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Available
Call number
Series
Collection
Publication
Publisher Unknown (1969)
Description
In this tongue-in-cheek take on classic themes in children's literature, the four Willoughby children set about to become "deserving orphans" after their neglectful parents embark on a treacherous around-the-world adventure, leaving them in the care of an odious nanny.
User reviews
LibraryThing member sjmccreary
Clever little book (sometimes too clever) about a family of 4 children whose parents don't like them. The kids are forced to fend for themselves and liken themselves to children in old-fashioned books. They conclude that, since most children in books are orphans, they should also be orphaned and
It is a cute story. I thought the tie-in to classic children's literature was a good idea, but not fully developed. The parents' treatment of the children reminded me of the guardian in The Series of Unfortunate Events books - too unrelenting for my taste (I prefer the Dursley's treatment of Harry Potter - they at least provided basic care, if not affection). The relationship between the 4 children was a little muddled. In the beginning, the oldest, Tim, was a tyrant treating the others little better than their parents did. By the end, he was caring and supportive, with no apparent cause for the transition. Likewise, the nanny was first perceived by the children as ugly and wicked (the chapter is titled "The Arrival of the Odious Nanny"), but they are won over to her with no evident struggle, and she begins conspiring with them for no apparent reason.
I'm not a frequent reader of children's books. I don't think I would choose this as a read-aloud book, but I would suggest it as a beginning chapter book for an intermediate reader. I suppose it would appeal to the same audience as Series of Unfortunate Events and Harry Potter, but is easier to read.
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begin plotting to rid themselves of their parents. There are several interesting characters besides the evil parents, including the creepy reclusive neighbor who lives in a decrepit mansion, a baby left in a basket on the doorstep, the nice nanny, and the tall thin bachelor postmaster in a small town in Switzerland.It is a cute story. I thought the tie-in to classic children's literature was a good idea, but not fully developed. The parents' treatment of the children reminded me of the guardian in The Series of Unfortunate Events books - too unrelenting for my taste (I prefer the Dursley's treatment of Harry Potter - they at least provided basic care, if not affection). The relationship between the 4 children was a little muddled. In the beginning, the oldest, Tim, was a tyrant treating the others little better than their parents did. By the end, he was caring and supportive, with no apparent cause for the transition. Likewise, the nanny was first perceived by the children as ugly and wicked (the chapter is titled "The Arrival of the Odious Nanny"), but they are won over to her with no evident struggle, and she begins conspiring with them for no apparent reason.
I'm not a frequent reader of children's books. I don't think I would choose this as a read-aloud book, but I would suggest it as a beginning chapter book for an intermediate reader. I suppose it would appeal to the same audience as Series of Unfortunate Events and Harry Potter, but is easier to read.
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LibraryThing member tapestry100
I read The Willoughbys on a recommendation of a friend from LT (Linda (whisper1) - thanks!), and I'm so glad that I did! It's quite a delightful, tongue in cheek poke at all the old-fashioned children's books (think Mary Poppins and the like). She mixes in all the requisite elements: sinister
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parents, orphans, a kind nanny, possibly impossible developments for our heroes of the story, a benevolent benefactor and a happy ending, and creates a hilarious modern day parody of those beloved books of yesterday. Not taking itself too seriously, The Willoughbys is just the right book to read when you need to get away to a guaranteed good time and a happy ending. Show Less
LibraryThing member Whisper1
Oh, my, but this is a humorous tale told in a Lemony Snicket fashion of four children who are disliked by their parents and who dislike the parents in turn.
There is a wonderful, loving, cookie baking nanny who takes charge when the parents leave the children behind to venture on a vacation wherein
There is a rich grieving business executive who finds a baby on his door step, thus turning his life into happiness and joy.
There is a happy, happy ending.
This tongue-in-cheek book is so very much unlike any other written by Lowry. Whereas Number the Stars is serious, this is cleaver and funny. Whereas The Giver thought provoking, this is a skip down a sunny, funny lane.
The book is witty, smartly written with funny, humorous witty banter.
There is a wonderful, loving, cookie baking nanny who takes charge when the parents leave the children behind to venture on a vacation wherein
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they plan not to return.There is a rich grieving business executive who finds a baby on his door step, thus turning his life into happiness and joy.
There is a happy, happy ending.
This tongue-in-cheek book is so very much unlike any other written by Lowry. Whereas Number the Stars is serious, this is cleaver and funny. Whereas The Giver thought provoking, this is a skip down a sunny, funny lane.
The book is witty, smartly written with funny, humorous witty banter.
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LibraryThing member mirikayla
Bizarre, but fun. I liked the quirky characters, except for Tim, the parents, and the postmistress, whom I disliked. I almost skipped the glossary, which would have been a shame, because it includes gems like these:
AFFABLE means good-natured and friendly. There are whole groups of people who are
MELANCHOLY means sad. "Come to me, my melancholy baby; cuddle up and don't be blue" is the beginning of a romantic old song. Bad comedians used to tell a joke that went like this: "My girlfriend is very melancholy. She has a body like a melon and a face like a collie." But that has nothing to do with the meaning of the word and I'm sorry I brought it up.
METICULOUS means extremely precise and careful. Surgeons have to be meticulous. Some people think great cooks are meticulous, but they are wrong. Great cooks read a recipe, maybe, but then they ignore the instructions and add extra garlic if they feel like it. Surgeons can't do that.
AFFABLE means good-natured and friendly. There are whole groups of people who are
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known for being affable. Cheerleaders, for example. Or Mormon missionaries.MELANCHOLY means sad. "Come to me, my melancholy baby; cuddle up and don't be blue" is the beginning of a romantic old song. Bad comedians used to tell a joke that went like this: "My girlfriend is very melancholy. She has a body like a melon and a face like a collie." But that has nothing to do with the meaning of the word and I'm sorry I brought it up.
METICULOUS means extremely precise and careful. Surgeons have to be meticulous. Some people think great cooks are meticulous, but they are wrong. Great cooks read a recipe, maybe, but then they ignore the instructions and add extra garlic if they feel like it. Surgeons can't do that.
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LibraryThing member Freilin
A parody of classic children's literature. The Willoughby children set out to become orphans.
LibraryThing member karafrib
In The Willoughbys, Lois Lowry gives readers a playful romp that is a parody of “old-fashioned” novels. Written in a style that is reminiscent of classic children’s literature, The Willoughbys focuses on the four Willoughby children: Tim, Barnaby A and Barnaby B (twins), and demure little
As the plot develops everything that has happened from the arrival of the baby leads up to an interweaving of various sub-plots. We learn the story of the candy inventor, who tragically lost his family in an avalanche near the Alps years ago…or did he? We also follow the dangerous adventures of the Willoughby parents.
Ingeniously crafted and ridiculously humorous, The Willoughbys is a delight. Many parts of the story are predictable, but they are supposed to be since most of the book is based on various stories of classic children’s literature. There are vocabulary words that many young (and even some adult) readers may not be familiar with. However, the author has provided a glossary in the back of the book that light-heartedly explains the meaning of each of these words. There is also a bibliography of the titles and authors of the classic works referenced in the novel that could help point young readers in the direction of those classic books. This novel is best suited for middle-grade readers, and would appeal to those who enjoy A Series of Unfortunate Events. Recommended for grades 4 - 7.
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Jane. Throughout the book, the children find themselves in situations that are identical to those of classic tales such as Hansel and Gretel, Pollyanna, Little Women, and many others. The comedic part in all of this is that the children actually point out the parallels between their lives and those of the characters from the classic tales. The story really takes off when the children and parents simultaneously devise plans to get rid of each other. The parents leave the children with Nanny and try to sell the house and the children send their parents on a vacation of life-threatening activities so they can become “deserving and winsome” orphans. As the plot develops everything that has happened from the arrival of the baby leads up to an interweaving of various sub-plots. We learn the story of the candy inventor, who tragically lost his family in an avalanche near the Alps years ago…or did he? We also follow the dangerous adventures of the Willoughby parents.
Ingeniously crafted and ridiculously humorous, The Willoughbys is a delight. Many parts of the story are predictable, but they are supposed to be since most of the book is based on various stories of classic children’s literature. There are vocabulary words that many young (and even some adult) readers may not be familiar with. However, the author has provided a glossary in the back of the book that light-heartedly explains the meaning of each of these words. There is also a bibliography of the titles and authors of the classic works referenced in the novel that could help point young readers in the direction of those classic books. This novel is best suited for middle-grade readers, and would appeal to those who enjoy A Series of Unfortunate Events. Recommended for grades 4 - 7.
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LibraryThing member Rubbah
An amusing satire on children's literature about orphans, complete with wicked parents, millionaire recluses and abandoned babies. IIt would probably help to have read some of the books that are referenced in order to get some of the jokes, but I think most children would simply enjoy The
I'd recommend this to anyone who enjoyes The Series of Unfortunate Events and the Eddie Dickens trilogy.
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Willoughbys for the darkly humourous plot and characters. I especially liked the list of books at the back that are mentioned throughout, for young bibliophiles to be.I'd recommend this to anyone who enjoyes The Series of Unfortunate Events and the Eddie Dickens trilogy.
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LibraryThing member tjsjohanna
This quick little book is packed with all kinds of references to the orphan genre in children's literature. It pokes gentle fun at those old fashioned stories, while at the same time paying homage to the values espoused in those same stories - honor, affection, optimism, and love. I loved the
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Bibliography with all the summaries Ms. Lowry wrote about those famous books! As a side note, Ms. Lowry continues to amaze me with the variety of her works - I've been reading her since I was a kid, and her interests and the stories she tells are so different from one another. Very refreshing! Show Less
LibraryThing member rdg301library
In The Willoughbys, two-time Medalist Lois Lowry makes fun of prevalent clichés in classic children’s literature – the “four worthy orphans with a no-nonsense nanny,” the “bereaved benefactor with a ward” (an abandoned baby), selfish parents, and a plucky boy – by weaving them
It takes a few chapters to warm to the main characters, the Willoughby children who wish to be orphans like those in the “old-fashioned” books they like to read, whose parents don’t really want to be parents. This could be a dark tale (like some of Roald Dahl’s or the “Series of Unfortunate Events” books by Lemony Snicket), but it quickly becomes amusing.
Some of the humor I enjoyed included the fractured faux-German spoken by the plucky boy ("Schlee you later, alligatorplatz!" and "Ach. I forgotzenplunkt. Sorrybrauten," for example), and puns on the baby ward’s name, Ruth (when the Willoughbys leave her on the candy-maker benefactor’s doorstep, they are Ruth-less, and the candy-maker eventually names a confection after Baby Ruth).
The best parts of the book are at the end – the glossary and bibliography of 13 classic children’s books. Lowry uses 38 big words in her book, and provides funny definitions in the glossary. Example: “IGNOMINIOUS means shamefully weak and ineffective….This book has ignominious illustrations. They are shamefully weak because the person who drew them [Lowry herself] is not an artist.” I love the fact that Lowry challenges her readers to expand their vocabularies!
The annotated bibliography of "books of the past that are heavy on piteous but appealing orphans, ill-tempered and stingy relatives, magnanimous benefactors, and transformations wrought by winsome children," which include The Secret Garden, Pollyanna and The Bobbsey Twins, with all but one published in 1934 or earlier. Their descriptions are droll; for example, Little Women: "Meg is mature and sensible. Jo is literary and boyish. Amy is vain and foolish. Beth is saintly and dies."
The more of the bibliography books you’ve read (or know of), the more (I think) you will appreciate this book’s parody. I’d only completely read three of the 13, but I was familiar with all but two of them. That may be a problem for today’s kids, as I’m guessing most of them have perhaps only read James and the Giant Peach (the only one published after 1934, and that in 1961).
I think this book would be a great read-aloud by parents who have read some of the bibliography, and will also be enjoyed by children who like snarky stories (like Snicket’s and Dahl’s) and won’t be upset by the unsympathetic characters (it does have the obligatory happy ending). It’s a fast, easy read.
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together in a tongue-in-cheek tale. It takes a few chapters to warm to the main characters, the Willoughby children who wish to be orphans like those in the “old-fashioned” books they like to read, whose parents don’t really want to be parents. This could be a dark tale (like some of Roald Dahl’s or the “Series of Unfortunate Events” books by Lemony Snicket), but it quickly becomes amusing.
Some of the humor I enjoyed included the fractured faux-German spoken by the plucky boy ("Schlee you later, alligatorplatz!" and "Ach. I forgotzenplunkt. Sorrybrauten," for example), and puns on the baby ward’s name, Ruth (when the Willoughbys leave her on the candy-maker benefactor’s doorstep, they are Ruth-less, and the candy-maker eventually names a confection after Baby Ruth).
The best parts of the book are at the end – the glossary and bibliography of 13 classic children’s books. Lowry uses 38 big words in her book, and provides funny definitions in the glossary. Example: “IGNOMINIOUS means shamefully weak and ineffective….This book has ignominious illustrations. They are shamefully weak because the person who drew them [Lowry herself] is not an artist.” I love the fact that Lowry challenges her readers to expand their vocabularies!
The annotated bibliography of "books of the past that are heavy on piteous but appealing orphans, ill-tempered and stingy relatives, magnanimous benefactors, and transformations wrought by winsome children," which include The Secret Garden, Pollyanna and The Bobbsey Twins, with all but one published in 1934 or earlier. Their descriptions are droll; for example, Little Women: "Meg is mature and sensible. Jo is literary and boyish. Amy is vain and foolish. Beth is saintly and dies."
The more of the bibliography books you’ve read (or know of), the more (I think) you will appreciate this book’s parody. I’d only completely read three of the 13, but I was familiar with all but two of them. That may be a problem for today’s kids, as I’m guessing most of them have perhaps only read James and the Giant Peach (the only one published after 1934, and that in 1961).
I think this book would be a great read-aloud by parents who have read some of the bibliography, and will also be enjoyed by children who like snarky stories (like Snicket’s and Dahl’s) and won’t be upset by the unsympathetic characters (it does have the obligatory happy ending). It’s a fast, easy read.
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LibraryThing member knielsen83
This book was about a peculiar set of children, whose parents cared not for them and hired a nanny and sold the house on them. They end up involved in finding a baby, giving her away again, and then ending up living with the baby and her new benefactor. It was a very cheeky play off of english
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children and somewhat had a feel of Mary Poppins to it. It was an enjoyable read and I enjoyed the witty conversations and obscurity of the book. Show Less
LibraryThing member Elferkid
The Willoughby’s are a truly old fashioned family. They even find a baby on their doorstep. The children – Tim, Barnaby A, Barnaby B, and Jane – all decide that they should be orphans. They begin conducting a malevolent plan to get rid of their parents. The plan included sea voyages and
Manny classic stories, including Mary Poppins, Huckleberry Finn, and Polyanna, make an appearance in this story. Things including villains, odious nannies, abandoned infants, long lost relatives, and late –life romance declare this story an “old-fashion” parody.
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pirates. Little do they know that their parents are also conducting a truly diabolical plan to get rid of them that includes an odious nanny, and a real estate agent.Manny classic stories, including Mary Poppins, Huckleberry Finn, and Polyanna, make an appearance in this story. Things including villains, odious nannies, abandoned infants, long lost relatives, and late –life romance declare this story an “old-fashion” parody.
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LibraryThing member nolly
Readers who enjoyed Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events will enjoy this tale, full of allusions the such childhood classics as Anne of Green Gables, The Secret Garden, and Mary Poppins.
LibraryThing member delphica
(#54 in the 2008 Book Challenge)
This is a slim little parody of that most beloved of genres, orphan-lit. Eh, I was not that impressed. It wasn't awful, there were a few times I chuckled. But overall, it left me confused about what the author thought she was parodying. Lemony Snickett, right? With
Grade: C for crabby.
Recommended: I recommend that Lois Lowry stick to writing books about grim totalitarian societies and the horrors of the Holocaust.
This is a slim little parody of that most beloved of genres, orphan-lit. Eh, I was not that impressed. It wasn't awful, there were a few times I chuckled. But overall, it left me confused about what the author thought she was parodying. Lemony Snickett, right? With
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the orphans, and the definitions of big words? But did Lois Lowry somehow miss the fact that A Series of Unfortunate Events is a parody itself? And what's with the title? Surely a parody about orphans named Willoughby must be referencing that classic orphan adventure parody, The Wolves of Willoughby Chase. Is it an homage? It doesn't go anywhere. Maybe I should say what this book is about before I get too frothing: a family of children with terrible parents want to become orphans so they can be more like old-fashioned children in books, and they have a tricky nanny and then there is a wealthy neighbor that invents candy. And it's all very forced and self-aware and overly smarmy. I strongly suspect that if this were written by anyone other than Lois Lowry, it would have garnered no notice at all, instead of being talked up as a potential Newbery. PEOPLE, PLEASE.Grade: C for crabby.
Recommended: I recommend that Lois Lowry stick to writing books about grim totalitarian societies and the horrors of the Holocaust.
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LibraryThing member katcat
The humor is a bit perverse for a children's book, and this one is best read one-on-one to insure the child is grasping the tongue-in-cheek hilarity. Otherwise, I would be concerned what young children might bring away from this book.
LibraryThing member audryh
"Playful homage" to classic children's books, an "old-fashioned"parody. Use of sophisticated words such as "auspicious" (if you happen to see a large number of people wearing scarlet footwear in October, it is auspicious - it means the Red Sox are going to win the World Series.) Humorous
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definitions for diabolical, bilious, etc. appear in humorous glossary. Includes epilogue and bibliography of books with piteous orphans referred to in the book. "He would never be ruthless again:)" Show Less
LibraryThing member emitnick
A fabulously tongue-in-cheek parody of "old-fashioned" books like Mary Poppins, Little Women, the Bobbsey Twins, The Secret Garden, and so on. All the elements are here - orphaned siblings, a nanny, a grieving billionnaire, neglectful or awful grown-ups - but they add up to more than the sum of
"Bereaved benefactor?" suggested Commander.
"Exactly. A bereaved benfactor with a ward."
This could be horribly snide or facile, but it isn't. Lowry's writing and plot are top-notch, and her tone is humorous and affectionate, even when the reader wants to bop the eldest boy Tim when he calls someone a dolt for the tenth time. Funny, funny, funny!
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their parts. The characters are well aware of their roles. At one point, Nanny says, "Oh, lovely! You are an old-fashioned family, like us. We are four worthy orphans with a no-nonsense nanny...And you are a --- let me think---""Bereaved benefactor?" suggested Commander.
"Exactly. A bereaved benfactor with a ward."
This could be horribly snide or facile, but it isn't. Lowry's writing and plot are top-notch, and her tone is humorous and affectionate, even when the reader wants to bop the eldest boy Tim when he calls someone a dolt for the tenth time. Funny, funny, funny!
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LibraryThing member phoenixcomet
A bit of the Series of Unfortunate Events - compelling, interesting characters and situations. Quite a bit of fun
LibraryThing member beserene
Quite charming and remarkably meta-textual. Anyone who reads YA literature, especially classic children's stories (which are alluded to frequently and deliberately), will find this odd gem humorous, if not Lowry's greatest work.
LibraryThing member Wombat
As a scholar of 18th and 19th century children's literature, I was immediately drawn to a book purporting to be a parody of "old fashioned" books. But I was unimpressed by Lowry's actual novel. Perhaps because I had in mind a definition of parody that means something beyond just a "funny"
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imitation; most parodies are written to ridicule or satirize the genre they imitate. Lowry's book doesn't imitate to critique, or to satirize. Or perhaps it is because Lowry's idea of "old fashioned book" is just a broad one, stretching from Dickens and Charlotte Bronte to Roald Dahl, that her "parody" doesn't really hold together. The book seems confused about just what it is making fun of -- mean parents? Sexist children? Improbable events? Latent sexual content? -- and the fact that it ends happily, as do all of the old fashioned books she makes fun of, seems to belie its parodic nature. Or perhaps it is just because many of the "old fashioned" books she draws upon would not be a part of many contemporary children's reading matter, making the audience for her book more of an adult than a child audience. All in all, I'd take E. Nesbit's THE STORY OF THE TREASURE SEEKERS, or Lemony Snicket's work, over this confused volume... [Ms. Wombat] Show Less
LibraryThing member jnfalvey
A fun, Snickett-esque tale of 4 "old-fashioned" children whose parents are as eager to be rid of them as they are to be rid of their parents. They leave the children in the care of a very unpleasant Nanny, who---- Then there is Mr. Melanoff. Commander Melanoff is in a bad way and doesn't know it.
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When he receives a baby mysterioulsy on his doorstep, a chain of events is set into motion which change the lives of everyone involved. Show Less
LibraryThing member litlb00k
This quirky title pokes some fun at the themes of the traditional "classic" children's story - i.e. kill off the parents, orphan children or children with cruel parents, a nanny, a baby on the doorstep... All in fun. I found myself smiling throughout as the horrible parents plot to rid their lives
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of children and the children plot to get rid of their parents! True to form, all turns out perfectly for the children and not so perfectly for the villanous adults. Show Less
LibraryThing member dfullmer
I really enjoyed this quick read. It reminded me somewhat of the Series of Unfortunate Events. Three children with unfortunate parents that want to be rid of them as much as the children want to be rid of the parents. An elaborate circle ends with all living happily ever after.
LibraryThing member mmillet
Loved this short 'old-fashioned' story about a four children who want to become orphans, nefarious parents, enterprising young boys and the Swiss Alps. The Willoughby children were hilarious and I loved Nanny. I especially loved the glossary at the end of the book -- I read it aloud to the hubby
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and we had a nice chuckle.. I can't get over how talented Lowry is. Her books are always such a delight and I bet she had a blast writing this one. A book anyone can enjoy. Show Less
LibraryThing member mstuhan
I would have this book in my classroom library and because of all the literary allusion(s) might use it as a read-aloud depending on the class.
LibraryThing member shelf-employed
The dust jacket alone is proof enough that Lois Lowry, known for her deep, award-winning and thought-provoking novels, is having a bit of fun. The cover art is a penned sketch of a small, three-story home with a red door. Underneath the drawing are the words "A Novel, Nefariously Written &
Clearly, this novel about aspiring orphans, Timothy, Jane, and the twins (A & B), is meant as a light-hearted spoof on classic literary tales (Anne of Green Gables, Mary Poppins, Pollyanna, etc.), as well as a nod to the more modern tales of the Penderwick and Baudelaire children.
The plot is set in motion when a baby is left on the Willoughbys doorstep. The self-serving and neglectful parents want nothing to do with the child - indeed, they want nothing to do with their own children either! The children, under the direction of the tyrannical Timothy, leave the child on the doorstep of a reclusive millionaire; first naming the child Ruth, so as to leave themselves "Ruth-less."
The lives of the Willoughby children, the millionaire, Ruth, and Nanny, (and a young boy in lederhosen, "Ach. I forgotzenplunkt. Sorrybrauten.") become entwined when Mr. and Mrs. Willoughby decide to take a trip with the Reprehensible Travel Agency. The children hope that the parents will not survive. Mr. and Mrs. Willoughby plan that the house will be sold and the children will be gone by the time they return. They do, however, send postcards,
"The crocodile river was such fun. Two tourists were eaten in huge gulps but it was not sad at all because they were French. ... Tomorrow we are taking a helicopter trip over an erupting volcano. We got quite a bargain because the pilot has not completed his training. ... By the way, when the house is sold and you move elsewhere, could you leave your clothes behind? We will take them to the secondhand shop and get a commission."
The children often make their decisions based on what "good old-fashioned people" would do, always with humorous results. When the real estate agent tries to sell the home and directs them to hide in the coal bin, they instead masquerade as a lamp, a rug, a coat rack, and a cactus! Nanny powders herself and strikes a pose as an alabaster Aphrodite! None of this is out of place in The Willoughbys - a delightful romp through "good old-fashioned" stories.
A Glossary of words necessary to "good old-fashioned" stories follows. Some of the words one couldn't do without? Bilious, lugubrious, nefarious, odious - need I say more?
Finally, Lowry concludes with a Bibliography, mixing the likes of The Bobbsey Twins and Baby May and Jane Eyre, with other "books of the past that are heavy on piteous but appealing orphans, ill-tempered and stingy relatives, magnanimous benefactors, and transformations wrought by winsome children."
Good fun!
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Ignominiously Illustrated by the Author."Clearly, this novel about aspiring orphans, Timothy, Jane, and the twins (A & B), is meant as a light-hearted spoof on classic literary tales (Anne of Green Gables, Mary Poppins, Pollyanna, etc.), as well as a nod to the more modern tales of the Penderwick and Baudelaire children.
The plot is set in motion when a baby is left on the Willoughbys doorstep. The self-serving and neglectful parents want nothing to do with the child - indeed, they want nothing to do with their own children either! The children, under the direction of the tyrannical Timothy, leave the child on the doorstep of a reclusive millionaire; first naming the child Ruth, so as to leave themselves "Ruth-less."
The lives of the Willoughby children, the millionaire, Ruth, and Nanny, (and a young boy in lederhosen, "Ach. I forgotzenplunkt. Sorrybrauten.") become entwined when Mr. and Mrs. Willoughby decide to take a trip with the Reprehensible Travel Agency. The children hope that the parents will not survive. Mr. and Mrs. Willoughby plan that the house will be sold and the children will be gone by the time they return. They do, however, send postcards,
"The crocodile river was such fun. Two tourists were eaten in huge gulps but it was not sad at all because they were French. ... Tomorrow we are taking a helicopter trip over an erupting volcano. We got quite a bargain because the pilot has not completed his training. ... By the way, when the house is sold and you move elsewhere, could you leave your clothes behind? We will take them to the secondhand shop and get a commission."
The children often make their decisions based on what "good old-fashioned people" would do, always with humorous results. When the real estate agent tries to sell the home and directs them to hide in the coal bin, they instead masquerade as a lamp, a rug, a coat rack, and a cactus! Nanny powders herself and strikes a pose as an alabaster Aphrodite! None of this is out of place in The Willoughbys - a delightful romp through "good old-fashioned" stories.
A Glossary of words necessary to "good old-fashioned" stories follows. Some of the words one couldn't do without? Bilious, lugubrious, nefarious, odious - need I say more?
Finally, Lowry concludes with a Bibliography, mixing the likes of The Bobbsey Twins and Baby May and Jane Eyre, with other "books of the past that are heavy on piteous but appealing orphans, ill-tempered and stingy relatives, magnanimous benefactors, and transformations wrought by winsome children."
Good fun!
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Subjects
Awards
Massachusetts Children's Book Award (Nominee — 2011)
Parents' Choice Book Award (2008)
Kentucky Bluegrass Award (Nominee — Grades 3-5 — 2010)
Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award (Nominee — 2011)
Nēnē Award (Nominee — 2010)
Oregon Reader's Choice Award (Nominee — 2011)
West Virginia Children's Choice Book Award (Nominee — 2009-2010)
Iowa Children's Choice Award (Nominee — 2011)
IBBY Honour Book (2010)
Massachusetts Book Award (Honor Book — 2009)
E.B. White Read-Aloud Award (Honor Book — Older Readers — 2009)
Read Aloud Indiana Book Award (Intermediate — 2012)
Children's Favorites Awards (Selection — 2009)
Original publication date
2008
Other editions
The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry (Hardcover)