The Curlytops touring around

In Short

This juvenile adventure novel follows the Martin family—known as the "Curlytops"—as they embark on an automobile tour through the countryside. Tasked with delivering a set of precious antique photograph albums to a neighbor’s brother, the siblings encounter movie film crews, lumber camps, and even wild animals. The book is a classic example of early 20th-century family travel fiction, capturing a nostalgic, sheltered version of childhood where every mishap is a gentle lesson and every detour leads to a new, harmless discovery.

The Story

The story begins at the Martin home in Cresco, where siblings Ted and Janet, along with their younger brother, William—nicknamed "Trouble"—find themselves in a typical mess. While playing "diamond mine" in an old, abandoned well, Ted gets stuck, necessitating a rescue that sets the tone for the children's penchant for accidental mischief. Soon after, their father, Mr. Martin, accepts a favor from an elderly neighbor: he agrees to transport two heavy, antique photograph albums to the neighbor’s brother in Bentville, a town on the family’s upcoming auto route.

As the family hits the road in their automobile, their travel is loosely structured, allowing them to stop whenever something sparks their curiosity. Their first significant encounter occurs at a meadow where they watch a film company shooting scenes for a comedy. The children are fascinated by the actors, particularly the cowboys and a performer named Jimmie Tizzy. However, the mission to deliver the albums becomes complicated when they accidentally take the wrong box—a crate of the actor’s makeup and costumes—instead of the family records. This mix-up sends the Martins on a meandering pursuit of the film company to retrieve the lost heirlooms.

The tour takes the family through various landscapes, including a lumber camp and the shores of a lake, where they travel by boat. Throughout the journey, the children maintain an optimistic, if occasionally frantic, outlook. Trouble, in particular, remains preoccupied with the prospect of seeing an "elephant"—which he pronounces "nellifunt"—often misidentifying farm animals or local wildlife in his imaginative fervor.

The family’s path is marked by a series of minor, light-hearted crises: Ted falls off a pony during a film shoot, Janet becomes trapped in a small animal box, and a curious cow wanders into their tent at night. Eventually, the Martins track down the film company at a lumber camp, where they finally exchange the makeup box for the correct albums. The trip reaches its resolution when they arrive in Bentville and safely deliver the cherished photos to Reuben Cardwell, who is overjoyed to receive the portraits of his ancestors. Having fulfilled their duty, the family concludes their tour, agreeing that while they didn't encounter any elephants, the summer was an unqualified success.

How It Unfolds

The well and the mission Ted and Janet’s attempt to play in an old well leads to an immediate, minor crisis that establishes the children’s adventurous nature. Shortly after this, their father agrees to deliver a set of antique albums to a distant relative in Bentville, setting the primary objective for their summer travel.

The movie set detour While leaving town, the Martins encounter a film crew shooting a comedy in a meadow, which captures the children’s imaginations. They linger to watch the production, which creates the opening for the accidental swap of the album box with the director's box of theater makeup.

Chasing the company The family spends much of the middle section of the book trying to locate the film director to rectify the box mix-up. This search leads them to travel along rivers and through lumber camps, providing a backdrop for encounters with friendly circus performers and local wildlife.

The lake and the resolution A boat trip across a lake during a storm serves as a climax, during which the family discovers the box of makeup and realizes the extent of the error. Once they reconnect with the movie company at a lumber camp, they retrieve the correct albums and head to Bentville to complete their promise.

The People

The family unit is the heart of the story. Ted is the energetic, often impulsive leader of the siblings, driven by a desire for "fun" that frequently leads him into trouble. Janet, his sister, acts as his companion and confidante; she is slightly more cautious but just as eager to participate in the excitement. Trouble is the youngest, whose limited vocabulary and obsession with "nellifunts" provide a recurring, innocent comic relief.

Mr. and Mrs. Martin serve as the stable, patient anchors of the narrative. Mr. Martin is a resourceful father who is willing to indulge his children’s curiosity, provided the situation remains safe. Mrs. Martin acts as the voice of reason, often worrying about the children's safety or the propriety of their detours, yet she remains a supportive participant in their travels. They are not deeply changed by the events, as the book emphasizes a return to the status quo, but their bond is reinforced by the shared experience of the road. Supporting characters, such as the film director Mr. Portnay and the clown Jimmie Tizzy, are caricatures of the colorful, professional world the children observe from the sidelines.

In Its Own Voice

“I know it did,” Ted answered, for the rope was coiled about him.

The boy’s calm acceptance of his predicament inside the dry well highlights the children's habit of tumbling into trouble with a sense of adventure rather than genuine fear.

“I wish I could have this monkey!” pleaded Trouble.

Trouble’s simple, direct request when encountering an organ grinder’s pet in the woods captures the impulsive and imaginative perspective he brings to every new discovery on the tour.

What It's Really About

At its core, the book explores the innocence and boundless curiosity of childhood during a transition into the modern era. The plot is less about the mechanics of the road trip and more about the joy of being "on the move." It celebrates the idea that children view the world through a lens of wonder—where a cow in a tent or a film set in a meadow is an event of mythic proportions. There is a strong argument for the value of family cohesion, suggesting that the "best" experiences are those shared during long, unplanned days spent together.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy vintage children’s literature will find this book a pleasant, low-stakes look at a bygone era of American travel. The prose is straightforward and warm, moving at a brisk pace that reflects the excitement of an automobile tour in the early 20th century. It offers a glimpse into a time when the world seemed larger and full of small, localized miracles like traveling movie troupes or wandering organ grinders.

However, a modern reader should be prepared for the period-specific attitudes and the repetitive nature of the narrative. The dialogue is deliberately simplistic, reflecting the children's developmental stage, and the casual, sometimes stereotypical portrayal of immigrant characters—such as the Italian organ grinder—is indicative of the conventions of the time. The length may feel extensive for a series of episodic adventures, as the plot occasionally circles back on itself to maintain the "touring" premise. Ultimately, the book is best for those who appreciate the cozy, moral, and gentle tone of early 20th-century juvenile fiction, where the biggest danger is a fall from a pony and the greatest reward is the simple pleasure of an adventure shared with siblings.