ARC | Sweet, well-paced, with opportunities for young readers with different personalities to recognize themselves | It took a little longer to really get a sense of which kid was which, and even at the end there were a few ways in which a couple of them were interchangeable, but it worked out okay. It did feel a bit like saying it's a biracial family, but then not giving any details, providing either parent's first name, having no cultural traditions expressed, etc, was a way of having a white family in Harlem without seeming to have a white family in Harlem. Of course there was going to be a happy ending, but I appreciate that the kids understood before that moment came that some of the ways they had tried to achieve it weren't considerate of Mr Beiderman, who is still a person, even if they hated what he was doing. Likely the start of a series that will only improve with time.

Free ARC from NetGalley, which did not impact my review.

Family of five children about to be evicted from beloved brownstone try to change their reclusive landlord's mind using music and memories. The first in a series which chronicles the comings and goings of this engaging family in their New York neighborhood.

This charming story is about a bi-racial family in Harlem with 5 kids who are about to lose their home because their reclusive landlord won’t renew their lease.⁣
⁣
My entire family enjoyed this delightful tale of the siblings trying to win their landlord over so they don’t have to leave home. It was full of all the antics you would expect of a big family.

The Vanderbeekers have always lived in a brownstone on 141st Street. Unfortunately, their reclusive landlord, Mr. Beiderman, has informed them that he is ending their lease and they have to move....at Christmas. This charming middle-grade story is full of heart and is a perfect story to read at Christmas. I can't wait to read the rest of this series!

A wonderful family read-aloud; a modern family reminiscent of the Melendys. I enjoyed sharing it with my own boys and recommend it to other families.

The Vanderbeeker children have always lived in the brownstone at 141st Street in Harlem. Now they have to move. Their lease is up and their bad-tempered old landlord, Mr. Biederman, refuses to renew it. He wants the family out before the New Year.

The five siblings are overwhelmed with the unfairness of it all. They are sure they can make Mr. Biederman understand this if only they could talk to him. That's not going to be easy, because although he lives on the top floor of the brownstone, they've never met him. He never leaves his apartment. He does call and complain to their dad about their activities: such as bouncing a ball on the front walk, making too much noise, Isa practicing the violin, and any number of things he considers violations of his peace.

With Christmas just days away, the children decide the best thing to do is win him over by being kind. They offer homemade gifts, notes and even a petition from their neighbors asking that he renew their lease, but so far nothing is working and some ideas, such at the petition have consequences that are hurting their cause.

This book ends a little too simply. There is no turning point for Mr. Biederman that the reader can see. It's a nice feel good story though and sometimes that's just what we need.

DELIGHTFUL! CHARMING! I love this quirky family of seven, the community they’ve fostered in their neighborhood, their sweetness (and occasional saltiness) with each other. Laney, the four year old and youngest, especially won my heart. She was a little fairy sprite of a thing, flitting about handing out hugs - I just found her so endearing! I can’t wait to read the next book in the Vanderbeeker’s adventures.

This was a cute book and I really enjoyed the Vanderbeeker family. This story showed the unity of going through a hard situation and how resilient kids are when it comes to tough times. My daughter and I really enjoyed this book and couldn't wait until the second book.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I look forward to purchasing it and reading it to my students in November. The story of the struggle for a family who is going to loose their home, a home that they really did not want to leave. The way the kids worked so hard to get the landlord to like them so they would not have to leave. was so heartwarming! Tying this all in to Christmas was just the icing on the cake.

Being an only child, I've always felt myself drawn to tales about large families: Cheaper By the Doze, Five Little Peppers and How They Grew, Eight Cousins, etc... I enjoy reading about how they all get on with each other and their lives. This story didn't disappoint. I enjoyed all of the characters and they way they all worked together to save their home. I think i this age of small families, children will enjoy this story for the same reasons. Maybe large families will make a come back!

I have a new Christmas favorite. A Scrooge like landlord wants the large Vanderbeeker family out of their Harlem home before the end of the year; this definitely puts a damper on Christmas preparations. I won't share plot spoilers except to say that in the best holiday tradition, all loose ends wrap up nicely; I closed the book with a sigh of contentment. Definitely recommended for grades 3-7 and family reading.

The Vanderbeekers are a charming family and their neighborhood is full of wonderful neighbors and friends. It took me a few chapters to get into the book and the colorful world, but I was eventually hooked and attached to the characters. Glaser did an amazing job developing a huge cast of characters, she accomplished this by filling nearly every sentence with meaningful descriptions. It imbued each moment with importance, everything a character says/thinks/does is a definition of who they are. There’s not a moment of fluff or unnecessary text anywhere in the Vanderbeekers. The greatest thing about the Vanderbeekers is the way the kids take charge of their situation, each kid takes action, they work together, and they use their individual skills to try to solve their problems. In addition, the kids respect each other and appreciate the skills their siblings have. They may disagree and fight, but they resolve their problems constructively. This is a book about really nice kids. Lovely plot, lovely character development! I’m excited to see more from Karina Yan Glaser!

I really loved this sweet middle grade novel. It had lots of humor and heart!

This middle grade read is perfectly lovely for the holiday season! The Vanderbeekers are a family many would like to be in, and I really enjoyed the relationships of the children amongst each other, their family, and friends. A sweet book that will be enjoyed by many.

The Vanderbeekers have always lived in their brownstone on 141st, but this year their landlord Mr. Beiderman decides to not renew their lease and wants them out right after Christmas. The five Vanderbeeker children, Jessie, Isa, Oliver, Laney and Hyacinth, must come up with a way to change Mr. Beiderman’s mind. They don’t want to leave their Harlam neighborhood where they know everyone and everyone knows them. They don’t want to leave their upstair neighbors Miss Josie and Mr. Jeet who are like grandparents to them. They come up with several different schemes to convince Mr. Beiderman to let them stay.

I really enjoyed the Vanderbeeker family. I thought the children were fabulous. There isn’t anything really innovative or unique about this story, but it is very entertaining and well written. I enjoyed all the relationships both in their building and their neighborhood. The kids were all unique with different personalities. My only quibble is one I don’t think kids will notice. Mr. Beiderman doesn’t give the family 30 days notice to leave and they really don’t make plans to actually move. No movers are scheduled, no apartments viewed, nobody really packs. It is almost like they know they aren’t going to move!

I received this book from Netgalley.

Pretty standard, though pleasant, elementary school fare. We've got siblings discovering their own strengths as well as their place in society/their family. theyr'e recognizing people's emotions and the ways that their actiosn affect others. A little bit funny, a little bit heartwarming.

Another great story for my large family shelf! (Always a reason to celebrate.)
To be perfectly honest, I had mixed feelings about this story, mainly because I love large family stories so much, am writing one myself, and am living one out. :) This makes me possibly the most critical possible reader for a book like The Vanderbeekers...so ultimately I trusted my inner-eleven-year-old when I chose the star rating. I already can't wait to buy this for my oldest daughters, as I know they will simply adore it. The Vanderbeeker family is warm and loving and their community is everything I could hope for my own children to experience.
If you're curious what the critical part of me was thinking... I had a slightly hard time connecting to the characters during the first third of the book, perhaps because of the frequent POV shifts. I found myself scrambling to remember which child was which (still, as something I struggle with in my own stories, this was useful to read).
There were a few moments where the big family dynamic seemed a little forced. And I can't explain that. Just having grown up in a big family, surrounded by big families, and now raising my own, a couple small spots felt inauthentic. But every family is different, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this book over something so tiny.
Thirdly, the resolution seemed a little sudden and almost "Deus Ex Machina." And yet...I experienced almost EXACTLY the same thing in my own childhood...maybe I'll write about it sometime--you'll all just have to trust that I didn't steal it from The Vanderbeekers. :) So maybe for your sakes', future readers, it's good to remember that the unlikely is still possible.
One plus that I've only just considered is that this is an excellent book--both in content and design (the latter is more rare, if you ask me)--to share with either boy or girl readers. Oliver, the lone boy in the Vanderbeeker family, reminded me so often of my own lone brother with 4 sisters, that I'm sure other boys will love connecting with him. And I think most girls in large families will be able to find themselves on the pages as well.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a review copy of this book!

A fresh, funny book that is truly unputdownable. This is one to cuddle up with your middle schooler and enjoy together. If you loved Cheaper by the Dozen, you'll love this.

This was an adorable book. The kids felt real, and not one dimensional. They were believable, which I think is something a lot of books for children, or books containing child characters, don't always get right. This book feels timeless, and the characters are so....delightful, even if you don't think so at first. By the end, you are rooting for all of them, and you don't want the book to end. Karina Glaser has given us a book that I would EASILY put into a "modern classics" category. Children will love it. Adults (including this one!!!) will love it. I would love to see this book in as many classrooms and libraries as humanly possible.

I read Book Riot daily and know Karina Van Glaser is a super peppy, super optimistic, super happy sort of person (you would think the same, believe me.) So I was expecting her first book to be a very upbeat read that I would save for a rainy day. What I wasn't expecting was to like it as much as I did, so there! Yes, it reminded me of many bohemiam families that live in a happy go lucky lanscape populated by precocious tots, kindly neighbors, understanding (and refreshingly present) parents, possible villains who turn into eccentric go-gooders, but with a healthy dose of diversity and NYC charm. It's not the most realistic depiction of raising children in NYC, and aspects of economic and social class are entirely ignored despite being engines of the plot, but enough quibbling. It's full of real charm and a safe pick for that 8-12 reader.