The Problim Children Series

Awards & Accolades

  • A Junior Library Guild Selection
  • A Siba Okra Pick
  • An Amazon Best Book of 2018

Reviews

★ “With her trademark charm and heavy doses of whimsy, Lloyd spins another heart-warming yarn centered on friendship and family.” — Booklist, starred review

★ “Lloyd hits her stride as she weaves—as intricately as Mona’s beloved circus spiders—plot twists, humor, suspense, rivalry, hints of romance for the older Problims, and realistic development of Mona’s character.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review 

“Lloyd’s warm and playful writing shines.” — School Library Journal

Much quirky fun to be had…. “ — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“An irreverent and delightful twist on the “Monday’s Child” nursery rhyme…. The children’s varied talents and humorous antics will leave readers eager to dive into their future exploits.” — Publishers Weekly

“Midge Lodestar’s mantra is ‘Every day is a good day for tacos!’ My mantra is ‘Every day is a good day to celebrate and book talk Natalie Lloyd’s exquisite The Problim Children!’ I will forever think about Sundae, Mona, Toot, Wendell, Thea, and Frida heart-first.” — John Schumacher, Ambassador for School Libraries, mrschureads.com

Well-developed secondary characters are one of the book’s strongest points, from sisters who both run bakeries to a [girl] trapped at home because of an allergy to air. The whimsy factor is high.” — The Horn Book

Both text and illustrations offer a nod to Roald Dahl’s quirky, juvenile heroes and equally quirky, nasty villains. The distinctive flavor comes both from Lloyd’s witty but succinct word mastery and from her unflagging imagination.” — Kirkus Reviews

“Young readers with an appreciation for offbeat adventure stories will no doubt be delighted with Natalie Lloyd’s imaginative world and its lively, brave inhabitants…”  Chapter 16 Reviews

“A sheer, riotous delight!” – Claire Legrand, New York Times Bestselling Author of Some Kind of Happiness

“An affectionate ode to the wonders of being a weird kid in a weird family . . . an utter delight!” — Anne Ursu, author of The Real Boy and Breadcrumbs

Ages 8-12

The Problim Children: Book One

With a dash of Lemony Snicket, a dollop of the Addams Family, and a hearty dose of adventure, New York Times bestselling author Natalie Lloyd introduces a new series about seven strange and adventurous siblings who tackle problems together—even when their new neighbors try to tear them apart.

Filled with mystery, humor, and adventure, the first book in this new trilogy is an unforgettable tale of adventure, family, and finding the courage to face any problem heart-first.

When the Problim children’s ramshackle bungalow in the Swampy Woods goes kaboom, the seven siblings—each born on a different day of the week—have to move into their grandpa’s bizarre old mansion in Lost Cove. No problem! For the Problim children, every problem is a gift!

But rumors about their family run rampant in the small town: tales of a bitter feud, a hidden treasure, and a certain kind of magic lingering in the halls of #7 Main Street. Their neighbors, the O’Pinions, will do anything to find the secrets lurking inside the Problim household—including sending the seven children to seven different houses on seven different continents!

Ages 8-12

Carnival Catastrophe: Book Two

The Problims try to win the Corn Dog Carnival and rescue their missing mama in the second book in New York Times bestselling author Natalie Lloyd’s hilarious and clever series that’s perfect for fans of Jennifer L. Holm and Sharon Creech!

All siblings are capable of magic if they stick together. But trusting each other isn’t easy for the Problim siblings when neighbors like Desdemona and Carly-Rue O’Pinion are working double-time to turn the town against them.

From catapulting cattle to runaway corndogs to spiders on the pageant stage, the Problim brothers and sisters are blamed for every catastrophe at this year’s carnival. And to top it all off, Mama Problim is missing!

Can the seven siblings come together in time to save the carnival and rescue their mom from a villain even more dastardly than Desdemona? Or will they discover too late what it truly means to be a Problim?

Ages 8-12

Island in the Stars: Book Three

Mystery and mayhem abound in the final book in New York Times bestselling author Natalie Lloyd’s middle grade series, as the Problim siblings board a pirate ship to rescue their missing Mama and baby brother from the villainous Cheesebreath.

Problim Children to the rescue! Sal and his siblings follow a trail of Toot’s toots as they sail through the barrier islands to rescue their baby brother from the evil Cheesebreath. He’s been holding Toot and Mama Problim hostage in the hopes that the Problims will lead him to their granddaddy’s treacherous treasure. But not all treasure is gold, and this one was buried long-ago for good reason.

Can the Problims find Mama, rescue their brother, and destroy the treasure before Cheesebreath and their nasty neighbor Desdemona capture them all?

Bursting with adventure, mystery, humor, and heart, the final book in Natalie Lloyd’s series is an affectionate ode to the wonders of being a weird kid in a weird family.