The Peterkin Papers

"The Peterkin Papers" by Lucretia P. Hale is a funny series of stories for kids from the late 1800s that follows the Peterkin family as they try to deal with regular, everyday problems. The mom, dad, and kids in the Peterkin family find themselves in lots of funny situations, and they often get help from a smart lady from Philadelphia who gives unusual advice. For instance, in the first story, the mom puts salt in her coffee by mistake, and the whole family goes on a crazy journey to fix it. They ask a neighbor who’s a chemist for help, and the kids even go to an herb-woman, but in the end, the simplest answer is the best. The first story sets the stage for the Peterkin families chaotic fun.