The Moffats

The Moffats is a 1941 children’s chapter book by American librarian and children’s author Eleanor Estes. This novel is the first in a four-novel series featuring the Moffat family and is followed by the sequels The Middle Moffat, Rufus M, and The Moffat Museum. This book introduces the Moffat family: Mama and her four children, Sylvie, Joey, Janey, and Rufus, who live in the small town of Cranbury, Connecticut. The Moffat family’s rented home is put up for sale by its owner, creating uncertainty about their future on New Dollar Street. 

This guide refers to the Kindle edition.

Plot Summary

The book has 12 chapters. In the first chapter, titled “The Yellow House on New Dollar Street,” 10-year-old Jane is upset when she learns that her home is for sale. Since her family rents the house, she knows they’ll have to move if it sells.

In “Jane and the Chief of Police,” Jane has fun following a wealthy gentleman down the street and mimicking his movements. However, she’s scared when a local boy tells her she could be arrested for disrespecting the school’s new superintendent, and she spends the day avoiding the chief of police. When he finally discovers her hiding in the baker’s bread box, he laughs at the misunderstanding and assures her that she isn’t a wanted criminal.

“The First Day of School” focuses on Rufus, who is excited about his first day of kindergarten and is surprised when Hughie Pudge has a tantrum about going to school. When Hughie sneaks out of class and climbs onto a freight train, Rufus follows him, and the two go on an accidental adventure when the train takes off from the station.

In “A Horse and Wagon,” Jane, Rufus, and Joe are excited to drive a horse and wagon while its owner rests in the back, but they soon find that they’re in over their heads when they must take a detour and accidentally drop the man out of the back of the wagon. All is forgiven when the kids explain the misunderstanding and their new friend comes over for Sunday dinner. 

“The Ghost in the Attic” describes how the Moffat kids play a Halloween prank on their neighborhood nemesis, Peter Frost. The kids collaborate to make a scary ghost for their attic, complete with a pumpkin head, weird teeth, and a white dress for a body. When Peter is led into the attic, he’s terrified by the sight of the “ghost,” and the Moffat children watch triumphantly as he runs away, screaming. 

In “The Sailor’s Hornpipe,” Joe is relieved to be the piano page-turner at Miss Chichester’s dance recital until his worst fears come true: He has to substitute for Chet Pudge and dance the Sailor’s Hornpipe, a solo male dance. Joe is embarrassed to dance clumsily in front of everyone until Mrs. Mulligan’s dog, Sugar, jumps onto the stage and begins prancing with him, saving the show.

“Another Sign on the Yellow House” reveals the Moffat family’s reaction when they learn that Rufus is sick with scarlet fever and that they all must quarantine at home until he recovers. The older siblings work together to keep the household running, while Mama cares for Rufus and entertains the family with stories from her childhood.

In “The Coal Barge,” Joe and Jane agree to take the family’s last $5 to buy some coal at the coal barge, but when they get there, they’re horrified to realize that they don’t have the money. They return home, anxious and ashamed, but their luck changes when Joe realizes that he left it on the mantel, and they race back to buy the coal.

“Share and Share Alike” depicts Jane as she runs an errand for Mama, and Mama’s client tips her five cents. Excited to spend her money, Jane buys an ice cream in town but immediately feels bad that she didn’t share her earnings with the family. Her day improves when Catherine the cat brings her kittens into the house, and each child gets a kitten.

In “Mud and Murdocks,” Jane has an angry outburst at the house’s “For Sale” sign and throws mud all over it. Unfortunately, this tantrum backfires when she has to clean the sign, and when the Murdock family walks by and notices it, they become interested in the house. They start coming by frequently, asking to see the house and the yard. Jane gets revenge by pranking their youngest daughter, Letitia.

“The New Second Avenue Trolley Line” follows Jane, Joe, and Rufus as they take the trolley together and enjoy a summer day at the beach, but the highlight of their day is witnessing an amusing argument between trolley drivers.

In “The Last Chapter in the Yellow House,” The Moffat family must pack up their belongings and leave the yellow house, moving into a different rental home in the same neighborhood. While Jane is sad, she’s hopeful that she’ll have a special friendship with her new neighbor, Nancy. The Moffats say goodbye to the yellow house and begin to feel excited about their fresh start in a new place.