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21st out of 30 books
—
2 voters
Big Susan
Mr. and Mrs. Doll and their six children, Nurse and the old Cook all await the one Wonderful Night when all dolls come alive on Christmas Eve, when they can move and speak without help from Susan. Susan was an ordinary sized girl, but to the Dolls she was a very Big, very Wonderful, very Important person. Their exciting story is full of ups and downs scaled to dollhouse pr...more
Hardcover
Published
September 1st 2002
by Purple House Press
(first published 1947)
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I have a secret. If I wasn't worried that my husband would leave me and that my friends would shun me I would totally take on miniatures as a major hobby. One of my dreams is to build a dollhouse from the ground up and decorate it room by room. I love how dollhouses are both adorable and kinda creepy all at the same time. So, I am precisely the niche reader that loves books like this. In fact, this book has made me realize that I need to create a doll-miniature shelf here at goodreads. Yeah, I'm...more
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I bought this for my granddaughters
but can't part with it. It is
an old old book about a girl named
Susan (no coincidence) and her dollhouse.
The dialogue is hysterical and
the pictures, charming.
but can't part with it. It is
an old old book about a girl named
Susan (no coincidence) and her dollhouse.
The dialogue is hysterical and
the pictures, charming.
We ordered this book from Chinaberry.com for Micah's present from Matt and me for Christmas. It's a thin, hardcover chapter book and it's definitely now one of my girls' all-time favorites.
Apparently, Elizabeth Orton Jones wrote this book after she purchased a secondhand dollhouse for her own girls fifty or sixty years ago (or more, as the dolls are made of celluloid), and the tone of the story is so sweet and innocent, without being cloy, that in my book, it's one of those well-kept secret cla...more
Apparently, Elizabeth Orton Jones wrote this book after she purchased a secondhand dollhouse for her own girls fifty or sixty years ago (or more, as the dolls are made of celluloid), and the tone of the story is so sweet and innocent, without being cloy, that in my book, it's one of those well-kept secret cla...more
4.5 STARS
A charming story about a doll family presided over by Big Susan, the little girl who controls their every move and word (but not their independent thoughts) for 364 days of the year. The dolls love Big Susan and know she takes good care of them. Yet, on one magical night (Christmas Eve), the dolls are able to move and talk all on their own! This Christmas, however, Big Susan is nowhere to be found and the dolls awaken to a very dilapidated and non-Christmasy home. What will they do for...more
A charming story about a doll family presided over by Big Susan, the little girl who controls their every move and word (but not their independent thoughts) for 364 days of the year. The dolls love Big Susan and know she takes good care of them. Yet, on one magical night (Christmas Eve), the dolls are able to move and talk all on their own! This Christmas, however, Big Susan is nowhere to be found and the dolls awaken to a very dilapidated and non-Christmasy home. What will they do for...more
Huh. I loved making things for my dolls through my adolescence, and I still enjoy some doll and dollhouse stories. But this one verged on the twee, and I just don't see the appeal for re-reads.
Ok, it's cute they don't know what jacks are, and they clean their house for Big Susan, and name the new baby Little Susan. And I suppose I could forgive them for having servants, though the author's treatment of said Nurse and Cook is rather offensive. But I don't feel any depth, complexity, or resonance...more
Ok, it's cute they don't know what jacks are, and they clean their house for Big Susan, and name the new baby Little Susan. And I suppose I could forgive them for having servants, though the author's treatment of said Nurse and Cook is rather offensive. But I don't feel any depth, complexity, or resonance...more
I wish I would have read this to B. when she was 4 or 5. It would have been totally up her alley then as nothing really happens and it is all very sweet. Now, she wants more. Yay for that - but boo that I waited. It has been on my to-read list that long!
I cannot recall the first time I read this book--though I know it was read aloud to me by my grandmother. It's now a family holiday favorite. Jones' wry sense of humor makes the story a fun read for all ages.
What a nice, classic book. Christmas themed, although we read it after the holiday. It gives story and characters but gives a child room to imagine, too.
In this story, the dolls in Big Susan's dollhouse can speak only on Christmas. It is a charming little tale that children will enjoy reading each Christmas.
I checked this book out so many times in first & second grade that my mom tried to buy it from the library!They said no :( BUT my aunt was able to get me a copy...one of the BEST Christmas presents EVER, and I still cherish this book today!!!!
Sweet story to share at Christmastime with a little imaginative doll lover. Touching scenes throughout.
I borrowed this from a friend. It was originall published in 1947. What a charming book!
Good writing and realistic characters, but I don't love the plot line very much.
It's a good Christmas story, and it's really like the dolls come to life.
Melcat
short chapter book for 4-8 year old girl
short chapter book for 4-8 year old girl
This was one of my favorite books as a kid.
You know that dolls come alive at Christmas right?
Love the illustrations.
1947
Another perfect read aloud with Lucy. The pictures, short chapters, and easy to follow simple story were great for me and my 4 year old during this first summer of reading chapter books together. Thank you Lori!
This book is sweet. I'm giving is a high rating because my daughter LOVES it. It was recommended to me by a friend, and my gaughter has read it (or I've read it to her) about a zillion times in the past three days -- she has enjoyed it so much. Great read-aloud for about six and up, and for those with readers at the 3rd grade level, they can probably read this too.
May 12, 2013
Stella Tran
marked it as to-read
Mar 22, 2013
Elaine Garnache
marked it as to-read
Jan 06, 2013
Saskia Wong-Smith
added it
Dec 25, 2012
Jennpower
marked it as to-read
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