Yup, these books are still the best. Sydney Taylor's account of childhood still rings true, even a century later and across religions. I'm really glad to see these books reprinted with the original Beth & Joe Krush illustrations!

All-of-a-Kind Family Downtown was written just after All-of-a-Kind Family, though it was published much later. The realism in this novel is a bit harsher than the first book, though it's by no means depressing. Sad things happen, but the family (as always) quickly moves to cheerfully support others rather than wallowing in sadness. The whole series is a fascinating look at second-generation immigrant childhood, though the balance is always weighted toward Americanization rather than pining after the old world. Yet, the Jewish identity and culture remain strong. A highlight of this installment is the Purim play, in which Ella portrays a court jester.

June Cummins's afterword revealed that she was working on a biography of Sydney Taylor, who wrote from life and based many characters on her family. Cummins passed away in 2018, but finished the biography with the help of Alexandra Dunietz. From Sarah to Sydney: The Woman Behind All-Of-a-Kind Family is forthcoming from Yale University Press, fittingly, in June 2021. It will be the first biography of Sydney Taylor, a major influence on American Jewish children's literature. Taylor used the real names of her four sisters for the girls in the book, and even used her birth name for the middle sister, Sarah (she changed it to Sydney as an adolescent). Like with Laura Ingalls Wilder, I'm eager to see where fiction and reality diverge and converge. In the meantime, I'm eager to keep spending time with the stairstep girls and their brother.

This is a charming collection of stories.

I have this book in hardback from childhood. This is another rating based on good memories. How I loved this family and the way they helped one another. And how I grieved for all thier troubles. This book was my first introduction to the lives of people not like myself (who were otherwise drawn from life and not fairy tales or animals).

This is a very sweet continuation. Not nearly as good as the original, of course, but time spent with this family is time worth spending.

I abandoned after a chapter. It didn't capture me.

Loved it! Interesting family dynamics-well told story of sibling interactions. Seemed very lifelike

Another fun family adventure. Such a pleasant wholesome read.

A great sequel with the sad but ultimately uplifting Guido thread woven throughout. Again the family shows itself to be a loving, generous group of people. The only thing that slightly annoys me is Miss Carey seems too perfect all the time and always knows just what to say in a way that is unnatural. Henny is so naughty I could shake her sometimes. With her insatiable desire for mischief, she reminds me of Davy Keith from Anne of Avonlea. Lovable but also a terror. But mostly I love every character.

Takes up more or less immediately after the first book in the series (though apparently published out-of-order) with another set of stories about these 5 sisters who differ in most things like looks and interests, except that all are kind souls and love to read. This time they have a new little brother (born at the end of the last book) who is more of a plaything, really (one entrepreneurial sister charges a penny to her friends to come watch her bathe him). A bit saccharine, at times, but so heartfelt that it comes off as just sweet:

"She had dreaded coming home, ashamed to admit that she had failed to get the part. Now all the sore spots of her hurt pride were being smoothed over, melting away in the warmth of the family’s enthusiasm. She opened her arms wide and gathered in as many of her sisters as she could. Her heart was bursting with love and gladness."

More adventure with the plucky Jewish family in turn of the century New York. We totally read these books out of order.

Sweet book! Another wonderful story in the All-of-A-Kind family series. I love all of the characters and I really appreciate learning more about the Jewish culture and religion. I recommend this series highly

Another delightful read in this series! I really love this family, as well as their adventures. I again wish there was more of a continuous narrative rather than a series of vignettes that are only somewhat connected. Beyond that, I have no complaints for this super entertaining children's lit book.

I recommend to everybody, but especially young readers getting into chapter books, those not family with Jewish culture, or any looking for a good-natured VERY LIGHT read.