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Cheaper by the Dozen #2
Belles on Their Toes
In this warm, wonderful and heartwarming sequel to Cheaper by the Dozen, the pleasure continues as the Gilbreths return, a little older, a little wi ser, but no less delightful! Father has passed away, but the antics of this resourceful clan continue unabated.
244 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1950
221 people are currently reading
2776 people want to read
About the author
Frank B. Gilbreth Jr.
26 books72 followersFrank Bunker Gilbreth, Jr. (March 17, 1911 – February 18, 2001) was co-author, with his sister Ernestine, of Cheaper by the Dozen and Belles on Their Toes. Under his own name, he wrote Time Out for Happiness and Ancestors of the Dozen.
He was born in Plainfield, New Jersey, the 5th child (and first boy) of the 12 children born to efficiency experts Frank Gilbreth, Sr. and Lillian Moller Gilbreth, and grew up in the family home in Montclair, New Jersey.
During World War II, he served as a naval officer in the South Pacific. In 1947, he returned to The Post and Courier as an editorial writer and columnist. In his later years, he relocated to Charleston, South Carolina, where he went on to be a journalist, author and newspaper executive. Under nom de plume Ashley Cooper, he wrote a long-running column, "Doing the Charleston," for the Charleston paper The Post and Courier; it ran until 1993.
He was born in Plainfield, New Jersey, the 5th child (and first boy) of the 12 children born to efficiency experts Frank Gilbreth, Sr. and Lillian Moller Gilbreth, and grew up in the family home in Montclair, New Jersey.
During World War II, he served as a naval officer in the South Pacific. In 1947, he returned to The Post and Courier as an editorial writer and columnist. In his later years, he relocated to Charleston, South Carolina, where he went on to be a journalist, author and newspaper executive. Under nom de plume Ashley Cooper, he wrote a long-running column, "Doing the Charleston," for the Charleston paper The Post and Courier; it ran until 1993.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 442 reviews
October 15, 2019
After the death of the father of the Gilbreth clan in the early 1920s, who was the starring character in the memoir Cheaper by the Dozen, their mother was left to raise their 11 children on her own, and to try to support the family when working mothers were far more rare. Lillian Gilbreth was an accomplished motion study expert in her own right, but it was tough to convince companies in the 1920s to give her a chance. Belles on Their Toes tells Lillian's story, as well as many of the various adventures and misadventures of their children, who range from college age down to toddler when the story begins.
My favorite stories: First, the one about the girls and their swimsuits (their father had been EXTREMELY conservative about how his girls dressed, and they were all still wearing 1900's style swimsuits as the story begins).
Old-style women's swimsuits
The other was about the youngest daughter Jane beginning high school and her brothers' determination that she'd be on the cutting edge of fashion and popular with her classmates ... but not TOO popular. The descriptions of the brothers' lessons on dress, dancing (back in the days when guys cut in), and avoiding kisses are pretty hilarious.
It's a worthy sequel to Cheaper by the Dozen - you should definitely read it if you liked the first book. It's a bit less humorous but more heartwarming. It's nice to see Lillian quietly asserting herself in different ways, like setting aside some of her husband's more stringent rules on behavior, dress and frugality.
Content notes: Very G-rated, but some of the stories and language reflect outdated social values, like the "energetic colored woman" who was their mother's maid, and their non-PC handyman Tom. There's also a story about two of the girls smoking, and their mother's reaction to it, that's an eyebrow-raiser based on what we now know about the dangers of smoking. You have to be able to allow for the fact that the events took place in the 20's and 30's and this book was written in 1950.
My favorite stories: First, the one about the girls and their swimsuits (their father had been EXTREMELY conservative about how his girls dressed, and they were all still wearing 1900's style swimsuits as the story begins).
Old-style women's swimsuits
The other was about the youngest daughter Jane beginning high school and her brothers' determination that she'd be on the cutting edge of fashion and popular with her classmates ... but not TOO popular. The descriptions of the brothers' lessons on dress, dancing (back in the days when guys cut in), and avoiding kisses are pretty hilarious.
It's a worthy sequel to Cheaper by the Dozen - you should definitely read it if you liked the first book. It's a bit less humorous but more heartwarming. It's nice to see Lillian quietly asserting herself in different ways, like setting aside some of her husband's more stringent rules on behavior, dress and frugality.
Content notes: Very G-rated, but some of the stories and language reflect outdated social values, like the "energetic colored woman" who was their mother's maid, and their non-PC handyman Tom. There's also a story about two of the girls smoking, and their mother's reaction to it, that's an eyebrow-raiser based on what we now know about the dangers of smoking. You have to be able to allow for the fact that the events took place in the 20's and 30's and this book was written in 1950.
February 12, 2017
"There was a time when mother wept easily, when she was afraid of walking alone at night, when a lightning storm would send her shuddering into a dark closet. All that ended the day Dad died."Re-read of a childhood favorite.
This is the story of the Gilbreth family after the sudden death of their father, who left behind a wife and eleven children between the ages of 18 and 2, and very little money. Their mother immediately went to work to preserve the business she and her husband had created, and the older children set about keeping the household running.
It’s an engaging account of their new family dynamic. Some traditions they preserve (the family meetings), some they abandon (voluminous two-piece bathing suits). Out of necessity they adopt earnest, often hilarious economies (every boy’s new suit required the approval of the next youngest brother who would eventually inherit it). Their combative handyman Tom, who “don’t take nothing from nobody, understand?” is featured more in this book.
The book wraps up with the adult children, all with their own families, worrying about their mother living alone, and are somewhat bemused to find that she’s enjoying it.
March 12, 2020
Every time I read this, I want to find real biographies of the parents, early pioneers of "motion study" and ergonomics.
It's fun to see the dynamics of such a big family. I only have one sibling, and can't relate in any way to this family. And of course, we grew up 60 + years after the Gilbreth family got started, so it's a look at American history as well.
(I will, of course, never understand the desire to have such a huge family in the first place but hey. Whatever.)
It's fun to see the dynamics of such a big family. I only have one sibling, and can't relate in any way to this family. And of course, we grew up 60 + years after the Gilbreth family got started, so it's a look at American history as well.
(I will, of course, never understand the desire to have such a huge family in the first place but hey. Whatever.)
January 2, 2016
This is possibly more dated than the Sue Barton books - but what a barrel of laughs. Not consistently, which is this book's biggest fault, but the bathing suits! The smoking! Martha's budgeting! Ernestine's obnoxious boyfriend! The bathtub trick! Dr. Bob! Jane's high school training!
The novel is dated because of things I'd like to think no longer exist: the widow who is certainly capable of continuing her job after her husband's death, but finds employment opportunities to be scarcer now that she no longer has a husband as a partner to lend her legitimacy. She makes it work eventually, but her children, writing this book, make sure to note how difficult it was. There's also some casual racism, mostly from Tom, which is discomfiting.
The end of the book is probably the strongest part. Anne gets married - the younger children start high school - their mother is a noted lecturer, which leads to uncomfortable, hilarious moments - and then the novel ends with a bang with their impromptu reunion.
The authors' note is correct: this is the story of the Gilbreth family after Dad did. And that means it is primarily the story of Mother.
The novel is dated because of things I'd like to think no longer exist: the widow who is certainly capable of continuing her job after her husband's death, but finds employment opportunities to be scarcer now that she no longer has a husband as a partner to lend her legitimacy. She makes it work eventually, but her children, writing this book, make sure to note how difficult it was. There's also some casual racism, mostly from Tom, which is discomfiting.
The end of the book is probably the strongest part. Anne gets married - the younger children start high school - their mother is a noted lecturer, which leads to uncomfortable, hilarious moments - and then the novel ends with a bang with their impromptu reunion.
The authors' note is correct: this is the story of the Gilbreth family after Dad did. And that means it is primarily the story of Mother.
March 18, 2015
I loved this book. It is the sequel to "CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN", and focuses on the Gilbreth family after their patriarch has passed away.
Lillian Gilbreth steps up to fulfill her husband Frank's role as head of family and supporter after he passes away. The oldest child, daughter Ann, is just starting her 1st year in college, and the youngest child, Jane, has not yet started school. The book tells the story of how the children (11 in all) pitch in to support their mother and each other to avoid being separated and adopted out. Just as in "CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN" there were parts of this book that had me laughing / giggling out loud.
I will say that this book was published in 1950, and set in the early 1900's. It didn't bother me, but there were some phrases that some people may find offensive / racist.
Lillian Gilbreth steps up to fulfill her husband Frank's role as head of family and supporter after he passes away. The oldest child, daughter Ann, is just starting her 1st year in college, and the youngest child, Jane, has not yet started school. The book tells the story of how the children (11 in all) pitch in to support their mother and each other to avoid being separated and adopted out. Just as in "CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN" there were parts of this book that had me laughing / giggling out loud.
I will say that this book was published in 1950, and set in the early 1900's. It didn't bother me, but there were some phrases that some people may find offensive / racist.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 3, 2015
Wonderful sequel to Cheaper by the Dozen. How many single parents today could put 12 children through college without help from social services? A story of love, filled with laughter and family times.
January 21, 2014
This sequel isn’t quite as charming as Cheaper by the Dozen, but I still enjoyed reading about the continued adventures of the Gilbreth clan.
Matriarch Lillian was such a formidable woman, not at all diminished by widowhood: carrying on Frank’s legacy, she set up her own motion study school in her home, travelled all over the world to give lectures, taught in the management department at Purdue, received a dozen honorary doctorates, and still took an active part in the lives of her twelve children.
As they grow up, it’s touching to see the children taking on responsibilities and passing on lessons to each other. Martha controlled the budget and proudly handed extra money back to her mother after every absence. The boys consulted each other when buying new suits – each one knowing he’d be receiving a hand-me-down from the next oldest within a few years. (Their mass shopping expedition makes for a particularly fun and madcap chapter.) And when the youngest, Jane, was about to enter high school, four older brothers showed her the ropes when it came to dressing fashionably and breaking hearts on the dance floor. The more sensitive among you will surely reach for your hankies.
By the time the book ends, all of the children have made it through college (Lillian’s fondest wish) and are starting their own little branches of the family. Their worry about how Mother would fare, however, was unfounded: she loved her children and grandchildren dearly, but also relished being alone for the first time in decades. Although this book is primarily about Lillian, Gilbreth and Carey do a fine job of molding the children’s collective experience into many vivid and witty incidents – some of which they could only have heard about secondhand.
I’ve rated this one less highly than its predecessor mostly because it felt a lot more dated. I suppose the antics of cook and man-of-all-work Tom must have seemed droll at the time, but they strike this contemporary reader as obnoxious, if not downright offensive. Making moonshine out of the children’s root beer, deliberately massacring a Japanese visitor’s name, walloping an Englishwoman on her day off at the beach (simply because he was of Irish descent and couldn’t abide the English)? We’ve come a long way from that kind of casual racism, thankfully. In addition, silly period slang is in abundance, and there’s a whole chapter about Martha’s choice of bathing attire (guess which was more revealing in those days, the one-piece or two-piece suit?), plus two about smoking and ashtrays.
I might not have warmed to Tom, but I do like some of the other minor characters who crop up here, including Mother’s motion study students and Ernestine’s greasy frat boy suitor. President Hoover himself even makes a cameo appearance, in one of the book’s more memorable chapters.
In tone I would liken this book most to Father of the Bride (the novel, not the Steve Martin film), another product of the late 1940s/early 1950s: though definitely dated, it’s still a sweet family tale.
(I read the 2013 Open Road Media edition via NetGalley, which has bonus end material including mini-biographies of the authors and a terrific series of black-and-white family photos.)
Matriarch Lillian was such a formidable woman, not at all diminished by widowhood: carrying on Frank’s legacy, she set up her own motion study school in her home, travelled all over the world to give lectures, taught in the management department at Purdue, received a dozen honorary doctorates, and still took an active part in the lives of her twelve children.
As they grow up, it’s touching to see the children taking on responsibilities and passing on lessons to each other. Martha controlled the budget and proudly handed extra money back to her mother after every absence. The boys consulted each other when buying new suits – each one knowing he’d be receiving a hand-me-down from the next oldest within a few years. (Their mass shopping expedition makes for a particularly fun and madcap chapter.) And when the youngest, Jane, was about to enter high school, four older brothers showed her the ropes when it came to dressing fashionably and breaking hearts on the dance floor. The more sensitive among you will surely reach for your hankies.
By the time the book ends, all of the children have made it through college (Lillian’s fondest wish) and are starting their own little branches of the family. Their worry about how Mother would fare, however, was unfounded: she loved her children and grandchildren dearly, but also relished being alone for the first time in decades. Although this book is primarily about Lillian, Gilbreth and Carey do a fine job of molding the children’s collective experience into many vivid and witty incidents – some of which they could only have heard about secondhand.
I’ve rated this one less highly than its predecessor mostly because it felt a lot more dated. I suppose the antics of cook and man-of-all-work Tom must have seemed droll at the time, but they strike this contemporary reader as obnoxious, if not downright offensive. Making moonshine out of the children’s root beer, deliberately massacring a Japanese visitor’s name, walloping an Englishwoman on her day off at the beach (simply because he was of Irish descent and couldn’t abide the English)? We’ve come a long way from that kind of casual racism, thankfully. In addition, silly period slang is in abundance, and there’s a whole chapter about Martha’s choice of bathing attire (guess which was more revealing in those days, the one-piece or two-piece suit?), plus two about smoking and ashtrays.
I might not have warmed to Tom, but I do like some of the other minor characters who crop up here, including Mother’s motion study students and Ernestine’s greasy frat boy suitor. President Hoover himself even makes a cameo appearance, in one of the book’s more memorable chapters.
In tone I would liken this book most to Father of the Bride (the novel, not the Steve Martin film), another product of the late 1940s/early 1950s: though definitely dated, it’s still a sweet family tale.
(I read the 2013 Open Road Media edition via NetGalley, which has bonus end material including mini-biographies of the authors and a terrific series of black-and-white family photos.)
January 29, 2022
Belles on Their Toes covers the second half of the Gilbreth children's lives, bifurcated by the early death of their father in 1924. While it's not as riotously funny as the first volume (though it does have its moments), I liked it even more than the first book this time around. We get to see how Frank Bunker Gilbreth's family engineering methods helped his eleven children* live ordered lives after his death, when Lillian Moller Gilbreth was away on business trips. She alone is an inspiration: constantly traveling, incredibly busy with her career, yet able to keep intimate relationships with her many youngsters, and make handmade gifts for loved ones.
Probably, the stronger presence of Lillian is why I like Belles on Their Toes more. Seeing all of the children grow up into happy adulthood is gratifying, too. This book is a bit slower and more relaxed, which also contributed to my enjoyment. In a roundabout way, we also get to see how the family members deal with Dad's death differently. The stories of upper-middle-class family life in the 1920s and 1930s aren't what I usually encounter in these periods. Here's one book set (partially) during the Great Depression that doesn't seem affected by the economy.
Overall, I have thoroughly enjoyed revisiting this little series, and look forward to continuing to learn about Lillian Moller Gilbreth and her contributions to engineering. It was cozy, funny, and warm reading in a chill January, and a chapter or two just before bed was just what I needed in the past few weeks.
*Mary, the second child, died in childhood. While they honor her memory by maintaining the "dozen" title, there are only eleven children in the events of this book.
Probably, the stronger presence of Lillian is why I like Belles on Their Toes more. Seeing all of the children grow up into happy adulthood is gratifying, too. This book is a bit slower and more relaxed, which also contributed to my enjoyment. In a roundabout way, we also get to see how the family members deal with Dad's death differently. The stories of upper-middle-class family life in the 1920s and 1930s aren't what I usually encounter in these periods. Here's one book set (partially) during the Great Depression that doesn't seem affected by the economy.
Overall, I have thoroughly enjoyed revisiting this little series, and look forward to continuing to learn about Lillian Moller Gilbreth and her contributions to engineering. It was cozy, funny, and warm reading in a chill January, and a chapter or two just before bed was just what I needed in the past few weeks.
*Mary, the second child, died in childhood. While they honor her memory by maintaining the "dozen" title, there are only eleven children in the events of this book.
November 20, 2013
Wonderful. I think I enjoyed this even a little more than Cheaper by the Dozen. So many wonderful stories from the life of this quite uplifting family.
April 25, 2022
A quick and easy read about the life of the Gilbreths, the original "Cheaper by the Dozen" family, after the death of their father. It was cool to learn about how famous and accomplished their mother was in the field of motion study. Because it was co-written by two of the kids, I felt like it gave an accurate perspective of the family dynamics and ensuing shenanigans. Quite enjoyable overall.
December 15, 2012
Great book, much better than the first one. I highly recommend it. I like the fact that they lived in New Jersey. New Jersey represent! ;)
September 15, 2017
Such a cute sequel! I still love the Gilbreth family!
June 9, 2021
I am not sure how this never got on my read list as I have read it MANY times over the years and have loved it each time. I wish I could remember when I first read it, but alas, my old lady brain just cannot pull that information up. I know my book [that is now in storage] is in almost tatters and that I finally bought this on the Kindle because of that. SUCH a great book that continues the story of the Gilbreth's and all they must go through to survive after the death of their beloved father. It is extremely heartwarming and fantastic and is a must read beside "Cheaper by the Dozen". This was also an excellent movie [NOT the hideous remake with Steve Martin - THAT is a hideous sacrilege] that I highly recommend.
August 3, 2024
Another great Gilbreth comedy which takes up the life of the Gilbreth family after the death of their father. Cheaper by the Dozen will always be the classic, but this gave me enough laughs for it to be a happy, close second.
June 28, 2025
Some language and content, similar to Cheaper By the Dozen, which took my rating down a star.
January 21, 2018
Read this aloud with T.
June 22, 2025
I read the first book in this duo, "Cheaper by the Dozen," in November, when I got it for my birthday. I had asked for the book because I had really enjoyed the "Cheaper by the Dozen" movies starring Steve Martin and Bonnie Hunt. "Cheaper by the Dozen" and "Belles on their Toes" by Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey are totally different from the movies with Martin and Hunt but I still loved both the books and the movies. This book and its predecessor are those kinds of books were you just love all the characters and start to feel as though you are part of the family. I was really sad when I finished this book because I already missed the characters and their interesting and crazy lives.
"Belles on Their Toes" is a fantastic memoir written by Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. and his sister, Ernestine Gilbreth Carey. It takes places in the eastern U.S. in the mid-1920s. This story follows where the last book left off; the beloved patriarch, Frank Bunker Gilbreth Sr., has died and has left his wife and eleven children to survive on their own. Through many trials and tribulations and rough bumps in the road, the Gilbreths manage to, not only survive, but thrive. As mentioned in the author's note, the book is about their mother, Lillian Moller Gilbreth. Mrs. Gilbreth and her husband "were the originators of motion study, and among the first in the scientific management field" (Gilbreth, Gilbreth Carey. Author's Note.) The studies of Mr. and Mrs. Gilbreth are very interesting and are a big part of the Gilbreth children's lives.
I can't really judge any of the characters because they were real people and had many flaws and wonderful traits, but they all had a great sense of love and admiration with one another for a such a large family. Because of my own closeness with my family and having a lot of siblings (not twelve though), I appreciated the tight-knit, caring energy that was present throughout the whole story. This is one of those books that leaves you with a warm, fuzzy feeling.
"Belles on Their Toes" maybe a bit old (published in the '50s) but it is a great book for those who may be fans of the "Little House" series by Laura Ingalls Wilder, books such as "Little Women," "Eight Cousins," and "Rose in Bloom" by Louisa May Alcott, and the "Anne of Green Gables" series by L.M. Montgomery. I enjoyed the characters and their stories greatly.
"Belles on Their Toes" is a fantastic memoir written by Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. and his sister, Ernestine Gilbreth Carey. It takes places in the eastern U.S. in the mid-1920s. This story follows where the last book left off; the beloved patriarch, Frank Bunker Gilbreth Sr., has died and has left his wife and eleven children to survive on their own. Through many trials and tribulations and rough bumps in the road, the Gilbreths manage to, not only survive, but thrive. As mentioned in the author's note, the book is about their mother, Lillian Moller Gilbreth. Mrs. Gilbreth and her husband "were the originators of motion study, and among the first in the scientific management field" (Gilbreth, Gilbreth Carey. Author's Note.) The studies of Mr. and Mrs. Gilbreth are very interesting and are a big part of the Gilbreth children's lives.
I can't really judge any of the characters because they were real people and had many flaws and wonderful traits, but they all had a great sense of love and admiration with one another for a such a large family. Because of my own closeness with my family and having a lot of siblings (not twelve though), I appreciated the tight-knit, caring energy that was present throughout the whole story. This is one of those books that leaves you with a warm, fuzzy feeling.
"Belles on Their Toes" maybe a bit old (published in the '50s) but it is a great book for those who may be fans of the "Little House" series by Laura Ingalls Wilder, books such as "Little Women," "Eight Cousins," and "Rose in Bloom" by Louisa May Alcott, and the "Anne of Green Gables" series by L.M. Montgomery. I enjoyed the characters and their stories greatly.
May 21, 2019
Oh so sweet
I had no idea there was a sequel to the book, “Cheaper by the Dozen,” but I’m so glad there is one. I read Cheaper probably 50 times growing up. It was one of my favorite books. So here I am 35 yrs later discovering the sequel.
I read the kindle version, and while there are a few mistakes with spelling and word choice (come on Amazon! Get some live proofreaders already) the story itself is almost as amazing and special as the first.
If you read the original and are curious what happened to the Galbraith family after their father passed away way too young - this book is for you.
But can we also talk about how different life was for them vs today? I was kind of down on myself for being able to do as much as their mother, quite frankly, when they wrote about her schedule. But did she have to schedule play dates for her children? Was she required to go on said play dates if they were younger than 5 or 6? Was she a space to her kitchen every morning, after school and evening?
I’m not for one instant saying her life was easier, mind you, but it was totally different. I cannot imagine being widowed young — let alone widowed with 11 children left at home to raise and pay for college and weddings... etc etc.
She was truly a force to be reckoned with, that’s for sure.
I love that the mom was able to carry on her work she did with her husband after he passed away. That must have taken a ton of courage but she did it! Her kids did it too.
Can you imagine the horror and outrage today if
A a woman had 11 children
B went to work and left them with a crazy cook at home
C left them alone for weeks at a time while she traveled overseas
D had them pack themselves and get themselves to their summer home without her????
Sigh. Yes, I might be somewhat jealous. Nowadays if you dare leave your child to use the restroom and something tragic happens the “McJudgersons” come out in full force.
I yearn for the days that this book reminds us once existed. While I don’t yearn for the blatant sexism and racism - heck we still have it today - I do yearn for the more blasé way people reacted to normal life.
My hats off to these parents for starting off on the right foot together, for the mother being amazing at being a mother and for the kids being amazing back.
May we all have the love, devotion and organizational skills that this family has!!
I had no idea there was a sequel to the book, “Cheaper by the Dozen,” but I’m so glad there is one. I read Cheaper probably 50 times growing up. It was one of my favorite books. So here I am 35 yrs later discovering the sequel.
I read the kindle version, and while there are a few mistakes with spelling and word choice (come on Amazon! Get some live proofreaders already) the story itself is almost as amazing and special as the first.
If you read the original and are curious what happened to the Galbraith family after their father passed away way too young - this book is for you.
But can we also talk about how different life was for them vs today? I was kind of down on myself for being able to do as much as their mother, quite frankly, when they wrote about her schedule. But did she have to schedule play dates for her children? Was she required to go on said play dates if they were younger than 5 or 6? Was she a space to her kitchen every morning, after school and evening?
I’m not for one instant saying her life was easier, mind you, but it was totally different. I cannot imagine being widowed young — let alone widowed with 11 children left at home to raise and pay for college and weddings... etc etc.
She was truly a force to be reckoned with, that’s for sure.
I love that the mom was able to carry on her work she did with her husband after he passed away. That must have taken a ton of courage but she did it! Her kids did it too.
Can you imagine the horror and outrage today if
A a woman had 11 children
B went to work and left them with a crazy cook at home
C left them alone for weeks at a time while she traveled overseas
D had them pack themselves and get themselves to their summer home without her????
Sigh. Yes, I might be somewhat jealous. Nowadays if you dare leave your child to use the restroom and something tragic happens the “McJudgersons” come out in full force.
I yearn for the days that this book reminds us once existed. While I don’t yearn for the blatant sexism and racism - heck we still have it today - I do yearn for the more blasé way people reacted to normal life.
My hats off to these parents for starting off on the right foot together, for the mother being amazing at being a mother and for the kids being amazing back.
May we all have the love, devotion and organizational skills that this family has!!
May 31, 2015
I just finished a juvenile biography of Lillian Gilbreth which mentioned the two books about the family that two of the kids wrote: Cheaper by the Dozen and Belles on their Toes. Since I had never read Belles, I checked it out. It was supposed to wait its turn on the to read shelf but when I needed a light book to fill in some time I grabbed this one. I was only going to use it for the time filler but soon enough I discovered I had read the entire thing. This is as well written as the first, more famous title. It may not be quite as entertaining since Dad had died at the end of Cheaper and he was larger than life in many ways. However, Mother came into her own in this book and the love, admiration, and respect the kids have for her is quite apparent. This book is as funny as the first, and the love that the kids have for each other is as apparent. Of course, being kids....no, being people....things weren't always peaceful to put it mildly. A lot of that chaotic time is shown in this book and it is a riot. From Anne coping with two small children on her lap and between her and her fiancee to several of the boys explaining to Jane, the youngest, how NOT to be kissed then having to explain to their mother that they were explaining how NOT to be kissed, not HOW to kiss, the book is laugh out loud hilarious. The final scene may have been the best. The family has a reunion after World War II to baptize 3 grandchildren and the older kids have a flash back to the way Dad behaved at Christenings and their reaction, and history repeats! This book reminds you that the important thing is love of each other.
It also gives you hope for the future because you know these kids are going to do whatever necessary for each other and their kids. With that kind of love and determination, surely we can deal with climate change and come up with ways to ameliorate the situation.
It also gives you hope for the future because you know these kids are going to do whatever necessary for each other and their kids. With that kind of love and determination, surely we can deal with climate change and come up with ways to ameliorate the situation.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 25, 2012
A stellar continuation of the Gilbreth saga that is filled with both tender and hilarious anecdotes regarding their peculiar family life. A couple of my favorites include; when Ernestine invited her college beau to spend a few days at the house. When her siblings decide that she could do much, much better, they play some clever pranks on Al while he is taking a bath. Another golden one is "Ashtray Christmas", when the older siblings discover, from the oddly-shaped wrapped packages, that young Dan has given each family member the same gift including his mother who opened hers with utmost astonishment, Anne delights Dan by saying, "Some people have all the luck. I sure wish someone would give me something like that". How fantastically caring!
Finally, when the Gilbreth sons are invited to meet President and Mrs. Hoover, Mrs. Gilbreth is silently unthrilled with Frank's choice of suit, one with "padded shoulders, wasp waist, 23-inch cuffs on the trousers, and a doulbe breasted vest with lapels. The color was something between tan and yellow, without many of the best features of either". In the process of helping them get ready for the presidential reception, Mother "accidentally" burns a hole in the pants with the iron. When confronted by Frank if this act was done on purpose, she responds, "For goodness' sake. Do you think I like to buy you boys new clothes? Do you think I'm naturally destructive?" Classic.
Many other episodes of choice remain in this truly delightful read.
Finally, when the Gilbreth sons are invited to meet President and Mrs. Hoover, Mrs. Gilbreth is silently unthrilled with Frank's choice of suit, one with "padded shoulders, wasp waist, 23-inch cuffs on the trousers, and a doulbe breasted vest with lapels. The color was something between tan and yellow, without many of the best features of either". In the process of helping them get ready for the presidential reception, Mother "accidentally" burns a hole in the pants with the iron. When confronted by Frank if this act was done on purpose, she responds, "For goodness' sake. Do you think I like to buy you boys new clothes? Do you think I'm naturally destructive?" Classic.
Many other episodes of choice remain in this truly delightful read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 7, 2016
This book is the sequel to Cheaper by the Dozen. It documents the life of the Gilbreth family after the death of the father, time and motion study expert, Frank Gilbreth. From a feminist perspective it was interesting to see how successful his wife Lillian was at continuing his work in spite of the strong resistance to a woman in a "man's" field in the mid 1920's. I am reminded of the comment made about Ginger Rogers: She did everything Fred Astair did, but backwards and in high heels! Lillian Gilbert worked closely with her husband during his lifetime while birthing and raising 12 children. Then she kept the family together and continued his work, sending all 11 surviving children to college. She continued to lecture well into her 70s and lived to be 95 years old.
On the other hand, the language in the book is badly dated, the story glosses over of what must have been some very difficult times and the family makes some occasional racist comments (consistent with the time and social class, but offensive none the less). The writing is simplistic, possibly aimed at a younger audience. It would be nice to read an updated and more grown-up biography of this amazing couple.
On the other hand, the language in the book is badly dated, the story glosses over of what must have been some very difficult times and the family makes some occasional racist comments (consistent with the time and social class, but offensive none the less). The writing is simplistic, possibly aimed at a younger audience. It would be nice to read an updated and more grown-up biography of this amazing couple.
April 30, 2011
I completely love the Gilbreth family! This unique home with a dozen—biological I might add—siblings is pure comedy and awe-inspiring! The mother is amazing for all that she did in keeping her family together. What's more, she made good on the goal she'd set with her husband in seeing all 11 children (1 child died in infancy) graduate from college. The internal structures instituted by the father prepared the children to run themselves while mother was on the road or working. None of it could have worked without this. I got a little choked up by the end...this story is a beautiful dedication by the authors to their parents' life's work and love of family.
March 8, 2017
The sequel to Cheaper by the Dozen is a bit sadder than the first book, but I still really loved it. Same old family ... just without "Dad." *sighs* It wasn't depressing and it didn't focus on the grief and such too much ... but it was still sad.
There are so many hilarious scenes and stories and parts ... and it's fascinating, too! Even without Mr. Gilbreth, efficiency lives on, thank goodness! It's so clever ... not that I could do it, but it's smart!
~Kellyn Roth, Reveries Reviews
There are so many hilarious scenes and stories and parts ... and it's fascinating, too! Even without Mr. Gilbreth, efficiency lives on, thank goodness! It's so clever ... not that I could do it, but it's smart!
~Kellyn Roth, Reveries Reviews
April 24, 2017
This sequel to Cheaper by the Dozen is every bit as enjoyable as the first, with the added bonus that when you dive into it, you already are well-acquainted with the large Gilbreth family and feel like you are revisiting old friends. This is a cozy blanket of a book, allowing you to feel as you read it like you're part of this outspoken, enormous family in the first half of the 20th century. I have to admit, though, my favorite character in this one is Tom Grieves, the unlikely cook/gardener/nanny/housekeeper!
June 29, 2016
Can't read Cheaper by the Dozen without following up with Belles on Their Toes. This book follows the Gilbreth family after their father's death, and is the story of their mother continuing to raise her children, and becoming a prominent figure in her own right. Love these stories of the older kids as they deal with beaux and changing fashions, and managing life without their beloved father, and watching their mother become the modern woman they knew she was. It's truly a gift to read this.
April 14, 2017
I loved this book, the sequel to Cheaper by the Dozen. It continues the story of the 12 Gilbreth children and their amazing parents, who founded motion study engineering to save time and motion in all different settings. Set in the 1920s, it gives a real flavor of the life in what were for some the flapper days. The Gilbreths were too busy taking care of one another to ''flap'' much, and it's heartwarming to read of such a close-knit and responsible set of children/teens/young adults.
May 7, 2018
A continuation of the "Cheaper by the Dozen" Gilbreth family story. This didn't have as many laugh out loud moments as the first one, but they were in there. It was great to see what happened to the kids since things felt a little unresolved at the end of the first book. The best chapter was when the kids decided they didn't like the boy Anne brought home from college for Christmas break, so they carried out a plan to get rid of him. Worth reading if you've read the first one.
September 8, 2007
I've always loved the book, Cheaper By the Dozen, but I didn't know there was a sequel until I ran across the movie version on TCM in 2004. Now I wish I had known about it before, as this book picked up right where CBtD left off, and continues the story of the Gilbreth family after their father dies.
October 27, 2011
The prequel to this book, Cheaper by the Dozen, is also a favorite of mine, and it gives a great tribute to the father of this large family. Belles on Their Toes focuses more on the mother of the family, after the authors' dad dies. It is a funny, heartwarming book about raising a big, spirited family in the early 20th century.
September 26, 2015
Ashtray Christmas--the best chapter. Laughed until I cried!
I enjoyed Cheaper by the Dozen, but I'm so glad that my round robin first reader included Belles on Their Toes in the package. Reading both back to back gave me a great perspective first on the father and then on the mother. I enjoyed Belles a bit more perhaps because I understood Mother better.
I enjoyed Cheaper by the Dozen, but I'm so glad that my round robin first reader included Belles on Their Toes in the package. Reading both back to back gave me a great perspective first on the father and then on the mother. I enjoyed Belles a bit more perhaps because I understood Mother better.
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