What a delightful book! My very imaginative 5 year old completely loved it, because it’s a story about, well, very imaginative 5 year olds. I like that the two girls who are friends in this book have different personalities—one is the storyteller, one is more “bashful”—because kids may identify more with one or the other. They take a little while to become friends but then are inseparable after that. They go on picnics and climb hills and invent stories.

There are a few older terms or phrases that might need to be explained, but overall such a sweet and simple story.

Also, it mentions Milwaukee!

How did I miss this as a kid? It would have easily been one of my favorite books. Can't wait to read the rest!

What a lovely children's book! Pure, innocent, juvenile and highly entertaining!
Something I definitely want to read to my children someday!
The story is merely about Betsy and Tacy, two five-year-old girls who live in Hill Street, and who have wonderful little adventures together such as flying on a feather, visiting a dream city and selling coloured sand. Betsy and Tacy are simply charming and irresistible, with their happiness, youth and innocence. I also enjoyed how the older sisters were portrayed; Katie and Julia are 8 years old and they appear as bossy and know-it-all to Betsy and Tacy, which was pretty funny and quite typical.
Can't wait to read more of Maud Hart Lovelace. I really want to try one of her historical novels.

There were a few books I skipped reading in my local library, and this was one. Most of the books I skipped were boys' sports, or monster books, but also I tended to skip anything illustrated by Lois Lenski. Illustrations were too integral to the story for me, and if I didn't like the cover art or the frontispiece, I often wouldn't read a book until talked into it.

Yep, I missed some good books that way; I still haven't read the "Limberlost" books, which I remember taking down, looking at, and hating the drawings so much back it would go on the shelves.

Betsy-Tacy was another that went back on the shelves, probably because in the first one, the characters are not quite five. While I didn't mind reading about kids younger than me, that was too young: they couldn't possibly have the adventures I craved.

I wish someone had given me those books at six or so, because I would have loved them. Though I would have sobbed my heart out when Baby Bee dies, as I did when Ginger died in Black Beauty, and I worried myself sick over the Five Little Peppers when sickness struck.

But old me can appreciate the imagination of this gentle book, the vivid details, the kindness, the faithful depiction of childhood logic when the kid isn't warped by PTSD. I loved stories about normal kids, when I was young--they were so alien, so comforting, though I'd soon crave adventure again. Or more correct, agency.

The Baby Bee chapter is so simply written, but in its way almost as lovely as "Piper at the Gates of Dawn" in Wind in the Willows.

Now I have to read the others, and skim my eye past the illos, which I still don't like, but at least I know why: the figures are out of proportion, like paper dolls, the faces squashed. Lenski was better with her folksy houses and settings.

I've listened to this wonderful audio book twice in the last two days. I've read the actual book countless times, so often that I know it almost by heart. Lovelace was an amazing writer, and Sutton Foster does a splendid job with the narration.

The little girls are so very real, and the evocation of place and time both nostalgic and true. My favorite part changes- this time through it was George telling Betsy and Tacy that two nickels was not quite enough to buy a house.

Highly recommended.

Since I finished Betsy's Wedding last year, it was time to go back and reread the series from the beginning. I remember the first time I read this in 3rd grade. It was the first chapter book that I read and enjoyed.
In this one, Betsy turns 5 and becomes friends with Tacy who has moved in across the street. This book shares their first year together as friends. They play games, make up stories, go to school and support each other other through major events in both their families.
The reason for giving this book only 3 stars? Upon this most recent rereading; the book feels dated. I am no longer sure that young readers will be able to relate to this story of life in 1890s Minnesota.

This was absolutely delightful. I wish I had known of this series when I was a child. Glad I learned about it now through friends to read to my daughter. This was such a sweet story. I loved all the imaginative play the girls shared through out. The illustrations was lovely too. I look forward to reading the whole series.

It was SO FUN to read this book to my oldest daughter. Betsy and Tacy turn five at the beginning of the story, and we started reading it just after my own five-year-old’s birthday, which tickled her pink. She adored the episodic adventures and laughed out loud a great deal.

We’ve now also read Betsy-Tacy and Tib and Betsy and Tacy Go Over the Big Hill, but we’ve decided to wait a few years before finishing the series.

I haven’t picked up a copy of Betsy-Tacy since childhood, so it was interesting to look back with an adult perspective. My memory was that these books were set later than the “Little House” books, and that they contained quite a bit of sibling rivalry. Turns out Betsy’s era is actually not much later than Laura Ingalls’. In addition, from an adult perspective, the siblings get along fine. It’s a reminder that children are more sensitive to conflict in stories than adults are.

Watching my daughter revel in the stories has won me over to a greater fondness for the books than I felt myself when I was a kid.

What a wonderful treat! Can’t wait to crack on with the series.

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3.5 really, but I’m rounding up because every child, boy or girl, should read this book. Of all the children’s literature I’ve ever read, this is the clearest celebration of the imagination.

This book is fantastic! Betsy and Tacy are so sweet and lighthearted, they get along so well together! I love each and every chapter of this book! ❤️

Gwen and Pippa’s first chapter book! It was so fun to read this again now as an adult and see it through their delighted eyes. Can’t wait to read the rest of the series again.