The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street

Isa’s idea is to create a petition and have all their neighbors sign it. On a cold day, the children bundle up and canvas the neighborhood while their parents use the library internet to look for apartments. The petition states that Mr. Beiderman is making them move and they need their neighbors’ help to remain in their home. Hyacinth makes peanut butter dog treats and gets signatures from all the pet owners while Oliver enlists the help of his basketball team members, who add extra signatures with fake names. Laney offers free hugs, saying, “If you sign this ’tition, I'll give you a giant hug!” (144). Isa sees Mrs. Castleman and asks for her signature, but when she sees Mr. Beiderman’s name, she freezes and walks away without another word. Still puzzled over Benny’s strange behavior the last time she saw him, Isa wonders how Mrs. Castleman knows the Biederman.

Miss Josie and Mr. Jeet help the children collect signatures, but they are cold, and invite Laney inside for refreshments. Laney collects Paganini and the tiny Christmas tree and tentatively ascends the stairs leaving the tree outside Mr. Beiderman’s door. Laney thinks that, “the Beezleman needed a Christmas tree more than anyone” (148).