The Boxcar Children Celebrates 70 Years! *Book Review & Giveaway*

Go back to the first book that you remember really reading when you were a child. For me, the ones that stand out the most are the The Boxcar Children books. They were my favorite and whenever I think about being young, I think about reading those. I was always a big reader and they were always my first choice. I used to read them over and over again. So, you can imagine how excited I was when I was asked to review the gift box set and the series prequel The Boxcar Children® Beginning, The Aldens of Fair Meadow Farm, to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the series.

Gertrude Chandler Warner was born in Putnam, Connecticut in 1890. Her childhood home was near a railroad station, and she often dreamed about what it would be like to live in a train car. That dream inspired her many years later when she decided to write a children’s adventure book that was easy to read but exciting, too. That book was The Boxcar Children. 

In honor of this milestone, the series has an updated look with new cover art from Tim Jessell. The big celebration marking this anniversary is the publication of a prequel by Newbery Medalist Patricia MacLachlan, entitled The Boxcar Children^® Beginning: The Aldens of Fair Meadow Farm. This book will give readers the opportunity to see who Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny Alden were before they were The Boxcar Children! How exciting! It really gives you a whole new perspective of the series.

The gift box set includes the first four books which are The Boxcar Children, Surprise Island ,The Yellow House Mystery and Mystery Ranch. These first four will leave you more! I really wish I still had all of mine from when I was little, but I don't, so now I definitely need to buy them for the kids for when they are older. I know that they will love them as much as me. Even Kyle said they were his favorite too. I think the nostalgia of it is just wonderful. It  brings you back to when you were little. I already read the prequel and the 4 books and now I just need the rest! They are just as good as I remember and I think I am going to start reading them to Riley. Even though he is only 4, he loves trains and I think he would really enjoy listening to these stories. 

If you are even thinking about getting these (even for yourself), I suggest you do it! It's probably been so long since you've read them that it will seem like the first time! The first 19 stories of The Boxcar Children Gertrude Chandler Warner, but there are now 130 titles in The Boxcar Children^® Mysteries series! That's a lot of books but I am determined to get them all for Riley and Emma so they can enjoy the same stories Kyle and I read as children.  Plus the website has a bunch of really cute activity sheets that you can print out! 



I really enjoyed rereading the books we received and I am super excited because one Chubby Cheeks reader will be receiving a gift box set of the first four books in the series including The Boxcar Children, Surprise Island ,The Yellow House Mystery and Mystery Ranch AND a hardcover copy of the series prequel The Boxcar Children® Beginning: The Aldens of Fair Meadow Farm SIGNED by the author, Newbery award-winning author Patricia MacLachlan. The ARV for this giveaway is $48.98! This giveaway is open to the US & CND. Who's excited?! I am! Simply wait for the form to load and enter away! 

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Disclosure: I received product in exchange for an honest review compliments of the company or PR Rep. This is my opinion above and may differ from yours. Because I do not directly ship most giveaways from my home, I cannot be held liable for lost or not received products. This giveaway will end on December 24, 2012  at 11:59 pm EST. Random.org will select the winner. I will contact you by email (please post with comments if it is not on your profile). You will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is picked.Good luck!