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Sep 18, 2009

Charlyn rated it:

Brian Selznick opens this books with the same kind of storytelling pictures used in Hugo Cabret. The reader sees a package lost 100 years ago in a doll factory found. The package arrives at the Palmer's home, but sits unopened because it isn't addressed to the Palmers and the family is leaving on vacation. Annabelle Doll and her friend Tiffany are intrigued and decide to investigate the strange package. When Annabelle hears a tiny voice inside, she knows she has to release the doll inside. More...

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Nov 05, 2009

Nicole rated it:

Except for a brief moment of doll feminism (wait a second, girl dolls can do anything boy dolls can do!) this story follows very closely in the steps of traditional doll stories. Love them or hate them, doll stories are here to stay.

Personally, I love them. What's creepier and more fascinating than the thought of your dolls coming alive when you're not there and acting like real little people? What better way to introduce colonialism to children? The ruling elite deny the " More...

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Dec 18, 2008

Helen rated it:

At the beginning of this story, the Doll family and the Funcraft family are looking forward to two weeks of freedom as the Palmer's are going on vacation for two weeks. Tiffany, who was downstairs when it arrived, tells Annabelle about a package that was delivered just before the Palmers left. Annabelle and Tiffany decide to go investigate the package and when they get to it they discover that it contains a doll. Annabelle is certain that the doll is the long lost baby sister that was supposed More...

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Jul 12, 2009

Christina rated it:

It's imperative that you read The Doll People and The Meanest Doll in the World before picking up The Runaway Dolls because, unlike the second book in the Doll People series, this one gives absolutely no back story until the very middle of the book. The adventure is still there, but it's even more unbelievable. Yeah, talking and moving dolls aren't exactly believable, but The Runaway Dolls is even more out there than that. The dolls -- three of whom are china -- walk through a park, visit a depa More...

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Jan 18, 2009

Beverly rated it:

This was one of those books that got better as it went along. The story is about Annabelle Doll (who lives in a dollhouse in the Palmer house) and her friend Tiffany Funcraft who run away from home when it looks like Annabelle's long lost sister Tilly May might be sent away. You see the dolls are living dolls who took an oath to never let humans know that dolls actually live or else they enter into PDS - Permanent Doll State. I actually listened to this book on audio. It was read by Lynn Redg More...

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Oct 05, 2011

Mandyfujita rated it:

ann martin does a wonderful job with creating a new situation with the dolls from the two previous books. it is not necessary to read the two other books because she refers to them in passing. but its nice background if you did read them. annabelle doll and tiffany funcraft are in a new adventure that takes them to where they would never have gone on their own. they ride on a wagon, end up in a park which to them would seem like the woods and even go to a department store. the new dolls More...

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Mar 13, 2009

Maya rated it:

This book is the third book of the doll people series and it is really good.

1 comment like (1 person liked it)

Jan 24, 2012

Alice rated it:

This book talked about how Annabelle found her long lost sister, in the beginning, she feels angry that her parents don't accept her sister, so she runs away with tiffany and Tilly, her sister. Once they wanted to go home, it was already too late, they had no idea where they are and how do they go home. When they meet the nice dolls in McGinities, they were blind people that saw light, their friends helped them get home, and eventually, they reached home and discovered the mistake they made. Thi More...

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Sep 08, 2009

Haley rated it:

Life is good for the dolls in the Palmer's house and it's about to get even better: the palmer's have decided to go away on vacation for two whole weeks. That means no cat, no people, no worry. Looking forward to two weeks of fun, a mysterious package arrives addressed to Kate's great great grandfather. The Palmers leave for their vacation without opening it or telling Kate's grandmother. Once they're gone, though, Annabelle does open it and what's inside could change the Doll's life forever. T More...

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Jun 15, 2011

Kathryn rated it:

I checked this out on a whim from the library—it had been languishing on my virtual TBR shelf for ages and when I found out the library had a copy on audiobook (and that the length perfectly coincided with my remaining commute hours before summer break), I snatched it up eagerly. I was enchanted within seconds—literally! The little intro music was so perfect—whimsical and fun and magical—and the moment Lynn Redgrave began her delightful narration I just let out a blissful sigh—it was like list More...

8 comments like (6 people liked it)

Oct 20, 2008

Eva rated it:

When I was a child, I was quite certain that all my dolls and stuffed animals possessed a Rich Inner Life, and even now when I go up to the attic to haul down holiday trappings, I could swear that my daughters’ old Barbies, baby dolls, and stuffed animals are sending me reproachful vibes from their plastic storage bins.

Perhaps this is why I’ve always been drawn to books about dolls, and not just any doll books, oh no. In my favorite books, the dolls walk, talk, and in general lead m More...

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Mar 27, 2009

Elizabeth rated it:

I read the first two books when I was much younger (about 3rd grade, I think) and just grabbed this one while scanning for spring break material. Just as cute and fun as the first two, and I enjoyed it. Not something I would re-read (or be caught dead reading, as I'm in 7th grade) but great for younger kids. Also a great book to read aloud to younger kids who can't read. You don't HAVE to read the first two first, but I would reccomend it. You'll understand references to them more.

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Nov 27, 2008

Roxanne Hsu rated it:

There is plenty of danger and excitement going to keep the reader's interest up -- although the shorter adventure in the park is no where near as entertaining as the complex experiences in the Department Store. The entire package remains charming and expensive with ample illustrations in Selznick's skilled and often humorous hands. I believe this is really THE END of the trilogy (as prescribed in the end flap) which started really strong, got slightly weaker with the Meanest Doll, but finished More...

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Nov 20, 2008

Traci rated it:

These books are such warm, feel-good stories for kids. If I had a little girl, these would be required reading for her. They remind me so much of an old childhood favorite: "The Doll Hospital" by James Duffy -- looooong out of print. I hope Ann M. Martin continues to write beautiful stories about the Doll and Funcraft families, and I hope Brian Selznick (who is an amazingly talented man!) continues to illustrate them!

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Jan 28, 2011

Linda rated it:

I enjoyed the other The Doll People and The Meanest Doll In The World. They were creative, silly and there were laugh-out-loud passages. Alas, this third installment was a huge disappointment, and not worthy of time spent on a review.

I continued reading the book because Brian Selznick is an incredible illustrator and his handiwork is sheer creative genius.

NOT recommended

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May 18, 2009

Heidi rated it:

This is the 3rd story in the series of the doll people by Ann M. Martin. It's about Annabelle Doll and her best friend Tiffany Funcraft and their discovery of a package that brings a new doll into their lives. Never a dull moment with the dolls, they decide to run away from home and encounter some extraordinary moments. A great series to read.

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Apr 11, 2011

Paula rated it:

This is such a cute series and this continues the trend of interesting stories. A box is sent from the dollmaker who made the Doll family. It is sent to the grandfather's name who has passed on. Annabelle hears singing inside and opens it to discover her baby sister Tilly May inside. She is afraid to leave her in there because the Palmer's may send her back. Annabelle and her brother and the Tiffany and her brother save their sister and run away. Very cute.

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Apr 30, 2009

Cheryl rated it:

What happens at your house when your on vacation. In this book the dolls party. The main character decides to runway into the big outdoors to save her little sister from being returned to the doll maker. (a little complicated here) She and her friends end up in a department story and have to figure out how to get out and home. Wheww!

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Oct 16, 2009

Bernice rated it:

Non-print version - Listening to the CD version of this story was quite enjoyable! I loved the mystery of the story and hearing the fun loving characters, but also missed out on the illustrations. Because I am familiar with the book, I find that children love the imagination you could create through the illustrations. As I mentioned before with non-print material, it seemed a bit slow for me, but this would be a great read aloud for children!

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Jul 28, 2009

Monika rated it:

This was a quick read, a fun follow up to the first two, but not nearly as well developed for the story line. I appreciated the first one alot more, and even read it to my kids. I read this one just to see what they did with the series, but found myself skimming it for most of the book. It only took two hours to read in all.

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Dec 28, 2010

Elaine rated it:

I didn't love this book as much as the first two, but it is still good. My 7 year old daughter has become fascinated with the idea of running away though since we read it, although the book does a good job of showing the unpleasant consequences of running away and the girls regret at having done so.

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Jul 27, 2009

Marie rated it:

A modern story of dolls coming to life "when the toy shop closes". These dolls enjoy various adventures from their home to a department story downtown and also solve the mystery of the missing baby sister doll that appears in the mail 100 years after she should have. Good read for elementary age kiddos.

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Aug 05, 2009

Grace rated it:

I thought the book was really good because they found their long lost sister. And I learned that sometimes you can actually figure out things but it's really hard sometimes. I liked it because it was like an adventure; like, the dolls ran away and got to see the wide, wide world.

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Apr 30, 2011

Kaliah rated it:

I loved this book so much and it was so cool to read from a little dolls perspective! Iread this book in 3rd grade so I thought it was the best thing. This book was so ocute and it would be really cool to go back and read it again. Good job Ann M. Martin!

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Jan 28, 2011

Caleb rated it:

I could say I liked it. *sigh*, BUT I PREFER L-O-V-E-D! So awesome! Annabelle was taken to the Doll Hospital because her hand got crushed by a little girl and because her hair is green. When she got there she saw all her friends who disappeared so she changed her doll fixing order so she could go home without brown hair and have her green. Thank goodness, I wouldn't want my owner to know I was alive! Then they found a way out and got home only to find their parents in Doll State because the cat More...

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Mar 12, 2011

Austin rated it:

Even better than the first, but, some scenes were too extended and I thought that some parts were really corny. The ending was really good, but it fell a little flat for me:/
Story: 8/10
Plot: 9/10
Characters: 9/10
Writing: 9/10
Ending: 8/10

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Jan 12, 2009

Maya rated it:

This is a cute book from the series I used to love when I was younger, the Doll People by Ann M. Martin. The series is about dolls that are alive. It is a very good book to read aloud to very smart seven-year-old or an eight-year old girl.

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Aug 21, 2010

Gary rated it:

The Doll and Funcraft family members are still just as charming as they were in the first two books, but the coincidences in this adventure exceeded my credulity limits.

We read this as the latest installment of our family book club.

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Jan 12, 2010

Lisa rated it:

I like these books, have read them all. The concept of dolls coming to life when humans are not around, and the consequences of being seen/caught - very creative and ingenius and what wonderful illustrations! Highly recomended.

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Mar 13, 2011

Abigail rated it:

I love this series! I read the first book in 3rd grade and had seen this one in 3rd also but thought HEY! 323 pages is a lot! So in 4th grade I have decided since I read so much to read it.I loved all of it!

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