Book details
Natalie Lloyd - Author
Expect a quirky, high-energy family adventure combining mystery, humour and possible magic. Its strongest feature is the seven siblings’ unusual individuality alongside their shared determination to tackle problems together.
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 Seven 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.
Book Analysis
Sign in to see how this book fits your child and family preferences.
Sign in for personalised guidanceHow the book presents it: The premise presents mutual reliance and staying together as central strengths of the family.
Talk about: What does each sibling contribute when the family faces a difficult problem?
How the book presents it: The setup invites reflection on how unusual people are treated, but the book’s complete evaluative treatment is unclear.
Talk about: Does the story challenge the neighbours’ assumptions, and how do the children understand their own differences?
How the book presents it: The book presents this favourably.
Talk about: When might treating a problem as an opportunity help, and when might a character need support instead?
This may appeal to readers who enjoy strange families, elaborate secrets and playful storytelling. It offers a family-centred adventure in which difference, loyalty and facing difficulties together are prominent ideas.
Some children may want to discuss the home explosion, rumours about the family, threats of separation and an antagonistic neighbour. Toilet humour, including a baby’s categorised flatulence, is also part of the presentation.
How do the siblings respond when other people spread stories about their family or try to divide them? What might the story suggest about judging unusual people before knowing them?
If the child enjoys imaginative mysteries, invite them to track clues, family rumours and the neighbours’ opposition. Pause after surprising problems to ask what each sibling contributes, without needing to resolve the mystery in advance.
Theme indicators describe how the book presents a topic; they are not a verdict on the whole book or your family's values. Confidence reflects how much book-specific material was checked. Only part of the book information was available, so some details remain unconfirmed.
Book information
Limited information
Relevant to: Family solidarity; Difference and otherness; Problems as opportunities
The Problim Children Series - Natalie Lloyd Author
Limited information
Checked: 19 September 2026.
Relevant to: Family solidarity; Difference and otherness; Problems as opportunities
Limited information
Checked: 19 September 2026.
Relevant to: Difference and otherness
Benefits, discussion questions and reading approaches are suggestions. Your knowledge of your child remains part of the decision.
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