The Boxcar Children

The Boxcar Children is based on one of the bestselling children's book series of all time. The Boxcar Children tells the story of four orphaned children, Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny, who mysteriously appear in a small town on a warm summer night. No one knows who these young wanderers are or where they have come from. The children make a home for themselves in an abandoned boxcar they discover in the woods.

2024 will be the 100th anniversary of the release of the original book in the series. Written by the Gertrude Chandler Warner, the series includes nearly 160 titles, with more being released every year. In the subsequent books, the children encounter many adventures and mysteries in their neighborhood or at the locations they visit with their grandfather. A touching tale of family togetherness targeted to kid’s age’s four to twelve. The books explore themes of personal integrity, problem-solving, generosity and kindness. The National Education Association listed the original book as one of its "Teachers' Top 100 Books for Children". In 2012 the original novel was ranked among the all-time "Top 100 Chapter Books", by the School Library Journal.

This MOC is based on the original book in the series; the highlight is the dark red boxcar on an abandoned railway track. The boxcar is 24 studs by 6 studs, and is compatible with other LEGO trains. The doors of the boxcar are functional and slide open and closed. Just like in the book, the children access the boxcar via the stump of an old tree.  In addition to the boxcar is the stone fire pit built by the children to cook their food in the pots and pans they found. Also included in this proposed set is the waterfall that the children use as a refrigerator to store their milk, and the swimming hole they created in the stream. This MOC has 1170 pieces, and all the parts with the exception of Benny’s pink cup are currently available parts and colors.  This set if produced will contain the family dog Watch, and minifigures of Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny

At age fourteen, Henry is the oldest in the Alden family. He likes to figure out how things work, which makes him good at repairing and building stuff. While he’ll never brag, he’s a great runner, too! It’s not always easy being the oldest and having so much responsibility, but there’s nothing that Henry can’t handle.

Jessie is twelve. She can always be counted on to take charge in a situation. She’s good at being organized, she makes lists in her notebook and always keeps track of facts when there’s a mystery to be solved. When her younger siblings need help, Jessie’s there. She loves planning adventures and taking care of Watch.

Everyone knows ten-year-old Violet is creative, she loves to draw, take photos, and play the violin. She’s a little on the shy side, but because she’s quiet, she’s a careful observer. With her artist’s eye, Violet picks up on important details that her brothers and sister sometimes overlook. Can you guess her favorite color?

Benny’s only six, but just because he’s the youngest Alden, it doesn’t mean he can’t help solve mysteries. He’s always curious and full of questions. In fact, one of his favorite questions is “When’s lunch?” because he’s usually hungry! Benny loves playing with Watch and visiting new places.

Watch is the family dog, a friendly wire-haired fox terrier. Back when the children lived in an old boxcar in the woods, they found him as a stray. Since then, he has been loyal to the Alden's, especially Jessie, who once removed a thorn from his paw. Watch also has a special bond with Benny, who gives him treats.

I believe the Boxcar Children will become a very successful set if it is selected in LEGO Ideas. The set has 3 target audiences, children who are reading the books, teachers who use the books as part of the curriculum, and AFOL train enthusiast who want a boxcar set to add to their train collections.

If you would like to join the Boxcar Children on a LEGO adventure, please vote for this project and share it with your friends and family.