Seven Kisses in a Row: A Chapter Book About Teaching Family the Rules for Children (Ages 6-10) (Charlotte Zolotow Books

by Patricia MacLachlan, Maria Pia Marrella (Illustrator)

It's not fair, Emma thinks, for her parents to go away (for five whole days) and leave her with an aunt and uncle she hardly knows. What if they don't like children? But Aunt Evelyn and Uncle Eliot like Emma and her brother, Zachary, just fine. They also like rules. Rules Eating. Sleeping. Cleaning up. Messing up. Emma doesn't believe in rules. Not unless they're Eating no broccoli, dead or alive. No sleeping in a room where night rumbles hide. Cleaning Don't. Messing Do. Emma can see that Aunt Evelyn and Uncle Elliot have a lot to learn about being parents. But that's okay---because Emma has five whole days in which to teach them.

Genres: Childrens, Middle Grade, Fiction, Family, Juvenile, Animals

64 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

Patricia MacLachlan was born on the prairie, and always carried a small bag of prairie dirt with her wherever she went to remind her of what she knew first. She was the author of many well-loved novels and picture books, including Sarah, Plain and Tall, winner of the Newbery Medal; its sequels, Skylark and Caleb's Story; and Three Names, illustrated by Mike Wimmer. She lived in western Massachusetts.

Reviews

[R.F. Gammon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aka the cutest book ever

[Rebekah Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is so cute! I love the relationship between Emma and her big brother. And the aunt and uncle . . . I thought I wouldn’t like them, but like Emma, I soon discovered that they just needed to learn some things.
I love Patricia MacLachlan’s writing stye. It’s simple and easy enough for children, but still written in a way that older readers can still enjoy it.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book! A girl and boy watch how their aunt and uncle improve in their parenting skills.

[Annette · Rating 2 out of 5]

Like Patricia MacLachlan's other books this is short and sweet. It's only 56 pages, so anyone could easily read it in less than an hour. The book is cute but not memorable. Emma is a likable main character, however all of the characters seemed pretty flat to me, but what can you do in 56 pages? I would have appreciated more description - a lot more. Also, I couldn't figure out the older brother, what age is he supposed to be anyway? He acted like he came straight from a cheezy Disney movie. Keep in mind, this is all from an adult's point of view. I'm sure that there are a lot of 8 year old little girls who can identify with Emma and really love this book.

[Dena · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a cute little book!!! And what a character this Emma is. Some people read trashy romance novels between heavy books. Not me. I preview kids books that I will pass along to my neices and nephews. This one is a Sarah Boujoia book for sure!!

[ShaLisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book does a good job of capturing the fun-loving greatness of a seven year old. I appreciate the relationship between the girl and her brother - something good for children to hear. This book is anti-climatic yet fun enough to hold interest. The book is sweet and positive.

[Ann Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A perfect third grade read...seems to be thousands of them though...Emma must come to terms with her parents going away on a business trip and leaving her home with an aunt and uncle who apparently have not been close relatives. This aunt and uncle are expecting their first child and apparently agreed to the visit because they wanted to pick up a few parenting tricks. Emma and her brother are not babies so....anyway there is a neighbor lady who seems nice and has a thousand cats but she only visits the story once so....this aunt and uncle try to enforce their own rules and demands - even though apparently they are complete strangers...at the end of the 50 pages or so the uncle presents the children with bus passes to come back to their place when the baby arrives - hello? - by themselves? all that being said and being said from a grandmotherly type reader I though it was still the perfect read for the child as they would not understand most of what I picked on. It was simple and flows smoothly leaving no time for boredom. It invites questions and stirs conversations. And perhaps the third grader can relate more to Emma than I could.

[Joy Slykhuis · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, so great! Another perfect little gem of a book. Every page is delightful.

Emma is exactly right for a however-old-she-is-girl. (I don't think we ever know, exactly...maybe 6 or 7?) Divided grapefruit with a cherry in the middle, 7 kisses in a row (of course), running away to Mrs. Groundwine's after signing a letter "fond regards to the family", and packing a popsicle in her backpack. The fact that most times she likes things even, and no eggplant in tomato stuff...and those are just the brilliant things in the first 6 pages!! Her aunt and uncle come to look after Emma and her brother Zachary while her parents (her father is an eyeball doctor" are at an eyeball meeting, and Emma gives them lessons on how to be parents. Absolutely wonderful and perfect!

[Marcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This transitional book is written in simple vocabulary and short, uncomplicated sentences. There are seven chapters spanning a short time frame. The book is very conversational and the narrative flows smoothly. The black and white illustrations give the reader an image of what the characters look like and the actions they are doing. The characters in the story are realistic and young readers would easily identify with them.

[Kasey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anja read this outloud to me. It is a cute story of a little girl and her brother being taken care of by their aunt and uncle. All four of them discover new things about themselves. It was interesting reading this with Anja since it was written WAY before she was born. There are a few references, like records and record players, that Anja had no idea what they were. Funny how things change so quickly.

[Lucia · Rating 3 out of 5]

i picked this book up off a shelf while straightening. It looks like a quick read, perfect for a day too hot to hardly move in a house that just lost the air conditioner. . .


and it was sweet. I think this is what kids are supposed to read instead of JE's. Good fun.

[Elizabeth Gibbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I laughed out loud several times. This view of life from a young girl's perspective is hilarious. When Emma's parents go out of town she is stuck with her aunt and uncle and her older brother Zachary. Life doesn't seem fair anymore and she lets them all know.

[Carrie Horton · Rating 3 out of 5]

At first I didn't like this book too much. It began growing on me towards the "Rules" section I think that's when the book begins to change for the better. Emma is darling in this book but I guess I was hoping for a little more"Sarah plain and tall" here

[Deena M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this with a small group of third graders. They enjoyed it and so did I. I like the humor that is brought out by the main character's voice. Emma is an adorable character! This is a nice book to practice visualization skills and dive into character traits & feelings.

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emma is a very likable seven-year old, wise beyond her years. A sweet and warm book with kind characters.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this short chapter book with my boys at bedtime. They enjoyed it, but missed much of the cleverness that endeared me to it. I loved it!

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

sweet book, well written, perhaps a bit to stiff...

[Theadora · Rating 2 out of 5]

From my kidhood. This girl is both ridiculous and incredible.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet story about family traditions, loving a new baby, and being a good aunt/uncle.

[Melinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of rules or only 3? Different strokes for different folks. Emma teaches her aunt and uncle how to be parents and they teach her a few things, too. Quick read with great kid voice.

[Sadie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my favorite, kids grew bored easily and no flow between chapters.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not riveting but cute.

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet little novella, light in substance, but delightful in it's own right.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nice fast read full of love and marriage and Miranda

[Kate Callen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet short chapter book about a little girl whose aunt and uncle have come to look after her and her brother while her parents are away for a few days.

[Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all) · Rating 2 out of 5]

MacLachlan's writing is notoriously uneven. From fantastic to pedestrian to (in the Boxcar prequel) downright awful. This one is just meh. Not much depth of character, not much action at all until the very very end. It felt like lazy writing. If she had taken the trouble to develop it, this book would have been great.

[Lindsay Bray · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my favourite Patricia MacLachlan book. It’s definitely one that’s on the shorter side. I found the ending cute but overall not much happened plot wise.

[MK · Rating 2 out of 5]

This had been on my mom's bookshelf years ago. I had kind of wished there was more about kittens in it haha.

[Chelsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. Cute, but kinda weird.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute! I wish one of my brothers had been like Zachary