The Vanderbeekers Lost and Found (The Vanderbeekers, 4)
#4 of 7 in The Vanderbeekers Series
on Goodreads (4,066)
What’s inside...
New York Times bestseller Karina Yan Glaser brings everyone's favorite Harlem family back in this poignant fourth novel in the 'delightful and heartwarming' (New York Times Book Review) Vanderbeekers series. When autumn arrives on 141st Street, the Vanderbeekers are busy helping Mr. Beiderman get ready for the New York City Marathon and making sure the mysterious person sleeping in the community garden gets enough to eat. But when they discover the true identity of the person making a home in the community garden's shed, their world turns upside down as they learn what it means to care for someone in an impossible situation. In this fourth book in the Vanderbeekers series, return to 141st Street with Isa, Jessie, Oliver, Hyacinth, and Laney as they attempt to make their neighborhood a better place, one heartfelt plan at a time.
Discussion points
How did the Vanderbeekers' efforts to help their community influence their own family dynamic?
What did the characters learn about friendship and kindness throughout the story?
How do you think the Vanderbeekers managed to stay hopeful even when facing challenges?
In what ways did the characters in the book show creativity and resourcefulness?
Which character did you relate to the most and why?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their thoughts and feelings about the book, validating their opinions to foster open communication.
Ask your child to think about how they would react in similar situations as the characters, promoting empathy and personal connection to the story.
Discuss the moral lessons in the book and how they can be applied to your child’s daily life, reinforcing the values of kindness and perseverance.
Create a fun activity where your child can draw or enact their favorite scene, deepening their engagement and understanding of the story.
Use examples from the book to discuss the importance of community and teamwork, highlighting how working together can achieve positive outcomes.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Importance of Teamwork
Explanation: In 'The Vanderbeekers Lost and Found', the Vanderbeeker children work together to solve problems and help their community, demonstrating how collaboration can achieve greater outcomes.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this by participating in group activities at school or collaborating with siblings on household chores, learning that teamwork can lead to success and harmony.
Example Lesson: Empathy and Compassion
Explanation: The story showcases the Vanderbeekers' deep empathy and compassion as they seek to understand and help their neighbors, teaching that understanding others' feelings and situations is crucial.
Real-World Application: Kids can practice empathy by being attentive to friends' and family members' feelings and offering help or support when someone is upset or in need.
Example Lesson: Resilience in the Face of Adversity
Explanation: Throughout the book, the Vanderbeeker children face various challenges but they demonstrate resilience by persisting and finding solutions, emphasizing the importance of not giving up.
Real-World Application: When faced with difficulties, whether in school or in personal life, children can remember the Vanderbeekers’ resilience and strive to overcome obstacles with a positive attitude.
Example Lesson: Importance of Community
Explanation: The story highlights the role of community in providing support and strength, as the Vanderbeekers engage with and rely on their neighbors.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to value and contribute to their own communities, whether by participating in local events or supporting local businesses and initiatives.
Example Lesson: Creativity in Problem Solving
Explanation: The Vanderbeeker children often use creative methods to tackle problems, showing that sometimes unconventional thinking is needed to resolve issues.
Real-World Application: Encourage children to think out of the box in their daily problem-solving, be it in creative projects, homework, or interpersonal conflicts.