The Boxcar children

Children's NOTES Boxcar Children Redux Two titles mark a landmark anniversary of a classic series. The first, The Boxcar Children 60th Anniversary Edition by Gertrude Chandler Warner, illus. by L. Kate Deal, contains the original text, with an introduction by Barbara Elleman, as well as a brief biography of the author, b&w photos and "An Open Letter to Children Who Ask How I Happened to Write The Boxcar Children," all contained in a handsomely designed volume. (Sept) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

In this classic tale, four orphaned siblings set up house in an abandoned railway car. The idea of kids surviving without adult help has timeless appeal, but the stilted prose doesn't hold up to today's literary standards. Regardless, there will likely always be a readership for the Alden kids' adventures, and this sixtieth-anniversary edition, featuring a profile of Warner and silhouette-style art, is a good starting point. From HORN BOOK Fall 2003, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

. Excerpted from The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.