COLLECTORS’ CORNER: WHICH HAPPY HOLLISTERS BOOK IS THE HARDEST TO FIND?

written by Thursday, 23 July 2026

Which volume in The Happy Hollisters is the rarest? It depends on what your goal is as a collector, but the one that is missing from your collection is usually the one you will have the most difficulty finding!

 

We were fortunate to inherit some of the original vintage hardcover books from the personal collection of author Andrew Svenson (aka Jerry West), who was my grandfather. In preparation for the Happy Hollisters Reissue Project, we also purchased many copies from used books stores and on the internet.

 

We’ve recently finished compiling an inventory of all of the books currently in home collection. We’re happy to say that we have several copies of every book in the series, but each volume was printed multiple times over the years, creating many variations (corrections of typographical errors, plus pictorial covers, book club editions, library bindings, stated first editions, and translations). We don’t imagine that we will ever have a copy of every single variation ever produced, but the one that we will continue to search for is a rare translation to add to our collection.

The Happy Hollisters were introduced to children all over the world through the wonders of translation—seven languages in all—mostly published between 1959 and 1987. We think that’s swell—or wunderbar or maravilloso or fantastisk—no matter how you say it!

The translations are fun to peruse simply as curiosities, but they can also be a valuable resource to beginning language learners, children and adults. Even if you have only a basic understanding of a different language, if you’re familiar with the plot and storyline of a Happy Hollisters book and read it in your target language, you’ll be surprised at how much you will understand!

All 33 volumes were translated into Norwegian, Spanish, and Catalan. In Norway the series is called Lykkebarna or “Happy Children” and the publisher was Forlagshuset. The children are called Peter, Hanne, Roy, Pia, and Tone; Zip was renamed Prins and White Nose, Silkepus. The Norwegian editions retained Helen S. Hamilton’s original interior illustrations, but new illustrations were created to closely replicate the original U.S. dust jacket covers.

In the Spanish (Los Hollister) and Catalan (Els Hollister) editions, both published by Ediciones Toray, the children’s names remained the same as in the English originals—but their hair colors did not! The covers and interior illustrations were all revised for these editions. In 2011, six volumes were published in Spanish by RBA Libros/PRHenEspañol as part of our reissue project. The original translations were used, but the covers and interior illustrations were revised to give the books a more modern look.

Eighteen volumes were translated into French as Les Joyeux Jolivet by Librairie Hachette for their Bibliothèque Rose series. The children’s names were changed to Robert, Patricia, Richard, Jenny, and Susie. The Hollisters’ faithful collie dog remained as Zip, but White Nose became Blanchette. These books are a much smaller size than the other non-English editions. New cover art and internal illustrations were created for the Bibliothèque Rose series, including some full-page/full-color illustrations. French fans of the Jolivets also got another extra-special treat: in addition to hardcover translations of the novels, several volumes in the series were also repurposed as comic books!

Updated French translations were commissioned in 2025 for the first two books in the series. The covers and internal illustrations were also freshened up and the books were published by Editions Novel.

Festliga Franssons is the name of the series in the Swedish translations published by B. Wahlströms Bokförlag. The Swedish editions were given new cover illustrations, but there are no internal illustrations. The Fransson family includes the five children with names slightly modified from the English: Peter, Fanny, Ricky, Molly, and Susan. Twelve volumes in the series were translated into Swedish.

Happy Hollisters author Andrew Svenson spoke enough German to get by on his research trips abroad, but not fluently enough to tackle the German translations of his books. Eight books were translated by Lieselotte “Lilo” Wuenn, his indispensable assistant, who was originally from the village of Achenbach, Germany. Under her pen, the series became known as Die fröhlichen Falkenbergs von Gerhart West, and the children morphed into Peter, Brigitte, Klaus, Helga, and Susi. The covers and internal illustrations were also revised at this time.

In the U.K., twelve volumes were published and distributed by World Distributors of Manchester. These of course were not translations, rather the books were simply repackaged for the British audience. The children’s names remained the same, and the covers and interiors are identical to the volumes distributed in the U.S.

WHAT ARE WE MISSING?

 

We are very fortunate to have a few samples of each of these editions. There is, however, one important segment missing from our collection: Japanese Happy Hollisters!

 

After Andrew Svenson died in 1975, Marian Svenson (my grandmother) worked out an agreement with Grosset & Dunlap to reissue four of the original volumes for distribution in Japan. The agreement included just four books in the series. We suspect that very few copies were sold in Japan, and the inventory was likely destroyed by the publisher, leaving very few copies available for secondhand purchase. It’s especially unfortunate, because the cover art alone is amazing!

We’ve made several attempts over the years to purchase copies of the Japanese translations through eBay and Amazon.jp but have hit dead ends—either the sellers did not respond to our questions and offers, or the shipping costs were beyond our means. We’ll keep trying, of course, and we’ll update this blog with more information if we meet with success.

 

ORIGINAL U.S. PUBLICATION ORDER

The copyrights for The Happy Hollisters were issued in the sequence shown below. Due to a printing error, The Happy Hollisters at Pony Hill Farm was originally released before The Happy Hollisters and the Merry-Go-Round Mystery and the numbers on the dust jackets were reversed.

  1. The Happy Hollisters
  2. The Happy Hollisters on a River Trip
  3. The Happy Hollisters at Sea Gull Beach
  4. The Happy Hollisters and the Indian Treasure
  5. The Happy Hollisters at Mystery Mountain
  6. The Happy Hollisters at Snowflake Camp
  7. The Happy Hollisters and the Trading Post Mystery
  8. The Happy Hollisters at Circus Island
  9. The Happy Hollisters and the Secret Fort
  10. The Happy Hollisters at the Merry-Go-Round Mystery
  11. The Happy Hollisters and Pony Hill Farm
  12. The Happy Hollisters and the Old Clipper Ship
  13. The Happy Hollisters at Lizard Cove
  14. The Happy Hollisters and the Scarecrow Mystery
  15. The Happy Hollisters and the Mystery of the Totem Faces
  16. The Happy Hollisters and the Ice Carnival Mystery
  17. The Happy Hollisters and the Mystery in Skyscraper City
  18. The Happy Hollisters and the Mystery of the Little Mermaid
  19. The Happy Hollisters and the Mystery at Missile Town
  20. The Happy Hollisters and the Cowboy Mystery
  21. The Happy Hollisters and the Haunted House Mystery
  22. The Happy Hollisters and the Secret of the Lucky Coins
  23. The Happy Hollisters and the Castle Rock Mystery
  24. The Happy Hollisters and the Cuckoo Clock Mystery
  25. The Happy Hollisters and the Swiss Echo Mystery
  26. The Happy Hollisters and the Sea Turtle Mystery
  27. The Happy Hollisters and the Punch and Judy Mystery
  28. The Happy Hollisters and the Whistle Pig Mystery
  29. The Happy Hollisters and the Ghost Horse Mystery
  30. The Happy Hollisters and the Mystery of the Golden Witch
  31. The Happy Hollisters and the Mystery of the Mexican Idol
  32. The Happy Hollisters and the Monster Mystery
  33. The Happy Hollisters and the Mystery of the Midnight Trolls

 

LIST OF TRANSLATIONS

(The published order of the translations does not always match the original U.S. publication sequence)

 

NORWEGIAN

  1. Får nye venner/The Happy Hollisters (V1; 1959)
  2. Den forsvunne gutten/River Trip (V2; 1959)
  3. Fyrlyktens hemmelighet/Sea Gull Beach (V3; 1960)
  4. Avslører fugleskremselet/Scarecrow Mystery (V14; 1960)
  5. På ponnifarmen/Pony Hill Farm (V11; 1962)
  6. Fortets hemmelighet/Secret Fort (V9; 1963)
  7. Mysteriet med lykkeskillingen/Lucky Coins (V22; 1964)
  8. Den kinesiske dobbeltgjengeren/Skyscraper City (V17; 1965)
  9. Spøkelseshesten/Ghost Horse Mystery (V29; 1966)
  10. Den skjulte prinsessekrone/Lizard Cove (V13; 1967)
  11. Den gylne heks/Golden Witch (V30; 1968)
  12. Togrøverne/Whistle-Pig Mystery (V28; 1969)
  13. Ballongmysteriet/Castle Rock Mystery (V23; 1969)
  14. Det mystiske fjellet/Mystery Mountain (V5; 1970)
  15. Mysteriet ved Gransjøen/Monster Mystery (V32; 1971)
  16. Løser julenisse-mysteriet/Trading Post Mystery (V7; 1971)
  17. Mysteriet med midnattstrollene/Midnight Trolls (V32; 1971)
  18. Mysteriet med gullgjøken/Cuckoo Clock Mystery (V24; 1972)
  19. Cowboy mysteriet/Cowboy Mystery (V20; 1972)
  20. Det hjemsøkte Huset/Haunted House Mystery (V21; 1972)
  21. Karusellmysteriet/Merry-Go-Round Mystery (V10; 1973)
  22. Ekkomysteriet/Swiss Echo Mystery (V25; 1973)
  23. Hundetyvene/Circus Island (V8; 1974)
  24. Indianerskatten/Indian Treasure (V4; 1974)
  25. Rakettmysteriet/Missile Town (V19; 1975)
  26. Skilpaddemysteriet/Sea Turtle Mystery (V26; 1975)
  27. Mysteriet i Alaska/Totem Faces (V15; 1976)
  28. Det gamle skipsmysteriet/Clipper Ship (V12; 1976)
  29. Dukketeatermysteriet/Punch and Judy Mystery (V27; 1977)
  30. På vinterferie/Snowflake Camp (V6; 1978)
  31. Mysteriet med den lille havfruen/Little Mermaid (V18; 1980)
  32. På iskarneval/Ice Carnival Mystery (V16; 1982)
  33. Tempelmysteriet i Mexico/Mexican Idol (V31; 1983)

 

SPANISH

The books listed here will have pictorial covers on a white background. The series was reissued in the 1980s with an orange background.

  1. Los felices Hollister/The Happy Hollisters (V1; 1965)
  2. Van al río/River Trip (V2; 1965)
  3. En el castillo de roca/Castle Rock Mystery (V23; 1965)
  4. Y las monedas de la suerte/Lucky Coins (V22; 1965)
  5. Y el ídolo misterioso/Totem Faces (V15; 1965)
  6. En Suiza/Swiss Echo Mystery (V25; 1966)
  7. Van al circo/Circus Island (V8; 1966)
  8. En Dinamarca/Little Mermaid Mystery(V18; 1966)
  9. En una aventura espacial/Missile Town (V19; 1967)
  10. Van al oeste/Cowboy Mystery (V20; 1967)
  11. Van el mar/Sea Gull Beach (V3; 1967)
  12. Y el tesoro indio/Indian Treasure (V4; 1967)
  13. Y el reloj de cuco/Cuckoo Clock Mystery (V24; 1968)
  14. Y la bruja dorada/Golden Witch (V30; 1968)
  15. Y el viejo barco/Clipper Ship (V12; 1968)
  16. Y el carnaval de hielo/Ice Carnival Mystery (V16; 1968)
  17. En la isla de las tortugas/Sea Turtle Mystery (V26; 1969)
  18. En Italia/Punch and Judy Mystery (V27; 1969)
  19. En el campamento de nieve/Snowflake Camp (V6; 1969)
  20. Y el secreto del Fuerte/Secret Fort (V9; 1970)
  21. Contra los ladrones/Scarecrow Mystery (V14; 1970)
  22. Y el misterio del rancho /Pony Hill Farm (V11; 1970)
  23. Y el secreto de las marmotas/Whistle-Pig Mystery (V28; 1970)
  24. Y la cueva misteriosa/Monster Mystery (V32; 1970)
  25. Y la casa Encantada/Haunted House Mystery (V21; 1970)
  26. Y el misterio del centro commercial/Trading Post Mystery (V7; 1971)
  27. Y la montaña tenebrosa/Mystery Mountain (V5; 1971)
  28. Y el secreto del carrusel/Merry-Go-Round Mystery(V10; 1971)
  29. Y el tesoro de Puerto Rico/Lizard Cove (V13; 1971)
  30. En Nueva York/Skyscraper City (V17; 1971)
  31. Y el misterio del caballo fantasma/Ghost Horse Mystery (V29; 1971)
  32. Y el ídolo mejicano/Mexican Idol Mystery (V31; 1971)
  33. Y el misterio de los gnomos/Midnight Trolls (V33; 1972)

 

CATALAN

(Spine numbers unavailable)

Els feliços Hollister/The Happy Hollisters (V1; 1982)

Els Hollister al castell de roca/Castle Rock Mystery (V23; 1982)

Els Hollister a Suïssa/Swiss Echo Mystery (V25; 1982)

Els Hollister i les monedes de la sort/Lucky Coins (V22; 1982)

Els Hollister i l’ídol misteriós/Totem Faces (V15; 1982)

Els Hollister se’n van al riu/River Trip (V2; 1982)

Els Hollister i el tresor indi/Indian Treasure (V4; 1983)

Els Hollister se’n van a l’oest/Cowboy Mystery (V20; 1983)

Els Hollister se’n van al mar/Sea Gull Beach (V3; 1983)

Els Hollister i el misteri de Cap Canaveral/Missile Town (V3; 1983)

Els Hollister i el vell vaixell/Clipper Ship (V12; 1984)

Els Hollister i la bruixa daurada/Golden Witch (V30; 1984)

Els Hollister a Dinamarca/Little Mermaid (V18; 1984)

Els Hollister se’n van a Itàlia/Punch and Judy Mystery (V27; 1984)

Els Hollister a l’illa de les tortugues/Sea Turtle Mystery (V26; 1984)

Els Hollister i el rellotge de Cucut/Cuckoo Clock Mystery (V24; 1984)

Els Hollister se’n van al carnaval del gel/Ice Carnival Mystery (V16; 1984)

Els Hollister se’n van al circ/Circus Island (V8; 1984)

Els Hollister i la muntanya tenebrosa/Mystery Mountain (V5; 1984)

Els Hollister al campament de neu/Snowflake Camp (V6; 1985)

Els Hollister contra els lladres/Scarecrow Mystery (V14; 1985)

Els Hollister i el misteri del ranxo/Pony Hill Farm (V11; 1985)

Els Hollister i el secret de les marmotes/Whistle-Pig Mystery (V28; 1985)

Els Hollister i el secret del fort/Secret Fort (V9; 1985)

Els Hollister i la cova misteriosa/Monster Mystery (V32; 1986)

Els Hollister i el secret dels cavallets/Merry-Go-Round Mystery (V10; 1986)

Els Hollister i la casa encisada/Haunted House (V21; 1986)

Els Hollister i el misteri del centre commercial/Trading Post Mystery (V7; 1986)

Els Hollister i el tresor de Puerto Rico/Lizard Cove (V13; 1987)

Els Hollister a Nova York/Mystery in Skyscraper City (V17; 1987)

Els Hollister i el misteri del cavall fantasma/Ghost Horse Mystery (V29; 1987)

Els Hollister i el misteri dels gnoms/Midnight Trolls (V33; 1987)

Els Hollister i l’ídol mexicà/Mexican Idol (V31; 1987)

 

FRENCH

(Numbering indicates position in Hachette’s Bibliothèque Rose series; beginning in 1972, numbers were not assigned)

  1. Les Jolivet à la grande hutte/The Happy Hollisters (V1; 1966)
  2. Les Jolivet au fil de l’eau/River Trip (V2; 1966)
  3. Les Jolivet font du cinema/Clipper Ship (V12; 1966)
  4. Les Jolivet font du camping/Scarecrow Mystery (V14, 1967)
  5. Le Trésor des pirates/Lizard Cove (V13; 1967)
  6. Alerte au cap Canaveral/Missile Town (V19; 1968)
  7. L’Énigme de la petite sirène/Little Mermaid (V18;1968)
  8. Le Secret de l’île Capitola/Sea Turtle Mystery (V26; 1969
  9. Les Jolivet au cirque/Circus Island (V8; 1969)
  10. Les Jolivet et l’or des pionniers/Secret Fort (V9; 1970)
  11. Les Jolivet montent à cheval/Pony Hill Farm (V11; 1970)
  12. Les Jolivet au Far West/Cowboy Mystery (V20; 1971)

Les Jolivet et l’écho fantastique/Swiss Echo Mystery (V25; 1972)

Les Jolivet et les treize coups de minuit/Haunted House (V21; 1973

Les Jolivet au Colorado/Indian Treasure (V4; 1974)

Le Ranch des Jolivet/Mystery Mountain (V5; 1974

Les Jolivet et le cheval fantôme/Ghost Horse Mystery (V29; 1975)

Les Jolivet trouvent le filon/Castle Rock Mystery (V23; 1976)

 

SWEDISH

(Spine numbers unavailable)

Spöket i det gamla Huset/Haunted House (V21; 1967)

Äventyret med spökhästen/Ghost Horse Mystery (V29; 1968)

Äventyret vid slottsklippan/Castle Rock Mystery (V23; 1969)

Äventyret med guldhäxan/Golden Witch (V30; 1970)

Äventyret på Spökberget/Mystery Mountain (V5; 1971)

Äventyret i klippgrottan/Cowboy Mystery (V20; 1972)

Äventyret med silverskattan/Midnight Trolls (V33; 1973)

Äventyret med monstret i grottan/Monster Mystery (V32; 1974)

Äventyret med guldklockan/Cuckoo Clock Mystery (V24; 1975)

Äventyret med lyckoslanten/Lucky Coins (V23; 1976)

Äventyret med gula nyckeln/Swiss Echo Mystery (V25; 1977)

Äventyret med kasper-teatern/Punch and Judy Mystery (V27; 1978)

 

BRITISH

  1. The Happy Hollisters (V1; 1959)
  2. The Happy Hollisters on a River Trip (V2; 1959)
  3. The Happy Hollisters at Sea Gull Beach (V3; 1959)
  4. The Happy Hollisters at Snowflake Camp (V6; 1959)
  5. The Happy Hollisters and the Merry-Go-Round Mystery (V10; 1960)
  6. The Happy Hollisters and the Scarecrow Mystery (V14; 1960)
  7. The Happy Hollisters and the Old Clipper Ship (V12; 1960)
  8. The Happy Hollisters and the Mystery in Skyscraper City (V17; 1960)
  9. The Happy Hollisters at Pony Hill Farm (V11; 1961)
  10. The Happy Hollisters at Lizard Cove (V13; 1961)
  11. The Happy Hollisters and the Secret Fort (V9; 1961)
  12. The Happy Hollisters and the Mystery of the Little Mermaid (V18; 1961)

 

GERMAN

(No spine numbers)

Die fröhlichen Falkenbergs/The Happy Hollisters (V1)

Die fröhlichen Falkenbergs auf Flussfahrt/River Trip (V2)

Die fröhlichen Falkenbergs in Tegermunde/Sea Gull Beach (V3)

Die fröhlichen Falkenbergs fliegen nach Kanada/Snowflake Camp (V6)

Die fröhlichen Falkenbergs suchen den Verschwundenen Nikolaus/Trading Post Mystery (V7)

Die fröhlichen Falkenbergs auf Schatzsuche/Secret Fort (V9)

Die fröhlichen Falkenbergs retten die Schulkirmes/Merry-Go-Round Mystery (V10)

Die fröhlichen Falkenbergs jagen die Kunsträuber/Little Mermaid (V18)

Die fröhlichen Falkenberg sim Geisterhaus/Haunted House (V21)

 

JAPANESE

  1. The Happy Hollisters (V1)
  2. The Happy Hollisters on a River Trip (V2)
  3. The Happy Hollisters at Sea Gull Beach (V3)
  4. The Happy Hollisters and the Ice Carnival Mystery (V16)

 

 

References/Sources

Andrew Svenson Archives, The Hollister Family Properties Trust

 

The Happy Hollisters Official Website

 

American Series Books in European Editions

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