The Box-Car Children

An Apple Books Classic edition.

Gertrude Chandler Warner was a first-grade teacher when she wrote The Boxcar Children about orphaned siblings Henry, Jess, Violet, and Benny Alden. The Alden kids face two choices: Go live with a grandfather they’ve never met, or find a place of their own to call home. They choose the latter, eventually taking shelter in an abandoned boxcar hidden in the middle of a forest. Soon, older brother Henry finds a job, while the girls cook, clean, and take care of little Benny. The foursome decorate their home with “treasures” from a nearby garbage dump and even build a pool—but just when they’re feeling secure and settled, Violet falls ill, forcing the Aldens to seek medical care in town.

This delightful children’s book was so well received, Warner wrote 18 more books about the Aldens before her death. Ghostwriters continued her work, writing over 140 additional Boxcar books. Discover for yourself why people around the world still read this beloved series.