
The timing is perfect: Rosalind will be home from college, Skye and Jane will put their bothersome teenage worries aside to celebrate, and Jeffrey, honorary Penderwick and Batty's musical mentore, will be visiting from Boston. Batty is saving up her dog-walking money for an extra-special surprise for her family, which she plans to present on her upcoming birthday. And some are ridiculous, like Batty's new dog-walking business, which has resulted in her spending an inordinate amount of time with Duchess, a very fat dachshund, and Cilantro, a wrinkled shar-pei with a bark like a lovelorn tuba.

Some surprises are just wonderful, like Nick Geiger coming home from war. The brood has grown to six with the addition of Lydia, the new youngest sibling, and there are surprises in store for all.

Springtime is finally arriving on Gardam Street, and with it comes all the joyful chaos of the Penderwicks.
