Kitty's New Doll

by Dorothy Kunhardt, Hiroe Nakata (Illustrator)

KITTY AND HER mother go to the toy store for her very first doll. Which one does Kitty choose? Not the doll that walks and talks. Kitty chooses a rag doll that can’t do anything, not even sleep. “But she can pretend cry and pretend sleep . . . and she can say anything I want her to say,” says Kitty. And as she walks home with her new doll, she holds it close and pretends that it says, “I love you.”

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Cats

24 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

Dorothy Kunhardt was the author of over 50 children's book, including the legendary interactive baby book, Pat the Bunny. She was also a historian, writing several books about 19th century America, including a well-known account of the aftermath of Lincoln's assassination.

Reviews

[Hapsari Darmastuti · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVOURITES LITTLE GOLDEN BOOKS GROWING UP AND I FOUND IT

[Mellanie C · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my daughter's favorite books when she was little, so I must have read it hundreds of times!

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kitty and her mother go shopping for a doll for Kitty. She has to pick the one she likes the best, and to her mother's surprise Kitty chooses one that is not fancy or pretty or can do things like the other dolls. The one she chose is the one she can use her imagination for the most. Nicely told and illustrated.

[Kylie Abecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is so special in so many ways. I live that Kitty falls in love with the ‘plain, boring’ doll laying amongst all the ‘special’ dolls. It really does speak volumes. I’m too tired right now to articulate my thought process on this one action within the book lolz

[Dina · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was an ok book. I enjoyed the illustrations more so than the story.

[Little Seesaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is book about little kitty going to the toy store to pick out a new doll. Which one will she pick? The art work is in pastels and very whimsical.

[Robert]

Found a note that I read this to my daughter on this date. Have no memory of the book itself. :(

[Capn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better than expected. Picked it up because I loved the artwork. ;)

[Cat]

Technically a re-read. I miss the old art.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is so cute! 😍 I used to read this one all the time when I was a little girl and I'm glad we haven't gotten rid of it. The illustrations are gorgeous and the main character is a kitty, so it's a bit hard not to enjoy reading it.

[Barb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some cat lovers wear clothes depicting cats, others collect cat figurines, I have combined both my love of books and cats: I collect cat books, even children’s books, which is why I have Dorothy Kunhardt’s Kitty’s New Doll. In a town of human-like cats (they walk on their hind legs), a mother takes her daughter to the toy store to buy a doll. The basic message of the story is to appreciate simplicity and imagination in life, which is certainly a good thing.

What I don’t like is that it reinforces that motherhood is something a girl grows up to do. It doesn’t teach that girls/women have choices about whether or not they want to be a mother and that choosing not to doesn’t make them any less of a woman. For that reason, I would not buy this for either of my nieces.

On the plus side, Hiroe Nakata’s watercolor illustrations are beautifully whimsical and colorful.

[Tori De · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my Top Ten Favorite Books as a kid. This was the sweetest read--it had kittens and dolls, a win-win situation for my younger self, after all! Combined with warm illustrations and a plot that was rather endearing (and mainly short enough to kept me coming back to read it), this book was bound to make an impact on me--and it did, in a small way, by remaining impressed on my memory even as time drew on and I grew older. Reflecting back on this read has made me realize that the act of Kitty caring and loving on some one really still appeals to me, and quite maintains my love for this book even today. Anyone should definitely check this book out, even if just for the cute illustrations.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a short, sweet story about a young girl picking out a doll for her very own. The story is reminiscent of Corduroy by Don Freeman, but isn't as much of a classic. The illustrations are soft and colorful.

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two stars does not mean it was bad, it means that I thought it was "OK". I didn't dislike the story, just that compared to all the other books out there, this was "OK". Now, Aleyda, who loves "kitties" really liked the book, she gave it four stars. My review, my rating--when she gets her own "goodreads" page she can mark this book any way she sees fit. I will say that Kitty did pick the right doll for the right reasons, to let Kitty's imagination rule future play.

[Liane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Genre: Picture Book

Reading Level: Early

Topics & Themes: Shopping. Dolls. Mother and Daughter Relationships. Cats

Curricular Use: Read-aloud

Literary Elements: Personification: characters are cats. Imagery. Description of all the dolls until we find out Kitty's choice

Text & Pictures: Interaction of text and Pictures

[Sara B · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story about a mother and daughter going shopping for a new doll. The daughter looks all the dolls over until she finds the perfect doll. The mother doesn't understand why the daughter picked the doll she did until she explains it to her.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful little story! (I picked this book up after watching the HBO documentary "Living with Lincoln". The Kunhardts and the Meserves are fascinating! Dorothy Kunhardt also wrote Pat the Bunny.)

[Sharon Green · Rating 3 out of 5]

ages 4-7
transitional
read aloud/shared reading
animal picture book
personification
acceptance/love
cute story of little girl kitty choosing the jsut right doll

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my all time favorite growing up. It is such a good story.

[Courtney Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

My very favourite book as a kid!

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kitty has many choices for a new doll and some can do many different things. Kitty likes the rag doll the best because it has no limitations.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book as a child & I love it as an adult. I love the story about a little girl picking out her very own doll. It's just adorable!

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Given to me as a gift when I was little, I still have it to this day, It touched my heart back then and made me teary eye.