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American Regional
Houseboat Girl
What would it be like to live on a houseboat on the Mississippi River with two parents, four kids, eight chickens, several turtles, a dog, and a cat? Patsy and her family are about to find out!
At first, Patsy is upset when her parents decide to move from their home in River City, Illinois, to a houseboat on the Mississippi River. She’ll miss her house and friends, and she’s sure the trip downriver will be boring. Gradually, she and her brother and sisters get used to their new life. Patsy grows to love the ever-changing river, where she even learns to swim. But she can’t help longing for a real house—on land. Houseboat Girl is based on the experiences of real families living on the Mississippi River in the summer of 1954. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Lois Lenski including rare images and never-before-seen documents from the author’s estate.
At first, Patsy is upset when her parents decide to move from their home in River City, Illinois, to a houseboat on the Mississippi River. She’ll miss her house and friends, and she’s sure the trip downriver will be boring. Gradually, she and her brother and sisters get used to their new life. Patsy grows to love the ever-changing river, where she even learns to swim. But she can’t help longing for a real house—on land. Houseboat Girl is based on the experiences of real families living on the Mississippi River in the summer of 1954. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Lois Lenski including rare images and never-before-seen documents from the author’s estate.
Hardcover
First published January 1, 1957
36 people are currently reading
316 people want to read
About the author
Lois Lenski
182 books197 followersLois Lenore Lenski Covey was an influential American author and illustrator whose work reshaped twentieth-century children’s literature through its combination of artistic skill, documentary realism, and deep empathy for childhood experience. Beginning her publishing career in the late 1920s, she went on to write and illustrate nearly one hundred books, ranging from picture books and historical novels to regional fiction, poetry, songbooks, and literary essays. She is best known for the Mr. Small picture book series, her meticulously researched historical novels, and her groundbreaking Regional books, which portrayed the everyday lives of children across diverse American communities.
Born in Ohio and trained formally as both an educator and an artist, Lenski studied at Ohio State University, the Art Students League of New York, and the Westminster School of Art in London. Although she initially aspired to be a painter, exhibiting work in New York galleries, she gradually turned to illustration and then to writing, encouraged by pioneering children’s editor Helen Dean Fish. Her early books drew heavily on her Midwestern childhood, while later works reflected extensive travel, field research, and close observation of family and community life.
Lenski achieved major critical recognition with her historical novels Phebe Fairchild: Her Book and Indian Captive, and with her Regional novel Strawberry Girl, which won the Newbery Medal. These works were notable for their commitment to authenticity, incorporating dialect, material culture, and social realities often avoided in children’s books of the era. She believed that literature for young readers should neither sentimentalize nor sanitize life, but instead foster understanding, tolerance, and empathy.
Alongside her own writing, Lenski illustrated works by other major authors, including Watty Piper’s The Little Engine That Could and the early volumes of Maud Hart Lovelace’s Betsy-Tacy series. Her influence extended beyond publishing through lectures, teaching, and advocacy. In 1967 she established the Lois Lenski Covey Foundation, dedicated to providing books to children facing social and economic disadvantage.
In her later years, Lenski continued writing while living in Florida, publishing her autobiography Journey into Childhood shortly before her death. Her legacy endures through her books, her educational philosophy, and ongoing efforts to expand access to literature for children.
Born in Ohio and trained formally as both an educator and an artist, Lenski studied at Ohio State University, the Art Students League of New York, and the Westminster School of Art in London. Although she initially aspired to be a painter, exhibiting work in New York galleries, she gradually turned to illustration and then to writing, encouraged by pioneering children’s editor Helen Dean Fish. Her early books drew heavily on her Midwestern childhood, while later works reflected extensive travel, field research, and close observation of family and community life.
Lenski achieved major critical recognition with her historical novels Phebe Fairchild: Her Book and Indian Captive, and with her Regional novel Strawberry Girl, which won the Newbery Medal. These works were notable for their commitment to authenticity, incorporating dialect, material culture, and social realities often avoided in children’s books of the era. She believed that literature for young readers should neither sentimentalize nor sanitize life, but instead foster understanding, tolerance, and empathy.
Alongside her own writing, Lenski illustrated works by other major authors, including Watty Piper’s The Little Engine That Could and the early volumes of Maud Hart Lovelace’s Betsy-Tacy series. Her influence extended beyond publishing through lectures, teaching, and advocacy. In 1967 she established the Lois Lenski Covey Foundation, dedicated to providing books to children facing social and economic disadvantage.
In her later years, Lenski continued writing while living in Florida, publishing her autobiography Journey into Childhood shortly before her death. Her legacy endures through her books, her educational philosophy, and ongoing efforts to expand access to literature for children.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
May 7, 2019
The life described in this book is one that I have never considered. I am curious about whether people in American live this way anymore- I am sure they must but how much of the population can survive like this? In the time this book was written, the family featured were impoverished.
This is based on a real family that Lenski lived with for a while so that she could learn about their lifestyle and story.
The story is told from young Patsy's point of view. She both loves and loathes life on the houseboat. She takes pride in it and she is ashamed of it. She has no stability and often wishes for a stable home in one location. She cries when she comes across children in river towns who degrade her and call her a "river rat." She and her younger siblings don't know how to swim when the book opens. The mother in the story is afraid to be in the water and never learned how to swim. The father can't hold a regular job and tries to support the family through fishing. He gives all the money to his wife because he can not manage it. When Patsy and her younger brother meet some children in a town they dock at for a time, they feel jealous but confused by the friendship the children offer and at first react in anger by throwing stones at the children. Then they become friends. It's a very heart wrenching story all the way around.
Lenski did such a service to this country in writing this American Regionals series- not just for the children at the time she was writing but for all of us who still read these books. They are invaluable glimpses at lives and lifestyles that are not so commonplace anymore- some of the books deal with lifestyles that no longer exist.
This is based on a real family that Lenski lived with for a while so that she could learn about their lifestyle and story.
The story is told from young Patsy's point of view. She both loves and loathes life on the houseboat. She takes pride in it and she is ashamed of it. She has no stability and often wishes for a stable home in one location. She cries when she comes across children in river towns who degrade her and call her a "river rat." She and her younger siblings don't know how to swim when the book opens. The mother in the story is afraid to be in the water and never learned how to swim. The father can't hold a regular job and tries to support the family through fishing. He gives all the money to his wife because he can not manage it. When Patsy and her younger brother meet some children in a town they dock at for a time, they feel jealous but confused by the friendship the children offer and at first react in anger by throwing stones at the children. Then they become friends. It's a very heart wrenching story all the way around.
Lenski did such a service to this country in writing this American Regionals series- not just for the children at the time she was writing but for all of us who still read these books. They are invaluable glimpses at lives and lifestyles that are not so commonplace anymore- some of the books deal with lifestyles that no longer exist.
Read
May 10, 2024What another feel good, wonderful story giving a glimpse into how real folks lived in various regions of the USA back in the 1940-50s....fiction but based actual families. Such a pleasure to read with so much to learn as based on facts, but also so beautiful for its simpler slice of life, its wholesome content etc. I grew up with her Newberry award winner one Strawberry Girl as a childhood favourite, one read many times. Now, these years, I am having the pleasure of getting other tremendous ones in her series.
Her books are so so worthwhile for a pleasure read and gentle history as well.
Her books are so so worthwhile for a pleasure read and gentle history as well.
May 14, 2023
Beautifully illustrated cute little story
September 2, 2012
THE SUNDAY FAMILY READ
Houseboat Girl is another Lois Lenski book that stands out in my memory as a favorite when I was growing up. I was ten years old when it was first published and I bet I found it at the library. I did not find it at the library in 2012, but my sister collects the Lenski books and she had a copy. It has also recently been republished in paperback and as an eBook by Open Road Media.
Patsy is going through that most wrenching experience for a ten-year-old girl of moving away from all your friends. On top of that, her family is setting off in a houseboat, planning to live on the Mississippi River all summer with no firm destination in mind. Patsy's parents are river people who get restless when they stay too long in one place.
Patsy's story is similar to Birdie Boyer's in Strawberry Girl. Both girls are in new locales and situations and have to learn about "mean people" when their fathers get into conflicts with other men. Like Judy in Judy's Journey, Patsy wants to settle down in a real house somewhere so she can go to school and have friends. But she also discovers the wonders of the river and the excitement of being on a journey.
The book is part of Lenski's American Regional Series. I'm amused at myself to have discovered that I read all the "girl" stories and skipped the "boy" ones when I was a kid. Obviously I was not boy crazy yet. By the time I was, I had moved on to Beverly Cleary's teen books.
Houseboat Girl is another Lois Lenski book that stands out in my memory as a favorite when I was growing up. I was ten years old when it was first published and I bet I found it at the library. I did not find it at the library in 2012, but my sister collects the Lenski books and she had a copy. It has also recently been republished in paperback and as an eBook by Open Road Media.
Patsy is going through that most wrenching experience for a ten-year-old girl of moving away from all your friends. On top of that, her family is setting off in a houseboat, planning to live on the Mississippi River all summer with no firm destination in mind. Patsy's parents are river people who get restless when they stay too long in one place.
Patsy's story is similar to Birdie Boyer's in Strawberry Girl. Both girls are in new locales and situations and have to learn about "mean people" when their fathers get into conflicts with other men. Like Judy in Judy's Journey, Patsy wants to settle down in a real house somewhere so she can go to school and have friends. But she also discovers the wonders of the river and the excitement of being on a journey.
The book is part of Lenski's American Regional Series. I'm amused at myself to have discovered that I read all the "girl" stories and skipped the "boy" ones when I was a kid. Obviously I was not boy crazy yet. By the time I was, I had moved on to Beverly Cleary's teen books.
July 14, 2018
I read this because it is my DREAM to live for at least a summer on a houseboat someday. This book is really dated, published in 1957, so things are quite a bit different now. There isn't as much freedom to live alternative lifestyles anymore. Sad. :-( But it was fun to travel down the Mississippi with the Foster family and revel in the freedom that used to be ours.
June 30, 2021
I love this historical series about children in the first half of the 1900s who lived in non-traditional ways. Based on real life experiences of families living on/near the Mississippi River in the early 1950s. Part of Lenski’s American Regional Series, 9-year-old Patsy and her family travel the Ohio River and then head south on the Mississippi.
June 18, 2023
This was a favorite of mine as a child. The idea of living in a houseboat intrigued me for years. Rereading it as an adult it always a bit different but it did bring back fond memories. I also learned some things about the Mississippi River including the loop in the river. Looked it up on Google maps even!
January 9, 2019
Well, well, a halfway decent Lois Lenski story. By which I mean a family that actually gets along. That was a refreshing surprise, after two disappointments!
This is the story of a summer on the Mississippi, but unlike Huckleberry Finn, Patsy's family lives on a houseboat and her (illiterate and apparently innumerate) father makes money by selling the fish he catches. The idea is to go as far south as they care to before winter. Patsy was born in the houseboat and has years of experience living as a "river rat" but two years in a real house on dry land have apparently soured her on the idea. (I think stepping into adolescence and therefore puberty might have something to do with that, but of course Lenski would never mention such a thing in a children's book.) Once again, Lenski gives us a girl character who hates the smell of fish, even though she's been around it all her life; perhaps Lenski herself disliked it!
A decent story with a few quibbles. At one point Dad complains that fish is a glut on the local market; so why doesn't the family eat some of their catch, which cost them nothing, and save a little money? How is it that Patsy's parents allow her to keep quite so many pets on the small houseboat which is already filled to bursting with six people? And yet she keeps a dog, a cat, several chickens and 18 turtles, and it's fine with them.
Another problem is with the telling of the story itself. Several big events are completely glossed over. It's not even tell-not-show, it's a bare mention in passing! We are told that the kids go to a circus, which is a big deal to them--but that's literally all that is said. Why not describe the acts, and the children's wonder at them? Had Lenski herself never seen a circus? Patsy has a run-in with a local girl who ridicules her, but the scene is not shown--instead, she tells Dad about it in about two sentences. At the end, Patsy has her first-ever sleepover with new friends...again, it's given half a sentence at the very end of the book.
Better than the other Lenskis I've read so far, but so many lost opportunities to add interest to a rather bland little tale. At least the family gets along and people aren't angry all the time.
This is the story of a summer on the Mississippi, but unlike Huckleberry Finn, Patsy's family lives on a houseboat and her (illiterate and apparently innumerate) father makes money by selling the fish he catches. The idea is to go as far south as they care to before winter. Patsy was born in the houseboat and has years of experience living as a "river rat" but two years in a real house on dry land have apparently soured her on the idea. (I think stepping into adolescence and therefore puberty might have something to do with that, but of course Lenski would never mention such a thing in a children's book.) Once again, Lenski gives us a girl character who hates the smell of fish, even though she's been around it all her life; perhaps Lenski herself disliked it!
A decent story with a few quibbles. At one point Dad complains that fish is a glut on the local market; so why doesn't the family eat some of their catch, which cost them nothing, and save a little money? How is it that Patsy's parents allow her to keep quite so many pets on the small houseboat which is already filled to bursting with six people? And yet she keeps a dog, a cat, several chickens and 18 turtles, and it's fine with them.
Another problem is with the telling of the story itself. Several big events are completely glossed over. It's not even tell-not-show, it's a bare mention in passing! We are told that the kids go to a circus, which is a big deal to them--but that's literally all that is said. Why not describe the acts, and the children's wonder at them? Had Lenski herself never seen a circus? Patsy has a run-in with a local girl who ridicules her, but the scene is not shown--instead, she tells Dad about it in about two sentences. At the end, Patsy has her first-ever sleepover with new friends...again, it's given half a sentence at the very end of the book.
Better than the other Lenskis I've read so far, but so many lost opportunities to add interest to a rather bland little tale. At least the family gets along and people aren't angry all the time.
March 13, 2011
This charming story by Lois Lenski, part of her Regional Series of books for children, is about a family's adventures aboard a houseboat as they travel down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. Patsy and her family are happily living in River City, Illinois. Patsy loves going to school with her friends, but unfortunatly, her Daddy has river life in his blood and is never content to stay in one place too long. He builds a houseboat for his family to live in, plus other boats that are necessary for him to earn a living on the river as a fisherman. Lucky for him, his wife understands his wunderlust tendencies and packs up the family to begin their adventure. Patsy and her siblings are somewhat resentul that they have no choice in the matter but slowly they learn to live with situation and adapt to the adventure of living life on the river. The family meets with obstacles but Patsy's bravery plays an important part in resolving conflicts. This is a very appealing story that girls especially will enjoy reading.
December 22, 2015
Just read the original book, no biographical extras. I liked it, but I don't think it comes anywhere near her best work. And yes, I'm over the age of 'adult' so I might not be her target audience any longer. :)
November 21, 2019
I fell in love with Lois Lenski's books over 50 years ago. It feels like listening to someone tell a story. In this book, Patsy's family lives on a houseboat their dad made and travel down the Mississippi River. There's adventure. There's troubles. And there's solutions. Very captivating.
September 16, 2020
Upping the stars to what I thought when I read it.
February 2, 2019
I discovered Lois Lenski's charming Regional series through picking up her Newbery medal winner, "Strawberry Girl". I've now read four of her books and they've all captured the essence of a bygone era of history. However, this one was the weakest of the four I've read, in terms of characters. Birdie in Strawberry Girl and Sally in Flood Friday were interesting to read about, and felt very real: not perfect children, but likable. Patsy in this book just annoyed me: she's very whiny. For example, the chapter where she constantly begs her mother to buy her new shoes (in public!) because Patsy swept her old shoes off the houseboat deck while cleaning up, annoyed me. I think the character may have been intended to show how kids can love something one minute and hate it the next (one moment Patsy is enjoying life on the river, the next she's complaining to her busy father that she wants to live in a house on land), but she's just too whiny a heroine for me. The descriptions are lovely, though, and you can feel the love Patsy's mother and father have for the river life.
December 4, 2022
This book is just one title in the series of about seventeen (17) books written by the author about life in a particular region of the nation during the early half to mid 1900’s with the main character of each book a child within a family group.
In this particular book the story takes place on two of the main rivers of the nation, the Mississippi and the Ohio rivers and the focus is on a family who live on a riverboat and make their livelihood plying the said rivers for fish to which they then sell onshore at various points along the rivers. Topics addressed as a result of this lifestyle deal with the at times fierce competition among other fishermen and fish peddlers, the oftentimes isolated existence as a result of this insular and nomadic lifestyle, the frequent changes of schools for the children and the various dangers on the river that could arise for those following this particular way of life.
I enjoyed this book as I’ve enjoyed every other one that I had read in this series so far.
In this particular book the story takes place on two of the main rivers of the nation, the Mississippi and the Ohio rivers and the focus is on a family who live on a riverboat and make their livelihood plying the said rivers for fish to which they then sell onshore at various points along the rivers. Topics addressed as a result of this lifestyle deal with the at times fierce competition among other fishermen and fish peddlers, the oftentimes isolated existence as a result of this insular and nomadic lifestyle, the frequent changes of schools for the children and the various dangers on the river that could arise for those following this particular way of life.
I enjoyed this book as I’ve enjoyed every other one that I had read in this series so far.
May 20, 2020
This book was okay, but it wasn’t as engaging as Strawberry Girl, which is the previous book I read by Lois Lenski. I also felt like the characters were not very good examples. Patsy, the main character, nags and nags her parents until she gets what she wants, and the consequences for the bad things she does don’t have enough weight. It’s like “nag your parents and they’ll let you have whatever you want” and “you can do bad things and no one will care”. It wasn’t quite THAT exaggerated, but I didn’t like that about it.
It was cool though, to learn about what life is like on a houseboat and it made some interesting comparisons between houseboats and houses. It also had lovely illustrations, and I love illustrated books.
It was cool though, to learn about what life is like on a houseboat and it made some interesting comparisons between houseboats and houses. It also had lovely illustrations, and I love illustrated books.
October 6, 2020
I LOVED this book as a child and finally re-read it, nervous about how it would hold up. It doesn't do badly. The themes are still there, although it feels old fashioned as you'd expect. I remembered it as historical fiction...it isn't...in 1957 when it was published it had a contemporary setting, describing a way of life that existed then but I don't think does anymore. It will certainly feel old fashioned to a modern reader and it's a pretty slow moving book, but I like the map at the front and following this family's simple journey. I'm glad I picked it up again.
June 8, 2019
Another winner from Lenski
Houseboat Girl is a regional story about the life of Patsy and her family who lived on a houseboat. I already love Lenski’s writing- it’s clear and full of description, and this story is not exception. It was fun to imagine living in a houseboat, riding down pasts banks and occasionally setting up house wherever you wanted.
I know Lenski wrote this as a children’s book, but she is one of these authors that appeal to all age brackets.
Houseboat Girl is a regional story about the life of Patsy and her family who lived on a houseboat. I already love Lenski’s writing- it’s clear and full of description, and this story is not exception. It was fun to imagine living in a houseboat, riding down pasts banks and occasionally setting up house wherever you wanted.
I know Lenski wrote this as a children’s book, but she is one of these authors that appeal to all age brackets.
August 1, 2024
I was an able to find this book as my Pinterest timeline suggested me - I’m glad it did. I haven’t been aware of the River people and their lives during the early days, and this book takes you over just that. It’s interesting to see how people lived in houseboats and how a love for river can affect and manifest upon your life in such a way that takes your family along. It’s a cozy read with a funny character like Patsy.
4.3/5
4.3/5
May 1, 2024
I only recently became aware of Lois Lenski’s American Regional series (though Strawberry Girl sounds familiar). Our library had Houseboat Girl so we started here as a read aloud for my 9 and 6 year olds. This was a delight! What a fascinating look at the life of an ordinary family (including a 9 year old girl, 3 siblings, and her parents) on the river. Looking forward to more.
June 4, 2020
Great book to add geography to read aloud time. My daughter and I printed the map on the first few pages of the book to follow along with the story. She also talks about birds seen along the way. There were some great YouTube videos about the river islands and birds that nest there.
January 7, 2023
I'm really enjoying this series of youth books by Lois Lenski. Once again, she did her research and spent time with and worked with people to get insight into her characters. I'm sure my library's ILL isn't as fond of them--as I keep putting in requests for the ones we don't have available.
January 2, 2020
It was interesting learning how a family would live on a river. Cute historical fiction read.
October 17, 2020
This is about a young girl who lives on a houseboat with her parents and brother. Good book.
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January 9, 2025Fun story, especially when Dad works on the Mississippi!
January 11, 2025
My favorite Lois Lenski
July 31, 2015
Fascinating details of a bygone way of life.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews