...
Show More
Rounded up from 3.75 stars
Ease Reading-Find Your Next Favorite Book
All-of-a-Kind Family #2
All-of-a-Kind Family Downtown
...
Show More
Sydney Taylor grew up among immigrant families on New York City's Lower East Side prior to World War I and wrote the All-of-a-Kind Family series for her daughter. This sequel finds talented Ella, mischievous Henny, studious Sarah, dreamy Charlotte, and little Gertie helping Mama with their new baby brother, Charlie. Sydney Taylor's charming books capture the everyday life of a home with little money but lots of love and good times to share.
null pages, Paperback
First published April 1,1972
This edition
- Format
-
null pages, Paperback
- Published
-
January 1, 2005 by Taylor Productions
- ISBN
-
9780929093215
- ASIN
-
0929093216
- Language
-
English
About the author
...
Show More
Taylor was born on October 31, 1904 on New York City's Lower East Side. Her Jewish immigrant family lived in poverty conditions, but they felt great respect and appreciation for the country that gave them hope and opportunities for the future. This childhood led Taylor eventually into writing.
Taylor started working as a secretary after she graduated from high school, married her husband, and spent her nights with the Lenox Hill Players, a theater group. As an actress, she also learned modern dance, which she thoroughly enjoyed. After dancing with the Martha Graham Dance Company, Taylor took time off to have her one and only child, a daughter. As her daughter grew up Taylor would tell her stories about her own childhood. Because of her daughter's inquiries, Taylor wrote down her memories and then tucked them away in a drawer.
While Taylor was working at a nonprofit summer camp directing and choreographing dance and dramatics, her husband saw an announcement about a writing contest. Unbeknownst to his wife, he sent in her manuscript about her childhood. A short time later Taylor received word that an editor from Wilcox and Follett wanted to publish her work. Surprised and somewhat nervous, Taylor edited and revised her story, and All-of-a-Kind Family became a popular book. She had also won first prize in the contest. Taylor's success encouraged her to pen four more books in the series and write more short stories for books and magazines.
This author, actress, dancer, and choreographer then passed away from cancer on February 12, 1978. In her honor, the Sydney Taylor Book Award is given each year by the Jewish Association of Libraries to a book for young people that authentically portrays the Jewish experience.
In 2014, the All-of-a-Kind Family series is being re-released for another generation of readers to understand and appreciate Jewish immigrant life at the beginning of the twentieth century.
Taylor started working as a secretary after she graduated from high school, married her husband, and spent her nights with the Lenox Hill Players, a theater group. As an actress, she also learned modern dance, which she thoroughly enjoyed. After dancing with the Martha Graham Dance Company, Taylor took time off to have her one and only child, a daughter. As her daughter grew up Taylor would tell her stories about her own childhood. Because of her daughter's inquiries, Taylor wrote down her memories and then tucked them away in a drawer.
While Taylor was working at a nonprofit summer camp directing and choreographing dance and dramatics, her husband saw an announcement about a writing contest. Unbeknownst to his wife, he sent in her manuscript about her childhood. A short time later Taylor received word that an editor from Wilcox and Follett wanted to publish her work. Surprised and somewhat nervous, Taylor edited and revised her story, and All-of-a-Kind Family became a popular book. She had also won first prize in the contest. Taylor's success encouraged her to pen four more books in the series and write more short stories for books and magazines.
This author, actress, dancer, and choreographer then passed away from cancer on February 12, 1978. In her honor, the Sydney Taylor Book Award is given each year by the Jewish Association of Libraries to a book for young people that authentically portrays the Jewish experience.
In 2014, the All-of-a-Kind Family series is being re-released for another generation of readers to understand and appreciate Jewish immigrant life at the beginning of the twentieth century.
Readers also enjoyed
Community Reviews
Rating(3.9 / 5.0, 100 votes)
5 stars
24(24%)
4 stars
46(46%)
3 stars
30(30%)
2 stars
0(0%)
1 stars
0(0%)
100 reviews All reviews
...
Show More
[from my nine year old daughter]:
This story is about five sisters: Ella (the oldest), Henny (feisty and funny), Sarah (middle child), Charlotte (best friends with the littlest), and Gertie. They are a Jewish family living in New York City. In one of the chapters, Sarah gets earrings, plus if you adventure more you'll see Henny with a bathtub on her head! They celebrate Jewish traditions, meet an interesting nurse, and entertain a boy. They have fun wherever they go!
I like this book and I think you should read it, too.
This story is about five sisters: Ella (the oldest), Henny (feisty and funny), Sarah (middle child), Charlotte (best friends with the littlest), and Gertie. They are a Jewish family living in New York City. In one of the chapters, Sarah gets earrings, plus if you adventure more you'll see Henny with a bathtub on her head! They celebrate Jewish traditions, meet an interesting nurse, and entertain a boy. They have fun wherever they go!
I like this book and I think you should read it, too.
...
Show More
5.0⭐️
...
Show More
Sobbed on the train again.
...
Show More
I loved these books as a child. My mom bought me the whole set.
Now that she has been ill and needed surgery and then rehab, I have been re-reading the series to her. We are both thoroughly enjoying the stories and the family-the sisters, their brother, mama and papa, and the rest of their family and friends.
Now that she has been ill and needed surgery and then rehab, I have been re-reading the series to her. We are both thoroughly enjoying the stories and the family-the sisters, their brother, mama and papa, and the rest of their family and friends.
...
Show More
I just reread this to confirm my childhood impression--it's by far the weakest of the first four books, perhaps on a level with ELLA. The language is awkward and the dialogue is stilted. The characterizations are weak (especially of the parents and two new characters). Makes me wonder why the author decided to write this book--maybe she wanted to write something about settlement houses, and decided to give it to the AOAKF characters.
...
Show More
This is such a charming read! I loved it. Sweet, funny, beautiful illustrations, a lovely slice of history and culture that comes to life on the page in a beautiful way.
...
Show More
The stories are gentle and sweet.
Leave a Review