Of the other Austin family books, L'Engle wrote two for younger children.

Twenty-Four Days Before Christmas is set five years before Meet the Austins, during the Christmas that Vicky is chosen to be the angel in the Christinas pageant. She considers herself the ugly duckling of the family, so the role is very important to her. But her mother is about to have a baby and may be in the hospital for Christmas. The thought of her mother being gone for the holiday is more than Vicky can bear. She learns to be unselfish as she offers to give up what she prizes most in order to have the family together for Christmas.

The Anti-Muffins is a short novel set soon after Meet the Austins. The children are all about the same ages as they are in the first book. Although Vicky tells the story, it...