poppy’s generosity and kindness because she sounds like a delightful person. Her weight has absolutely nothing to do with the story. I don’t want my daughter hearing that her weight was all that mattered about her. Thankfully this was a read aloud, not audiobook, so I just edited that wording out on the fly.

There are also mentions of people using black face in plays but it’s not shown. And Betsy writes a weird story about a decapitated girl walking around holding her head in her hand. It’s supposed to be so-bad-it’s-funny, but it just came out sounding creepy and weird.

Anyway, this was an okay book but with a lot of caveats. The rest of the books in this series are when the girls are in their teens and young adult years, so we’ll be stopping here.

This was always my absolute favorite "Betsy Tacy" book as a child. It's the first time I've read it in many years. I now know why it's always been my favorite. Just about everything in this book is wonderful, I love how even though the girls are getting to be young ladies, they still love to imagine and play games, even if it isn't exactly the same way they did when they were smaller girls. Betsy's trip to the library was just as thrilling as when I was about 10 years old, reading "Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown" for the first time. As was them going, Christmas Shopping, Sledding, and the thrilling Theater Show they got to be in, amongst many other exciting moments. When I was younger I wrote down half of Betsy's "The Curtain Goes Up" poem, on a special piece of Kit Kittredge paper, just because I loved it so much. Which was actually still in my copy of the book, over 9 years later! I still think it's a lovely little poem too!!! I teared up during their reunion with Uncle Keith this time. This is such a charming and idyllic picture of a childhood at the turn of the 20th century, when children could still walk the streets, and they played outside most of the day. When they truly enjoyed the little things. It also makes me think of the best things about my childhood. It gives the best nostalgic feeling. This book will always be a part of me, and I'm forever grateful that I stumbled upon the Betsy Tracy books, that day in the Children's section, at Barnes and Noble so many years ago.

Betsy and her friends are now twelve, but still love to go on adventures and be creative. Betsy falls more in love with writing and even gets a poem published in the newspaper. She falls in love with the new library, makes a new friend in Mrs. Poppy, goes to the theatre and even gets to act in a real play. This book was heartwarming and energetic, and I love how well Lovelace blends character with setting, giving glimpses into life in this time and how much it was changing(with the advent of the horseless carriage, telephone, public library, etc.) but also focusing on the character development of Betsy, Tacy and Tib.

This is probably my favorite book of the Betsy/Tacy series. Betsy, Tacy, and Tib are now twelve years old and are old enough to go downtown alone. Even though the girls are a bit older, they still have time for fun. They try to hypnotize Winona into taking them to see a play, Tib gets a ride in an automobile, and the girls get to go see a play.
I think the part I really liked was when Mrs. Ray fixed up Uncle Keith`s old trunk to make a desk for Betsy. It shows she really encourages her daughter's writing. And the part where her parents suggested she go to the library to read the classics. It reminded me of when I used to spend my Saturdays at the library reading and writing, too.
So overall this book is great. I
The simple pleasures in life really are universal, no matter what year it is, and that's where this book hits home.

I thoroughly enjoyed Betsy, Tacy, Tib’s, and now Winona’s adventures during their twelfth year. The descriptions of Betsy’s joy on her first visit to the library thrilled me. It took me back to my first visit at our local library when I was little and going to story hour. I love the time period of these books and the details the author has used to make it come alive for the reader. Can’t wait to watch the gang grow up some more!!!

This is my first Betsy-Tacy read, and I can see why the friends who urged me to try it love the series so much. The writing and characters are so vivid, and moments in the plot spark and surprise. Personally, my favorite chapter was the very first. After one of the girls' father discovers the scandalous dime novel they've borrowed from the housekeeper and throws it in the fire, the girls think of an ingeniously naughty way to earn the money to buy a replacement! Betsy's story about Flossie, the decapitated girl, was another high point for me. For better or for worse, absolutely anything relating to the production of Uncle Tom's Cabin that comes to town makes this book a no-no to suggest to children, without also some thoughtful discussion of our country's racist past (and present).

This is book 4 of a book series about 3 little girls who were best friends and grew up in the same neighborhood in a little town in Minnesota in the early 1900's. Now the girls are twelve. As the title indicates, the girls' world expands to downtown. Leaving their climbing trees and cardboard box playhouse behind, they venture into the new world of horseless carriages, a new city library, and the theater. Though written for children, this book captivated the heart of this seasoned reader, who read it in one day.

I am loving all these books! I somehow missed out on reading them as a kid and now I'm finding in them the perfect summer reading experience for an old-fashioned grown-up girl like me. Lovelace was such a fabulous writer. My reader's heart loves all these characters, and as a mom reading these books I aspire to be just like Betsy's mom. I hope to share these books with my three daughters so they can grow up with Betsy and Tacy.

I saw this coming from a million miles away but I don't CARE it was actually so heartwarming
(also the song My Rosary got mentioned and I find it funny)

The girls are now 12 and again I thought it would be too "old" for Mary Ann to understand. There was also a moment when the reality of Santa Claus was discussed and I was worried things were going to get pretty dicey and Mary Ann was going to get an unexpected shock, but luckily Betsy, Tacy, and Tip are very sensible girls and have agreed to believe in Santa Claus until they are at least out of high school. This was a very enjoyable story for me too, perhaps the best part for me was that Mary Ann had read ahead and discovered the surprise at the end and she was so excited for me to get to that part so I would get to know the surprise too.

Another great read with grandkid #6. . . joyful time well-spent!