The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: The Mysterious Howling, Book 1 by MaryRose Wood.
Here’s a new juvenile fiction novel that will delight readers (Gr. 3-5) and would make an excellent family or classroom read-aloud. There is much for children and adults to discuss as the lovely young lady, Miss Penelope Lumley, leaves the Swanburn Academy for Poor Bright Females to become governess for three wild children who were raised (presumably) by wolves in the woods.
The Academy prepared Penelope with a well-rounded education, which included several pithy sayings attributed to the founder, Agatha Swanburn. These include:
“There is no alarm clock like embarrassment.”
“All books are judged by their covers until they are read.”
“One can board one’s train only after it arrives at the station; until then, enjoy your
newspaper.”
“Complaining doesn’t butter the biscuit.”
“That which is purchased in a shop can easily be left in a taxi; that which you carry inside
you is difficult, though not impossible to misplace.”
Under Penelope’s charge, the three youngsters, Alexander, Beowulf, and Cassiopeia, are soon able to communicate and behave in a more civilized manner than many of the adults who come to Ashton Place for a fancy party. With mysterious howling and a squirrel running amok, the men charge off in a frenzied hunting pack and the mansion is (partially) trashed as the children temporarily return to the wild ways.
As the story closes we learn that we “must wait and see what happens next.”
Despite this admonition, I can't wait to get hold of the 2nd book: The Hidden Gallery which is coming out in February of 2011.

(I was in the car for 5+ hours yesterday. The trip was made enjoyable as I listened to the narration by Katherine Kellgren.)