What's the Name of That Book??? discussion

Okay, I read this book a really long time ago, (I believe 2012-2014) and I just remember some of it. So there are these kids, and they have this rule system with points, and you can win or lose them if Tim tells you so (the oldest). I remember one girl lost all her points and had to go sit in the corner and think about how she can do this better. And they got a nanny who took all of Tim's points away and gave them to the other siblings because they ate their oatmeal and he didn't. I vaguely remember one part where they used Tim's back as a hard surface to write something on it. Then they found a coin (either a nickel or a half-dollar) that granted their wish, but only half of it. I remember the girl wished their cat could talk, so it would talk really fast for 30 seconds, then be silent for 30, etc. And I think something happened related to camels. And then they hid in a bush and left the coin on the sidewalk and watched a girl come and pick it up. The girl was carrying a baby and said something like I wish you were so light I didn't have to pick you up, and the baby started floating, and they wanted to help her but then decided that she should figure out how to use it herself.

Please help me, I've been trying to find it for like 5 years now. Oh and I think they might be orphans.

Thank you!!!

Half Magic by Edward Eager :)

Part of this is definitely Half Magic by Edward Eager, but the points, oatmeal, and nanny aren't in Half Magic.

Is it possible that you've put together two different books in your memory?

The other book is The Willoughbys, which is a parody of old-fashioned kids' books. Half Magic is partly like the books The Willoughbys is parodying, partly an affectionate homage to those same books.

I just read The Willoughbys as it sounded interesting, and I can verify that the memory is both books.


Willoughbys:
rule system with points
Tim is the eldest
girl lost all her points, in the corner
Nanny
Nanny took Tim's points away
oatmeal
Tim used a brother's back to write on
they become orphans, after sending their parents on a dangerous trip


Half Magic
found a coin
half grants wishes
cat could half talk
caravan with camels
left the coin
girl with baby acquires coin
wishes baby didn't weight anything at all, baby floats
they let her discover the magic herself

I will note that there's several sequels to Half Magic, which are also great.

Oh my gosh, thank you all so much. This is so so helpful. And I did have some doubts that they were two different books. I was just trying to add as many details as possible.

This is like a huge burden lifted off my shoulders, thank you all so much!

Glad I could help. If you reread them, it will be interesting to compare and contrast them.