First published in 1924, “The Box-Car Children” is the beloved children’s classic by American grade school teacher and author, Gertrude Chandler Warner. It is the story of four orphaned siblings, Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny, and their adventures living in an abandoned boxcar in the forest. The children are having fun while living in the boxcar at first, though several adults in the community are aware of their situation and are keeping an eye on them. Life is going well for these enterprising children until one of them gets sick and the local doctor knows that they need better care. He contacts their estranged grandfather, a wealthy steel baron, to come and claim them. The children fear their grandfather, who they were always told was cruel and frightening by their parents. The grandfather is actually kind and, as soon as the children get to know him, they realize their fears are unfounded. Their grandfather brings the children to live with him and brings their boxcar along so they may continue to play in it. “The Box-Car Children” was the first in a series of books by Warner about the charming siblings which continue to entertain children to this day.
