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The Happy Hollisters #3
The Happy Hollisters at Sea Gull Beach
The Happy Hollisters at Sea Gull Beach (#3 in the Happy Hollisters series) Looking forward to a visit at Sea Gull Beach, the Happy Hollister children have a wonderful time giving a play about pirates and American sailors. Then when they discover that a present they received from Uncle Russ, a lighthouse lamp, contains a real emerald, they are more eager than ever to get to Sea Gull Beach and find out where it came from. They have many exciting and new adventures during their search for the one hundred-year-old treasure which is buried with the MYSTERY ship. Pete, in an underwater outfit, visits the sea bottom, while Uncle Russ sketches cartoons of him from a glass-bottom boat. Pete enters his sea gull kite in the big Kite Contest. Holly and Sue are caught on a sandbar with an incoming tide and are rescued by their new friend, Rachel. In their search for the treasure an old tomb and a strange half-house are among the unusual clues that lead the Hollisters to the treasure. To the Happy Hollisters, every day brings new fun and adventures as they eagerly welcome new experiences and new friends. That is why the stories about this lovable family make exciting reading. First published in 1953, these charming mystery-adventure stories, faithfully reproduced, are now available in paperback and eBook for the first time! Written for boys and girls between the ages of six and twelve, The Happy Hollisters are wholesome books, with an accent on humor and good, clean fun. Integrity always pays off and right wins over wrong. This is a perfect gift for the young reader in your life. Parents, grandparents, and teachers love these books for their healthy celebration of life in simpler times. Kids are thrilled with the fast-paced action and will not want to put them down. Over seventy action-packed illustrations make the story – and the Hollister family – so vivid that the reader has a feeling of really sharing in on the adventures of this lovable and interesting family.
190 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1953
124 people are currently reading
197 people want to read
About the author
Jerry West
92 books51 followersThe Happy Hollisters by Jerry West was actually written by Andrew E. Svenson, a prolific yet somewhat anonymous, writer of books for children. Jerry West was the pen name assigned to Svenson when he started writing The Happy Hollisters for the Stratemeyer Syndicate. The Stratemeyer Syndicate was a book packager, well-known for its development of children’s book series including Tom Swift, The Bobbsey Twins, The Hardy Boys, and Nancy Drew. Many of these series were intended to have long publishing lives, and were written by multiple authors using the same pseudonym. The Happy Hollisters, however, were all written by Andrew Svenson, whose identity as Jerry West was kept secret until several years after his death in 1975.
Andrew Svenson was born in Belleville, NJ, in 1910, and his interest in writing started early. He was editor of his high school newspaper and yearbook at Barringer High School in Newark, and then went on to study Creative Writing at the University of Pittsburgh. After his graduation in 1932, he worked as a reporter and editor for the Newark Star Eagle and the Newark Evening News. He also taught creative writing courses at Rutgers University and Upsala College.
Andrew Svenson was encouraged by his friend Howard Garis (author of Uncle Wiggily) to try his hand at juvenile fiction. He joined the Stratemeyer Syndicate as a writer in 1948, where he contributed to established series as Franklin W. Dixon (The Hardy Boys) and as Laura Lee Hope (The Bobbsey Twins). The first volume in his own original series, The Happy Hollisters, was published in 1953 by Doubleday & Company, and he was made a partner in the Stratemeyer Syndicate in 1961. As he wrote and developed 33 titles in The Happy Hollisters, he was also creating additional series for children under other pen names: Bret King by Dan Scott and The Tollivers by Alan Stone, one of the first series written about and for African-American children.
Under various pseudonyms, Andrew Svenson wrote more than 70 adventure and mystery novels for children, which were published in 17 languages and sold millions of copies. The Hollister family was modeled on his own family and he often used actual Svenson family events and travels as the foundation for The Happy Hollisters books. He also kept copious newspaper clippings for story ideas, and interviewed hundreds of school children and teachers for additional suggestions. These ideas were then worked into his storylines, adding an educational element that was appreciated by parents and educators alike. The children loved the stories for their elements of danger and excitement geared to their comprehension level.
After his death in 1975, the Stratemeyer Syndicate assigned all rights to The Happy Hollisters to his widow, Marian Svenson; they subsequently became the property of The Hollister Family Properties Trust. The current publication was initiated by Andrew E. Svenson III, grandson of the author, on behalf of The Hollister Family Properties Trust.
Andrew Svenson was born in Belleville, NJ, in 1910, and his interest in writing started early. He was editor of his high school newspaper and yearbook at Barringer High School in Newark, and then went on to study Creative Writing at the University of Pittsburgh. After his graduation in 1932, he worked as a reporter and editor for the Newark Star Eagle and the Newark Evening News. He also taught creative writing courses at Rutgers University and Upsala College.
Andrew Svenson was encouraged by his friend Howard Garis (author of Uncle Wiggily) to try his hand at juvenile fiction. He joined the Stratemeyer Syndicate as a writer in 1948, where he contributed to established series as Franklin W. Dixon (The Hardy Boys) and as Laura Lee Hope (The Bobbsey Twins). The first volume in his own original series, The Happy Hollisters, was published in 1953 by Doubleday & Company, and he was made a partner in the Stratemeyer Syndicate in 1961. As he wrote and developed 33 titles in The Happy Hollisters, he was also creating additional series for children under other pen names: Bret King by Dan Scott and The Tollivers by Alan Stone, one of the first series written about and for African-American children.
Under various pseudonyms, Andrew Svenson wrote more than 70 adventure and mystery novels for children, which were published in 17 languages and sold millions of copies. The Hollister family was modeled on his own family and he often used actual Svenson family events and travels as the foundation for The Happy Hollisters books. He also kept copious newspaper clippings for story ideas, and interviewed hundreds of school children and teachers for additional suggestions. These ideas were then worked into his storylines, adding an educational element that was appreciated by parents and educators alike. The children loved the stories for their elements of danger and excitement geared to their comprehension level.
After his death in 1975, the Stratemeyer Syndicate assigned all rights to The Happy Hollisters to his widow, Marian Svenson; they subsequently became the property of The Hollister Family Properties Trust. The current publication was initiated by Andrew E. Svenson III, grandson of the author, on behalf of The Hollister Family Properties Trust.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
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May 28, 2021In my opinion this was the best in the series this far, or maybe I had just the right moment to read this. I really loved this summer read where the family travelled to shore. I also loved the adventure when they were looking for the missing pirate ship. This was so fun & cozy read and I'm happy that I read this.
I also love animals so I could relate to scenes with animals.
I also love animals so I could relate to scenes with animals.
November 12, 2018
The Happy Hollisters books are wonderful; and there's 33 of them!
The Hollisters are such a nice and close-knit family, and they have so much fun together, whether it's playing, working at the family store, ... or solving a mystery together! Each one of the Hollister children - Pete (12), Pam (10), Ricky (7), Holly (6) and Sue (4) - plays an important role in finding clues, along with their parents who are always ready to join in on the excitement. These books remind me a lot of the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boy books, but with a whole family!
They're wholesome, reinforce family unity and have that ol' fashion charm. There's some good life lessons tucked away in here.
Cleanliness: Swell, Jeepers, by George, Cricket, Goodness, Gee, Golly, Gracious, and the like are all used throughout book. There is a mean bully in the story (that is cast negatively) and the children learn not to be like him and how to handle his meanness. Two boys get in a fist fight (it is with a bully).
Parent Takeaway
The Hollisters are a nice and close-knit family that have so much fun together, whether it's playing, working at the family store, or solving a mystery together. The bully in the story is not portrayed positively, but is there for a lesson of not only what type of child not to be, but how to respond and behave around someone that is mean. Some good life lessons tucked away in here.
**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it!
Visit my website!
The Hollisters are such a nice and close-knit family, and they have so much fun together, whether it's playing, working at the family store, ... or solving a mystery together! Each one of the Hollister children - Pete (12), Pam (10), Ricky (7), Holly (6) and Sue (4) - plays an important role in finding clues, along with their parents who are always ready to join in on the excitement. These books remind me a lot of the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boy books, but with a whole family!
They're wholesome, reinforce family unity and have that ol' fashion charm. There's some good life lessons tucked away in here.
Cleanliness: Swell, Jeepers, by George, Cricket, Goodness, Gee, Golly, Gracious, and the like are all used throughout book. There is a mean bully in the story (that is cast negatively) and the children learn not to be like him and how to handle his meanness. Two boys get in a fist fight (it is with a bully).
Parent Takeaway
The Hollisters are a nice and close-knit family that have so much fun together, whether it's playing, working at the family store, or solving a mystery together. The bully in the story is not portrayed positively, but is there for a lesson of not only what type of child not to be, but how to respond and behave around someone that is mean. Some good life lessons tucked away in here.
**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it!
Visit my website!
February 18, 2017
The Hollisters are written for a younger audience than the Famous Five books by Enid Blyton. Unlike the Famous Five, the Hollisters did not go on holidays alone without adults, and they did not usually five themselves in such extreme dangers. They still managed to live adventures and solve mysteries, though.
The books were written in the 50s and 60s, and it depicts a clean-cut, wholesome family, where children get along with their siblings and respect their parents. The plot is simple, as befits the target audience, and the chapters usually end in a cliffhanger to keep readers interested. The target audience is a bit too young for the books to appeal to adult readers, but then again they do not need to. Children between 5 and 11 are the target audience, and the books will work well for them.
In this book, the Hollisters visit their uncle at Sea Gull beach. They meet some new friends, compete in a kite contest and look for an old sunken pirate ship full of treasure.
The books were written in the 50s and 60s, and it depicts a clean-cut, wholesome family, where children get along with their siblings and respect their parents. The plot is simple, as befits the target audience, and the chapters usually end in a cliffhanger to keep readers interested. The target audience is a bit too young for the books to appeal to adult readers, but then again they do not need to. Children between 5 and 11 are the target audience, and the books will work well for them.
In this book, the Hollisters visit their uncle at Sea Gull beach. They meet some new friends, compete in a kite contest and look for an old sunken pirate ship full of treasure.
July 7, 2020
These books are some of my most treasured possessions from my childhood. Many of my collected books from the series were from each of my parents when THEY were little, and I continue to collect the books when I come across them at antique stores.
April 5, 2020
I liked the part where Joey Brill turned out to be nice and at the end the Hollisters found the treasure and got to play with it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 1, 2017
A friend found this childhood favorite at a used bookstore and gave it to me. It's the fun tale of a family (the Happy Hollisters) going to visit their uncle at the beach, making new friends, hunting for a lost pirate ship, entering a kite flying contest, and having fun.
May 7, 2020
I'm noticing how rich Mr Hollister must be, but I don't care. (It's kinda like YouTube can be)
February 15, 2021
Treasure hunt
The Hollisters' visit to Sea Gull Beach turns a family vacation into a hunt for a shipwrecked pirate ship and its treasure. More fun with Pete, Pam, Ricky, Holly, and Sue Hollister and their dog, Zip.
The Hollisters' visit to Sea Gull Beach turns a family vacation into a hunt for a shipwrecked pirate ship and its treasure. More fun with Pete, Pam, Ricky, Holly, and Sue Hollister and their dog, Zip.
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January 25, 2019My ten year old son read this. He enjoyed it and wanted more!
March 5, 2011
It was fun and exciting. It was funny when they painted seagulls.
October 20, 2019
This was my favorite of the Hollisters series when I was younger. I loved the idea of digging and finding treasure. It was fun to revisit this story.
June 20, 2025
I have an odd relationship with the Happy Hollisters: I feel like they're extra-special, because we didn't stock them at my city library or school library, and only by visiting my Grandmother could I get access to these forbidden fruits. I always enjoyed their pleasant family dynamic and inconsequential, easily-solved scrapes.
I'm a bit older now (cough cough understatement) and it's increasingly obvious these will not go down through history as literary classics. I don't understand why the children so readily play with obviously cruel bullies, and the bullies themselves (or their fathers) are just mean because they Just Are. Lots of plot points seem increasingly ludicrous, including the main thrust of this one, the search for the missing pirate ship complete with jewels that no one thought to take when the ship was first wrecked, even though it happened close to shore.
But it's a good read for when you have limited attention (I read it on my iPad when I walk down the long hallway from my office to the washrooms, yes, it's that specific). It's fun to read what was taken for granted in the past: all the women without jobs, the "girl's division" of the kite-flying championship (and they designed a doll-themed kite, of course), and think about how much has changed.
(Note: I'm a writer, so I suffer when I offer fewer than five stars. But these aren't ratings of quality, they're a subjective account of how much I liked the book: 5* = an unalloyed pleasure from start to finish, 4* = really enjoyed it, 3* = readable but not thrilling, 2* = disappointing, and 1* = hated it.)
I'm a bit older now (cough cough understatement) and it's increasingly obvious these will not go down through history as literary classics. I don't understand why the children so readily play with obviously cruel bullies, and the bullies themselves (or their fathers) are just mean because they Just Are. Lots of plot points seem increasingly ludicrous, including the main thrust of this one, the search for the missing pirate ship complete with jewels that no one thought to take when the ship was first wrecked, even though it happened close to shore.
But it's a good read for when you have limited attention (I read it on my iPad when I walk down the long hallway from my office to the washrooms, yes, it's that specific). It's fun to read what was taken for granted in the past: all the women without jobs, the "girl's division" of the kite-flying championship (and they designed a doll-themed kite, of course), and think about how much has changed.
(Note: I'm a writer, so I suffer when I offer fewer than five stars. But these aren't ratings of quality, they're a subjective account of how much I liked the book: 5* = an unalloyed pleasure from start to finish, 4* = really enjoyed it, 3* = readable but not thrilling, 2* = disappointing, and 1* = hated it.)
June 26, 2017
Evidentemente los libros de los Hollister no son de gran calidad literaria, pero yo me crié con ellos y me encantaban, por eso no puedo darle menos de 4 estrellas.
Se nos cuentan aquí las aventuras de los cinco hermanos Hollister: Pete, Pam, Ricky, Holly y Sue que van desde los 4 a los 12 años. A diferencia de otras cuadrillas como los cinco de Enid Blyton, los Hollister viajan siempre acompañados de sus padres o de algún otro familiar y sus aventuras son más de andar por casa. Son más el tipo de aventuras que le podrían pasar a cualquier niño, bueno, relativamente.
Los 5 hermanos dan siempre ejemplo de buena convivencia y de saber cómo divertirse y hacer amigos. Algo que les vendría bien saber también a muchos niños hoy en día. Cuando era pequeña y leía estos libros, yo siempre me imaginaba que era Pam. Me ha gustado mucho volver a encontrarme con ellos y buscar un tesoro pirata en la playa de la gaviota.
Creo que los niños de 8 y 9 años de hoy en día también podrían disfrutarlos.
Se nos cuentan aquí las aventuras de los cinco hermanos Hollister: Pete, Pam, Ricky, Holly y Sue que van desde los 4 a los 12 años. A diferencia de otras cuadrillas como los cinco de Enid Blyton, los Hollister viajan siempre acompañados de sus padres o de algún otro familiar y sus aventuras son más de andar por casa. Son más el tipo de aventuras que le podrían pasar a cualquier niño, bueno, relativamente.
Los 5 hermanos dan siempre ejemplo de buena convivencia y de saber cómo divertirse y hacer amigos. Algo que les vendría bien saber también a muchos niños hoy en día. Cuando era pequeña y leía estos libros, yo siempre me imaginaba que era Pam. Me ha gustado mucho volver a encontrarme con ellos y buscar un tesoro pirata en la playa de la gaviota.
Creo que los niños de 8 y 9 años de hoy en día también podrían disfrutarlos.
January 17, 2021
The Happy Hollister go to Sea Gull Beach. The children have a play about pirates and American sailors. They discover that a present they received from Uncle Russ, a lighthouse lamp, contains a real emerald. Now eager to get to Sea Gull Beach to find out where it came from. They search for the one-hundred-year-old treasure which is buried with the mystery ship. Pete, in an underwater outfit, visits the sea bottom, while Uncle Russ sketches cartoons of him from a glass-bottom boat. Pete enters his seagull kite in the big Kite Contest. Holly and Sue are caught on a sandbar with an incoming tide and are rescued by their new friend, Rachel. A treasure, an old tomb, and a strange half-house are among the unusual clues that lead the Hollisters to the treasure.
I loved this story and this family. Imagination is the best play pal for young kids and the Hollisters never lack it. Takes me back to my childhood when I traveled the stars, and other adventures.
I loved this story and this family. Imagination is the best play pal for young kids and the Hollisters never lack it. Takes me back to my childhood when I traveled the stars, and other adventures.
March 17, 2021
The Happy Hollisters at Sea Gull Beach (Happy Hollisters, #3) by Jerry West
In this story the family are practicing being pirates and even sell tickets to a backyard play raising money for a children's cause.
Their Uncle Ross the sketch drawing cartoonist has invited them to Sea Gull Beach to be in a kite content and also search for the missing pirate ship.
The kids and parents are packing to go...they stop for a night and find a lot of nice people along the way.
Once they arrive in Sea Gull Beach they discover a bully like Joey at home, Homer who's father is the treasure hunter ...
So many cool things they are shown, dig for and discover that lead them to think they could be close to finding the sunken pirate ship.
Love reading about the things the kids find at the beach site. Even the kite flying is an event not to be missed.
In this story the family are practicing being pirates and even sell tickets to a backyard play raising money for a children's cause.
Their Uncle Ross the sketch drawing cartoonist has invited them to Sea Gull Beach to be in a kite content and also search for the missing pirate ship.
The kids and parents are packing to go...they stop for a night and find a lot of nice people along the way.
Once they arrive in Sea Gull Beach they discover a bully like Joey at home, Homer who's father is the treasure hunter ...
So many cool things they are shown, dig for and discover that lead them to think they could be close to finding the sunken pirate ship.
Love reading about the things the kids find at the beach site. Even the kite flying is an event not to be missed.
April 11, 2018
Old Fashioned Fun - Happy Holisters
The happy Hollisters was a classic treat as a read aloud book. Some of the language is a little outdated which holds a certain amount of charm in itself.
We have already downloaded another book in the series, so we will be looking forward to reading that in the future.
It takes you back to the good all days of running with friends and getting into harmless adventures. I recommend giving it a try and reading it out loud to your young ones.
Happy Hollister truly was buried treasure in my Kindle list.
The happy Hollisters was a classic treat as a read aloud book. Some of the language is a little outdated which holds a certain amount of charm in itself.
We have already downloaded another book in the series, so we will be looking forward to reading that in the future.
It takes you back to the good all days of running with friends and getting into harmless adventures. I recommend giving it a try and reading it out loud to your young ones.
Happy Hollister truly was buried treasure in my Kindle list.
September 3, 2018
Nostalgic Fun
What is the grade level for this book? My response would be that it is for kids of all ages who want to take a breather from the stresses of life and spend a few moments with this perfect family. The Hollister kids make everything an adventure. Everything is “keen” and “swell” to them, but if a bully comes along they take it in stride and deal with it. A punch in the nose was occasionally in order. This book was a fond reminder of the first series of books I remember eagerly checking out from the library.
What is the grade level for this book? My response would be that it is for kids of all ages who want to take a breather from the stresses of life and spend a few moments with this perfect family. The Hollister kids make everything an adventure. Everything is “keen” and “swell” to them, but if a bully comes along they take it in stride and deal with it. A punch in the nose was occasionally in order. This book was a fond reminder of the first series of books I remember eagerly checking out from the library.
August 2, 2022
Every few months I dive into the long forgotten happy and independent world of the Happy Hollisters. In many ways it reminds me of my childhood in the '50s where you went outside to play after breakfast, Mom hollered you in for lunch or when she wanted you, back out to play in the afternoon, eat dinner, back out to play until dusk or playing basketball under the street light with the hoop nailed to the telly pole. Parents watching you while you played ... Never ever never. Baseball, basketball, football ... all played in season.
August 14, 2017
This is a fun children's story written last century, peppered with old drawings. It moves quickly from one scene to another. The Hollister children have fun at everything they do, approaching life with a sense of adventure and seeing everything with curiosity. The family joins Uncle Russ at the beach and finds new experiences and friends.
August 11, 2017
Cute primary school level book written in the 1950's. Lots of pen & ink illustrations. Think Bobsey Twins-ish, but with 5 kids. Very nostalgic now.
May 10, 2020
Great story
Please write more! The children really enjoy your very well written books and hope you will keep writing them please!
Please write more! The children really enjoy your very well written books and hope you will keep writing them please!
December 18, 2020
Our favorite one so far.
September 22, 2021
I liked the book. I also liked the pictures in the book. I would give this book 3.7 stars.
February 8, 2022
Somewhat dated, but the my seven year old girls really enjoy this series.
June 2, 2022
I used to read these as a.kid.
I even wrote to Jerry West. Maybe later I can get my kids to read them also. Hope everyone enjoys these books as much as I do.
I even wrote to Jerry West. Maybe later I can get my kids to read them also. Hope everyone enjoys these books as much as I do.
tbr-1
June 22, 2022Y’all, several of these books are free on Amazon—books 1-4, 9-11. Go check them out and keep an eye on them!
(21.6.22)
(21.6.22)
June 24, 2022
It was funny book
September 1, 2022
Homer Ruffly is 10 times worse than Joey Brill.
January 26, 2023
Five siblings look for pirate treasure.
1/2023 Read with Julia
1/2023 Read with Julia
July 23, 2023
Love the book
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Totally recorded get SDC go On gases kids book jug cf hug July July his by good FCC good VH come b
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews