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Quick answer: If you loved Betsy-Tacy, read Betsy-Tacy and Tib and Heaven to Betsy, then Anne of Green Gables, Little House in the Big Woods, All-of-a-Kind Family and The Penderwicks. All are cosy, old-fashioned stories about friendship, family and growing up.
Maud Hart Lovelace's Betsy-Tacy books follow Betsy Ray and her best friends Tacy and Tib from age five in 1890s Minnesota through high school and beyond. They are gentle, funny and full of period detail. The books below offer similar warm friendships, small-town settings and girls who dream of becoming writers.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Betsy-Tacy and Tib | Maud Hart Lovelace | Ages 6-10 | the series |
| Heaven to Betsy | Maud Hart Lovelace | Ages 10-14 | high school Betsy |
| Anne of Green Gables | L. M. Montgomery | All ages | spirited girl |
| Little House in the Big Woods | Laura Ingalls Wilder | Ages 6-10 | pioneer life |
| All-of-a-Kind Family | Sydney Taylor | Ages 7-11 | city family |
| The Penderwicks | Jeanne Birdsall | Ages 8-12 | modern classic |
| Little Women | Louisa May Alcott | All ages | sisters growing up |
| Understood Betsy | Dorothy Canfield Fisher | Ages 8-12 | city to farm |
| Caddie Woodlawn | Carol Ryrie Brink | Ages 8-12 | pioneer tomboy |
| The Saturdays | Elizabeth Enright | Ages 8-12 | family adventures |
| Ballet Shoes | Noel Streatfeild | Ages 8-12 | three adopted sisters |
| The Moffats | Eleanor Estes | Ages 7-11 | everyday family |
| Daddy-Long-Legs | Jean Webster | Ages 10+ | letters from a student |
| Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm | Kate Douglas Wiggin | Ages 8-12 | sunny heroine |
| Ramona Quimby, Age 8 | Beverly Cleary | Ages 6-10 | school and family |
1. Betsy-Tacy and Tib by Maud Hart Lovelace
The girls' adventures continue as Tib joins the friendship. A sweet follow-up.
Best for: the series.
2. Heaven to Betsy by Maud Hart Lovelace
Betsy starts high school and tries out new friends and crushes. A favourite of older readers.
Best for: high school Betsy.
3. Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery
A talkative orphan changes a quiet farm. Warm, funny and timeless.
Best for: spirited girl.
4. Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder
A year in the life of a family in Wisconsin. Gentle and detailed.
Best for: pioneer life.
5. All-of-a-Kind Family by Sydney Taylor
Five sisters grow up in a Jewish neighbourhood in New York in 1912. Warm and funny.
Best for: city family.
6. The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall
Four sisters spend a summer at a cottage. Charming and old-fashioned in feel.
Best for: modern classic.
7. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
The four March sisters grow up during the American Civil War. Heartwarming and classic.
Best for: sisters growing up.
8. Understood Betsy by Dorothy Canfield Fisher
A timid city girl learns confidence on a Vermont farm. Gentle and wise.
Best for: city to farm.
9. Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink
A spirited girl lives on the Wisconsin frontier. Lively and warm.
Best for: pioneer tomboy.
10. The Saturdays by Elizabeth Enright
Four siblings pool their allowance for adventures in New York. Funny and classic.
Best for: family adventures.
11. Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild
Three sisters train for the stage in London. Warm and dramatic.
Best for: three adopted sisters.
12. The Moffats by Eleanor Estes
A family in a small Connecticut town has small adventures. Quiet and funny.
Best for: everyday family.
13. Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster
An orphan writes letters to an anonymous benefactor. Charming and witty.
Best for: letters from a student.
14. Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas Wiggin
A spirited girl goes to live with her stern aunts. Old-fashioned and warm.
Best for: sunny heroine.
15. Ramona Quimby, Age 8 by Beverly Cleary
Ramona starts third grade. Warm and funny.
Best for: school and family.
How to Choose
For more of the series read Betsy-Tacy and Tib and Heaven to Betsy. For classic friendships choose Anne of Green Gables or Little Women. For pioneer and historical life pick Little House in the Big Woods or All-of-a-Kind Family. For modern echoes read The Penderwicks. For letters and schooldays try Daddy-Long-Legs. Betsy-Tacy books are best read in order, since the girls grow up along the way. The Betsy-Tacy books are based on the author's own childhood in Mankato, Minnesota, and fans can visit the real houses, which are preserved as a museum. Fans of Betsy-Tacy often form reading groups and visit the real houses in Mankato, Minnesota. If you are reading with children, start with the first book, then wait to see whether they want to follow Betsy through high school. Look for the original illustrations by Lois Lenski and Vera Neville, which many editions keep.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Betsy-Tacy about?
The friendship of Betsy Ray and Tacy Kelly in turn-of-the-century Minnesota.
Who wrote it?
Maud Hart Lovelace.
When was it published?
1940.
How many books are in the series?
Ten Betsy-Tacy books, following the girls into adulthood.
What age is it for?
The first books suit ages 6 to 10, and later ones are for older readers.
Is it based on a true story?
Yes, on the author's childhood.
Do I need to read in order?
It helps, since the characters grow up.
What should I read next?
Try Betsy-Tacy and Tib or Anne of Green Gables.
Is Betsy-Tacy good for read-aloud?
Yes. The short chapters and gentle humour suit bedtime reading.
Are the books dated?
They are set in the 1890s and 1900s, but the friendships feel timeless.