The Problim Children

With a dash of Lemony Snicket, a dollop of the Addams Family, and a hearty dose of adventure, New York Times bestselling author Natalie Lloyd introduces a new series about seven strange and adventurous siblings who tackle problems together—even when their new neighbors try to tear them apart.

Filled with mystery, humor, and adventure, the first book in this new trilogy is an unforgettable tale of adventure, family, and finding the courage to face any problem heart-first.

When the Problim children’s ramshackle bungalow in the Swampy Woods goes kaboom, the seven siblings—each born on a different day of the week—have to move into their grandpa’s bizarre old mansion in Lost Cove. No problem! For the Problim children, every problem is a gift!

But rumors about their family run rampant in the small town: tales of a bitter feud, a hidden treasure, and a certain kind of magic lingering in the halls of #7 Main Street. Their neighbors, the O’Pinions, will do anything to find the secrets lurking inside the Problim household—including sending the seven children to seven different houses on seven different continents!

• Sibling Story: Meet seven siblings, each born on a different day of the week, who know that for the Problims, every problem is a gift to be solved together.
• Middle Grade Mystery: Uncover the truth behind a bitter family feud, a legendary hidden treasure, and the strange magic lingering in their grandpa’s old mansion.
• Humorous Adventure: When your house goes kaboom, moving is an adventure… especially when your new neighbors, the O’Pinions, want to ship you off to seven different continents.
• Riddles and Clues: Follow the strange clues left behind by Grandpa Problim to solve the biggest mystery of all: who the Problims really are.

★ “With her trademark charm and heavy doses of whimsy, Lloyd spins another heart-warming yarn centered on friendship and family.” - Booklist (starred review)

“Both text and illustrations offer a nod to Roald Dahl’s quirky, juvenile heroes and equally quirky, nasty villains. The distinctive flavor comes both from Lloyd’s witty but succinct word mastery and from her unflagging imagination.” - Kirkus Reviews

“Lloyd’s warm and playful writing shines.” - School Library Journal

“Filled with adventure, mystery, humor, and heart.

“Young readers with an appreciation for offbeat adventure stories will no doubt be delighted with Natalie Lloyd’s imaginative world and its lively, brave inhabitants—farts and all.” - Chapter 16 Reviews

“An affectionate ode to the wonders of being a weird kid in a weird family. This book is an utter delight!” - Anne Ursu, author of The Real Boy and Breadcrumbs

“An absolute gem, delightfully original but with the timeless charm of a favorite classic.” - Dan Gemeinhart, author of The Honest Truth and Some Kind of Courage

“The Problim Children is bursting at the seams with magic, heart, and humor. A sheer, riotous delight.” - Claire Legrand, author of Some Kind of Happiness

“Much quirky fun to be had.... Give this to fans of Ingrid Law’s Savvy or Lloyd’s own A Snicker of Magic.” - Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Well-developed secondary characters are one of the book’s strongest points, from sisters who both run bakeries to a [girl] trapped at home because of an allergy to air. The whimsy factor is high.” - The Horn Book

“An irreverent and delightful twist on the “Monday’s Child” nursery rhyme.... The children’s varied talents and humorous antics will leave readers eager to dive into their future exploits.” - Publishers Weekly