APA Reference of Book: Martin, A. M.,
& Godwin, L. (2000). The doll people.
New York, NY:
Hyperion Books for Children.
Summary: A
collection of porcelain dolls, named the Doll Family, has been passed on from
one generation to the next. The family has lived in the same house for one hundred
years, so their lives completely change when a new doll family, the Funcrafts, moves in to live
with them. The Funcrafts are different than them because they are made of
plastic, laid back, and do not strictly follow the doll code of honor. Annabelle
Doll, the daughter of the Doll Family, is determined to solve the mystery of
Auntie Doll’s disappearance for 45 years. Annabelle and her new friend, Tiffany
Funcraft, set out on an expedition to find Auntie Doll because the rest of the
Doll Family is too afraid to do so. Throughout the course of the story, the
dolls face challenges such as having to hide from their owner's pet cat, Captain,
pretending not to be alive when humans are around, and avoiding Doll State
and Permanent Doll State,
which can both happen to dolls when they break the doll code of honor by being discovered by a human. In the end, after Annabelle and Tiffany find Auntie
Sarah, the two families learn to accept their differences and fully love each
other as neighbors and friends.
Impressions: Although
this story reminded me of Pixar’s Toy
Story film, it was unique in its own way. The idea of Doll
State and Permanent Doll
State was interesting. It
added to the conflict and suspense of the story, especially when the dolls were
in danger of being seen by their owners. The authors did a good job of
instilling suspense when the dolls would peek around a corner, reach the top of
the stairs, or pull open a door, because they were afraid of being seen by
their owners or the intimidating pet cat, Captain, who could appear at any moment.
I could sense the dolls’ fear when Papa Doll was captured inside Captain’s
jaws. It was also interesting when the two doll families explained to each
other the differences in technology. For example, the modern Funcrafts had to
teach the old-fashioned Doll Family about microwaves and barbecues. The
illustrations are whimsical and very detailed pencil drawings. The story
was fun and reminded me of my childhood love for dolls.
Professional Review: “A lighthearted touch and a dash of drama make
this a satisfying read. When Annabelle Doll finds her Aunt Sarah's journal, she
hopes it offers a clue to the whereabouts of her aunt, who has been missing for
45 years. Annabelle is forever eight years old-the same age as Kate, the
current owner of the Victorian dollhouse in which she and her family have lived
for the past century. Their new neighbors, the all-plastic Funcrafts, who
arrive for Kate's younger sister's birthday, are modern and brashly confident.
Their pink plastic house has a barbecue, a computer, and a VCR. Tiffany, the
Funcraft doll-girl, is just the right age to be a first real friend for
Annabelle, and her daring spirit inspires the child's quest for her aunt.
Determined and brave, she persuades her cautious parents to let her venture out
of the dollhouse in search of her relative. Along with the usual perils of
moving about in the real world, there is the risk of being seen by a human and
succumbing to "doll state" or even worse, "permanent doll
state." Selznick's illustrations are perfectly suited to the innocent
charm of the dolls and do much to draw readers into their world. The delightful
endpapers, which resemble pages from toy catalogs past and present, tell their
own tale about the characters. A light and uncomplicated fantasy/adventure in
the tradition of Rumer Godden's doll stories or even Pam Conrad's The Tub
People (HarperCollins, 1989).”
Meizner, K.
(2000). The doll people [Review of the book The doll people, by A.M. Martin & L. Godwin]. School Library
Journal, 46(11), 128. Retrieved from https://libproxy.library.unt.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/211709139?accountid=7113
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