The Very Best Doll - Hardcover

PreSchool-The oft-told story of an old beloved doll being temporarily replaced by a new one, only to be missed at bedtime, is recycled here with simple text and large, bright illustrations. Nell, a smiling rag doll, is a little girl's constant companion-until she gets a much fancier, store-bought doll for her birthday, and Nell is forgotten. But at bedtime, something is wrong, and the old toy is rediscovered and cuddled to sleep. The rhythmic writing flows nicely, but is a bit sweet. The overuse of hyphens, as in "A play-in-the-flowers, talk-to-for-hours, dream-with kind of doll," becomes tiresome, especially as the entire text continues in that vein. The illustrations are large, realistic, appealing, and brightly colored, and the attention to detail is lovely, but they, too, verge on being saccharine. Parents nostalgic for their own rag dolls will likely ooh and aah over this one, and libraries with a high demand for new books on dolls might want to consider adding it. Others can pass.
Amy Lilien-Harper, The Ferguson Library, Stamford, CT
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.