publication order of the five pepper books
Margaret Sidney’s Five Peppers Series Author Margaret Sidney wrote the “Five Peppers” series of children’s fiction books. The series began to be published in 1881, when “Five Peppers and How They Grew” was released.
after writing the fourth book in the series, called “phronsie pepper”, margaret felt she had finished the books. she said this in the book’s introduction. letters from her readers around the world prompted her to continue writing about this family, which she would do for nearly twenty more years. all subsequent books are set before the third book in the original series.
You are reading: Five little peppers books
six of these books are “background” and are set in the same time as the first three books.
The books follow the lives of Mamsie and the late Mr. Pepper’s five children (Ben, Polly, Joel, Davie, and Phronsie) who are born into poverty in a small rural “little brown house.”
mrs. Pepper, who the kids call “Mamsie,” is a widow struggling to keep her five children educated and healthy. she is the moral backbone of the family and her children are totally devoted to her. she later she marries dr. fisherman of adoniram with the full approval of her offspring.
the eldest of the five children is ebenezer (ben) who has blue eyes. he is an avid scholar, but willingly puts aside his education to support his family. with his sister, he takes care of the younger children and will sacrifice everything he can for them. at the beginning of the first book, he is eleven years old.
See Also: Where to Donate Books After Decluttering – Earth Friendly Tips
mary (polly) is the eldest daughter and is ten years old at the beginning of the series. she is a bright, busy and cheerful girl who makes the life of the family as happy and comfortable as possible. she is also looking forward to cooking for the family. she loves flowers, music and her little sister with the same passion.
joel is the middle pepper and the middle boy and he is the most active. at the beginning of the series he is eight years old. he is a keen sportsman who loves parties, entertainment and treats. Joel is the most troublesome of the kids, often getting into mischief or just causing others pain with all the things he says. he settles down a bit in college and becomes active in some church student group.
Davie is the youngest and quietest of the children. she allows the world to follow around her as she calmly absorbs each of the family’s activities. Davie is a dutiful student, and is equally willing to give up anything to make Ben or Joel happy. a bit of a dandy in his late teens, he is jokingly called “davina” by the other students.
sophronia (phronsie) is the baby and pet of the pepper family. she begins the series as a wide-eyed blonde at the age of three who sees the good in just about everyone. she is eager to help anyone in need. Phronsie calls her dolls Seraphina and Baby, her children, and treats them as such. she is particularly devoted to mr. king and polly.
mr. j horatio king, senior is the benefactor of the pepper family. he is an elderly widower and his health is uncertain as the series begins. bringing the family of peppers to his house revitalizes him. Quick-tempered and opinionated, “Grandpa” is a family man who seeks to ease every pain and worry in the lives of his children and the peppers.
jasper, junior is mr. King’s son. He’s just as willing to bake cakes with Polly as he is to go sledding with Ben. Jasper and his dog Prince befriend the Peppers after rescuing Phronsie from an organ grinder. His affection for them eventually leads him to request his company at home once he marries Polly.
See Also: Paying a Nanny/Babysitter on the Books | Nanny 101 | Advice – Childcare and Education
marian king whitney is mr. adult daughter of the king. Ella Van’s sons, Percy and Dick Whitney make up the rest of the royal household. Mr. whitney ends up being mrs. cousin of the bell pepper, so bell peppers are distant relatives of kings. Mrs. Whitney is the second mother of the Pepper Kids. The three children, while in love with Polly, are also frequently at odds with each other and with Joel.
Four films were made based on these books, produced by Columbia Pictures in 1939 and 1940. They were vehicles for Columbia’s young stars, Edith Fellows, who played Polly. The rest of the kids were Tommy Bond (playing Joey), Charles Peck (playing Ben), Bobby Larson (playing Davie), and Dorothy Ann Seese (playing Phronsie). all four movies had little to do with the books, but were quite popular with moviegoers.
“Five Peppers and How They Grew” is the first novel in the “Five Peppers” series and was published in 1881. Times are hard in this little brown house. Mrs. Widow Pepper must sew all day to earn enough money to pay the rent and feed the five growing peppers. she faces her poverty and problems with her smiling face, her brave heart and the help of her cheerful family. Ben, Polly, Joel, Davie, and Phronsie.
“five peppers” is the second novel in the “five peppers” series and was published in the year 1890. five years after the events of the first book, the peppers live with mr. king in his huge mansion, however, his spiteful cousin seems determined to spoil all his happiness.
“the five little peppers grew” is the third novel in the “five little peppers” series and was published in 1892. as the five peppers grow, polly finds romance while giving piano lessons to help support the family.
“Five Peppers at School” is the eighth novel in the “Five Peppers” series and was published in the year 1903. Davie and Joel Pepper are in boarding school trying to learn things like manners and self-sufficiency while Polly has to deal with with the snobs and gossips at his school. A horrible train accident leaves the brakeman’s wife a widow with children to support, Polly tries to help them by raising some money for them. will it make everything work?
See Also: 6 Dr. Seuss books won&x27t be published due to racist images – Los Angeles Times