
Written by Mary Skillings Prigger · Illustrated by Betsy Lewin
Can a tidy spinster manage nine orphaned children?
In 1920, Aunt Minnie McGranahan, a tidy spinster, unexpectedly inherits nine orphaned nieces and nephews. The townspeople doubt her ability to manage such chaos, but Minnie surprises everyone with her inventive solutions. As she transforms her orderly life to accommodate her new family, will she discover a hidden love for children? This whimsical tale, inspired by true events, explores the challenges and joys of unexpected family life.
When Aunt Minnie McGranahan inherits nine orphaned nephews and nieces, the neighbors think it will never work. Aunt Minnie is small and tidy, and she lives alone in a neat little house. She has a neat little garden and a neat little barn, and she has a system for everything. Certainly there’s no place in her life for children. But Aunt Minnie is a problem solver, and she surprises everyone by bringing home all nine children and coming up with clever new systems to accommodate her expanded family. It turns out Aunt Minnie likes children after all! This funny, fresh story, told in verse and accompanied by whimsical watercolors, is based on the life of the real Aunt Minnie, a member of the author’s family who adopted nine children in 1920.
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