The Wouldbegoods

By E. Nesbit and Edith Nesbit

Book Overview

E. Nesbit's "The Wouldbegoods" offers a charming and humorous glimpse into the adventures-and misadventures-of a lively group of children. This classic juvenile fiction title explores the ups and downs of family life, sibling relationships, and the often-complicated world of manners and customs. Filled with innocent intentions and comical mishaps, the story follows the children as they attempt to be helpful and virtuous, with results that are often far from what they expect. Nesbit's keen observations on childhood and her delightful storytelling make "The Wouldbegoods" an enduring read, capturing the spirit of youthful exuberance and the importance of values and virtues. This meticulously prepared print edition preserves the original charm and wit of a beloved classic, ensuring its timeless appeal for readers of all ages. A delightful exploration of family dynamics and childhood antics, this book is sure to bring laughter and warmth to every reader.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1023197847
• ISBN13: 9781023197847
• Release Date: March 2025
• Publisher: Anson Street Press
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.61 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.1" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

She "gets" children

We have read all of E. Nesbit's books aloud. My kids generally remark how well she "gets" kids. Her stories are timeless and usually involve children who want to be good and yet find that it isn't always easy. A very pleasant read.

Funniest Bastable Book Yet

E. Nesbit wrote three books about the Bastables: The Story Of The Treasure Seekers, in which the six Bastable kids look for treasure to restore treir family's fallen fortunes, New Treasure Seekers, a beautiful collection of wonderful Bastable adventures, and the Wouldbegoods, in which the motley troop goes on vacation with their cousins, form the soceity of Wouldbegoods, (in which the motive is to do one good deed a day) and fail miserably. The first thing Noel does is climb the chimney and fetch down a few bricks, a bird nest and a couple tons of soot. Wouldbegoods is by far the best, but if tou want to read it free go to Google.com, type in New Treasure Seekers, click on first choice and you can red either New Treasure Seekers or Wouldbegoods at your leisure.

Maybe They Should Try Being Bad.....?

"I do believe we are the worst children who ever lived!" Alice Bastable cries when yet another plan of the 'Wouldbegoods' goes disastrously wrong. Her despair is understandable, in their attempts to perform good deeds the six Bastable children and their two friends wreck havoc across the British countryside. Yet in the end they do manage to do good, quite by accident. Absolutely hilarious.

Banished for the Summer!

6 Bastables and two friends are sent to the country for the summer, and try to do good things. Of course, the best laid plans...But what child can resist a story of children living in a moat house, spending their summer free to explore the English countryside? What great ideas will the children come up with next? The characters are funny and very real. There is trouble around every bend, but a theme of honesty and integrity runs through the story like a breath of fresh country air.

It is the foundation of the pyramid that is my soul!

I wish Oswald were real, I honestly do. He's the greatest, so utterly pompous yet compassionate and humane, so three-dimensional, so all-knowing, yet so childishly naive. The Wouldbegoods is hilarious and quite informative. I learned a great deal about British vocabulary--"ripping" is now my most-loved word.