Portraits of Little Women (set 1 of 3), Susan Beth Pfeffer

Portraits of Little Women: Set 1: 
Meg's Story: ISBN:0385325207
Jo's Story: ISBN: 0385325231
Beth's Story: ISBN: 0385325266
Amy's Story: ISBN: 0385325290
Susan Beth Pfeffer
Read December 15-18

Fiction: Pfeffer has written a set of "prequels" to Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott.  This is a set of three series, each comprising four books featuring each of the four sisters of the March family when they are 10 years old.   This set of Portraits is the first.  The second set of Portraits are Meg/Jo/Beth/Amy Makes a Friend, and I'm gathering them together for a read now.   After that, I'll find and read the final set: A Gift for Meg/Jo/Beth/Amy.  These books are so far very similar in design to the American Girl books, but seem to be a bit shorter.

Meg is invited to a picnic hosted by a wealthy (and somewhat snobbish) neighbor, but when a family emergency calls the housekeeper away, Meg has to babysit her younger siblings - instead of going to the picnic.  Always levelheaded, Meg contrives to watch the girls AND go to the picnic, and learns a few lessons about pride and kindness.

Jo overhears her Aunt March offering to adopt one of the March girls and keep her as a companion, to relieve some of the financial strain on their parents.  In a fit of filial duty, Jo prepares for the theatrical role of a lifetime; a womanly, submissive, and patient companion to her irascible aunt.

Beth is treated to the trip of a lifetime, going to New York with her parents.  There the shy Beth blossoms, surrounded by culture and beauty.  She also meets a quite famous personage, but when she returns home, even her sisters disbelieve her adventures.

Amy is delighted when a photographer sets up shop in town.  A real photograph, to forever immortalize her beauty, is just what she's always wanted.  But photography is expensive, and Father's just been called away to support the Union Army as a Chaplain.  Will Amy's good heart win out over her superficially selfish nature?

Nothing earth-shattering here, but excellent "clean reads" especially useful for a precocious reader, and fun little tidbits to build anticipation of reading Little Women itself, either solo or as a bedtime serial.