The Hand-Me-Down Doll

PreS-Gr 2—Spoiled Grenda receives a beautiful doll for her sixth birthday, but she already has so many other toys that she forgets about her, not even giving her a name. Her mother eventually gives the doll away, and she passes from owner to owner until she finally ends up with a child who loves her and a name. This story was published almost 30 years ago (Holiday House, 1983). Most of Kroll's simple and charming narrative remains, but the tale has been shortened a little, and a few phrases that suggest that the doll's value lies chiefly in her beauty have been removed. This version focuses instead on the doll's longing for friendship and love. The new illustrations reflect the wistful mood of the text. The sketchy, three-color pictures of the original have been replaced by realistic oil paintings that are done in soft, sunny hues. The doll's face is the focal point of each picture, and Andreasen effectively shows the longing in her eyes. The book is handsomely formatted with the artwork taking up much of each spread while the text is printed in a large, attractive font on the side. This tribute to the importance of loving and being loved will charm both children and parents.—Donna Cardon, Provo City Library, UT