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The Doll Shop #1
The Doll Shop Downstairs
Nine-year-old Anna and her sisters love to play with the dolls in their parents' doll repair shop. But when World War I begins, an embargo on German-made goods-including the parts Papa needs to repair the dolls-threatens to put the family's shop out of business. Fortunately, Anna has an idea that just might save the day. Inspired by the true story of Madame Alexander, this is a timeless tale of family and imagination. This beautiful gift edition of The Doll Shop Downstairs, featuring an eye-catching foil embossed cover, will make a perfect holiday present for dreamers and doll lovers everywhere.
128 pages, Hardcover
First published September 3, 2009
About the author
Yona Zeldis McDonough
55 books238 followersI live in Park Slope, Brooklyn and many of my novels take place here. But my new novel takes place in New Hampshire, and I have woven into it a historical component: the tragic story of Ruth Blay, who in 1768 was the last woman hanged in the state. When I read about Ruth, I was fascinated and horrified in equal measure, and I knew I had to write about her.
I was educated at Vassar College and Columbia University, where I studied art history. But I started writing fiction in my 20's and never looked back. I am the author of seven novels, 27 books for children and am the editor of two essay collections. I'm also the fiction editor of Lilith Magazine . Please visit my website, http://www.yonazeldismcdonough.com or find me on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/yzmcdonough; I love to connect with readers everywhere.
I was educated at Vassar College and Columbia University, where I studied art history. But I started writing fiction in my 20's and never looked back. I am the author of seven novels, 27 books for children and am the editor of two essay collections. I'm also the fiction editor of Lilith Magazine . Please visit my website, http://www.yonazeldismcdonough.com or find me on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/yzmcdonough; I love to connect with readers everywhere.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
February 9, 2012
Set in New York City during World War I, this is the story of a Jewish immigrant family from Russia who try to make ends meet when the war cuts off the supply of doll parts that they import from Germany for their doll repair business. Anna and her sisters are lucky enough to be able to play with the dolls left to be repaired, but they each want a doll of their very own. Will the family be able to survive economic hard times? Will the girls ever get their own dolls? Read and find out! The details of life at that time, especially the food, were most interesting. I envy the girls being able to sleep out on the roof in hot weather. I always wanted to do that. I just got the sequel, The Cats in the Doll Shop, via interlibrary loan, so I can't wait to read more of the adventures of these sisters. Highly recommended!
January 23, 2013
4.5 STARS
This is such a sweet story of an immigrant family in WWI-era America; there are three sisters (Anna is the middle sister) and their father runs a doll repair shop. What a great premise*. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I think that perhaps the only reason I'm not awarding it five stars is that I wanted more ;-> but as a book for young children, I think it succeeds very well and is an appropriate length.
Anna's family is portrayed in an honest and loving way--not without their little flaws, but deeply kind and devoted and full of integrity. The little squabbles between Anna and her sisters ring true and never escalate beyond the clear love and friendship they maintain for one another.
I really loved how the children were included in the discussion of financial difficulties that fell upon the family and that they also helped to create a solution. The family working together was just marvelous and it shows how children really do want to participate and help--that it is preferable to being kept in the dark where one feels something is wrong but is unable to talk about it with grown-ups or do anything to feel useful.
The discussion of the war is age-appropriate, hinting at the poor soldiers and worry about family back in Russia, but not going into detail.
I loved the doll shop and feel that the joy and excitement of living above a doll shop (and helping out in said doll shop) for the three sisters was conveyed beautifully.
The illustrations are completely adorable!!!
All in all, I would highly recommend this to those who love dolls, loving family stories, stories about Jewish and/or Russian immigrants or those seeking a gentle account of the personal and financial hardships WWI brought to Americas even before the US entered the war.
*I loved learning from the author's note that the story is loosely based on the real biography of
This is such a sweet story of an immigrant family in WWI-era America; there are three sisters (Anna is the middle sister) and their father runs a doll repair shop. What a great premise*. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I think that perhaps the only reason I'm not awarding it five stars is that I wanted more ;-> but as a book for young children, I think it succeeds very well and is an appropriate length.
Anna's family is portrayed in an honest and loving way--not without their little flaws, but deeply kind and devoted and full of integrity. The little squabbles between Anna and her sisters ring true and never escalate beyond the clear love and friendship they maintain for one another.
I really loved how the children were included in the discussion of financial difficulties that fell upon the family and that they also helped to create a solution. The family working together was just marvelous and it shows how children really do want to participate and help--that it is preferable to being kept in the dark where one feels something is wrong but is unable to talk about it with grown-ups or do anything to feel useful.
The discussion of the war is age-appropriate, hinting at the poor soldiers and worry about family back in Russia, but not going into detail.
I loved the doll shop and feel that the joy and excitement of living above a doll shop (and helping out in said doll shop) for the three sisters was conveyed beautifully.
The illustrations are completely adorable!!!
All in all, I would highly recommend this to those who love dolls, loving family stories, stories about Jewish and/or Russian immigrants or those seeking a gentle account of the personal and financial hardships WWI brought to Americas even before the US entered the war.
*I loved learning from the author's note that the story is loosely based on the real biography of
November 21, 2009
Oh, I suppose the plot is somewhat (but not entirely!) predictable, but I loved this story.
It’s a wonderful story of three sisters and their parents. They’re Jewish, live in New York, and World War I has begun. Nine year old middle child Anna is the very engaging narrator of this story. Her sisters are seven and eleven.
There are wonderful vivid descriptions of the dolls, the rooms of the house including their colors, the sisters and mother and father, the penny candy, the stores and carts, the neighborhoods, and what it feels like to be a Russian American Jewish family in New York City nearly a century ago. Although the story takes place so long ago and this family’s experiences are likely to be incredibly different from those of children today, I do think that today’s girls will enjoy this book very much.
It’s very poignant that the family business is a doll repair shop, but the family is so poor that they can’t afford any dolls for their daughters. However, the girls are permitted to play in a limited way with the dolls in the shop. When World War I begins, doll parts can no longer be bought from Germany so with ingenuity the family finds another slightly different way to make a living.
I would have adored this book when I was eight and nine years old, and I really enjoyed it reading it now too. This book is probably designed to be read by 8 or 9 year old girls but it can be enjoyed by those of all ages, including as a read aloud to younger girls if they can enjoy a story about 7-11 year old girls.
This is truly historical fiction with an emphasis on historical. There’s an author’s note at the end of the novel where she explains that this book is loosely based on a real family and doll shop. In addition to the author’s note, there is also a glossary of terms and a timeline of events in the back of the book.
It’s a wonderful story of three sisters and their parents. They’re Jewish, live in New York, and World War I has begun. Nine year old middle child Anna is the very engaging narrator of this story. Her sisters are seven and eleven.
There are wonderful vivid descriptions of the dolls, the rooms of the house including their colors, the sisters and mother and father, the penny candy, the stores and carts, the neighborhoods, and what it feels like to be a Russian American Jewish family in New York City nearly a century ago. Although the story takes place so long ago and this family’s experiences are likely to be incredibly different from those of children today, I do think that today’s girls will enjoy this book very much.
It’s very poignant that the family business is a doll repair shop, but the family is so poor that they can’t afford any dolls for their daughters. However, the girls are permitted to play in a limited way with the dolls in the shop. When World War I begins, doll parts can no longer be bought from Germany so with ingenuity the family finds another slightly different way to make a living.
I would have adored this book when I was eight and nine years old, and I really enjoyed it reading it now too. This book is probably designed to be read by 8 or 9 year old girls but it can be enjoyed by those of all ages, including as a read aloud to younger girls if they can enjoy a story about 7-11 year old girls.
This is truly historical fiction with an emphasis on historical. There’s an author’s note at the end of the novel where she explains that this book is loosely based on a real family and doll shop. In addition to the author’s note, there is also a glossary of terms and a timeline of events in the back of the book.
March 6, 2024
This book was so special to me on so many levels! The setting is the Lower East Side of Manhattan, in the early 1900’s. That is the same time and place that the “All of a Kind Family” series by Sydney Taylor is set in. I’ve loved and re-read those books many times since my first-grade teacher introduced them to me, long ago! There is a Tenement Museum in that section of NYC that I was privileged to visit several years ago, and it was amazing!
Another perk of this book was that it was based on the life of Madame Alexander, whose dolls have been collected and loved by generations of little girls. Her father ran a doll repair shop, in fact the first one ever established in America, on the Lower East Side. When WW1 broke out, the established embargo on German products made it impossible to get the needed parts for the dolls in the hospital. Concerned that the shop would have to close, Beatrice Alexander, now grown and married, came up with the idea to begin creating dolls that did not depend on German parts. So, as the author states, “a doll-making empire was born.” My own Madame Alexander “Little Women” dolls that I received on my eighth Christmas, along with my first copy of the book, are very special to me; I still have them!
Little doll-lovers would thoroughly enjoy this beautiful book. And, its gentle introduction to the First World War might just entice them to become history buffs!
Another perk of this book was that it was based on the life of Madame Alexander, whose dolls have been collected and loved by generations of little girls. Her father ran a doll repair shop, in fact the first one ever established in America, on the Lower East Side. When WW1 broke out, the established embargo on German products made it impossible to get the needed parts for the dolls in the hospital. Concerned that the shop would have to close, Beatrice Alexander, now grown and married, came up with the idea to begin creating dolls that did not depend on German parts. So, as the author states, “a doll-making empire was born.” My own Madame Alexander “Little Women” dolls that I received on my eighth Christmas, along with my first copy of the book, are very special to me; I still have them!
Little doll-lovers would thoroughly enjoy this beautiful book. And, its gentle introduction to the First World War might just entice them to become history buffs!
August 20, 2009
Nine-year-old Anna is lucky enough to grow up living above her parent’s doll shop where they repair broken china and bisque dolls. She is a middle child, feeling ordinary next to her smart older sister and her cute little sister. Though the family doesn’t have enough money for dolls for the three girls, they are allowed to play with the dolls that have been in the shop for some time. Each girl has a special doll that is “theirs.” However, changes are coming with the beginning of World War I. Doll parts become impossible to import from Germany because of the War. So the family must become creative about how they will earn a living.
I was a girl who played with dolls. My favorite and one I still treasure is the rag doll my mother made for me. She has yellow yarn hair, blue eyes, and a collection of clothes which include a velvet dress with a bustle! It was a treat to read a book about little girls who love dolls, especially dolls which are not perfect.
Anna is a great character. Her perspective on her own ordinariness is shown to be incorrect by all of the clever and important things she invents and does. I think there are many children who don’t see that they are special and its nice to have a book that explores that for younger children.
The world of pre-War New York City is vividly depicted and is as much a character as any of the human ones. McDonough does a great job of showing glimpses of the city but not inundating young readers with facts. I also appreciate the fact that the family is Jewish and that it is handled so matter-of-factly.
Recommended for doll lovers and as a great example of historical fiction for young readers who are looking for something light but historical. Appropriate for ages 7-10.
I was a girl who played with dolls. My favorite and one I still treasure is the rag doll my mother made for me. She has yellow yarn hair, blue eyes, and a collection of clothes which include a velvet dress with a bustle! It was a treat to read a book about little girls who love dolls, especially dolls which are not perfect.
Anna is a great character. Her perspective on her own ordinariness is shown to be incorrect by all of the clever and important things she invents and does. I think there are many children who don’t see that they are special and its nice to have a book that explores that for younger children.
The world of pre-War New York City is vividly depicted and is as much a character as any of the human ones. McDonough does a great job of showing glimpses of the city but not inundating young readers with facts. I also appreciate the fact that the family is Jewish and that it is handled so matter-of-factly.
Recommended for doll lovers and as a great example of historical fiction for young readers who are looking for something light but historical. Appropriate for ages 7-10.
June 21, 2018
This is a totally sweet little book. I absolutely love it. The illustrations are beautiful as well.
I was at a book fair a while ago and I actually got to meet the author. I was drawn to the books at her table because I've always loved dolls and as it turns out, she has always loved dolls too. We talked about our mutual love of Barbie, both growing up and even now as adults - something that not everyone understands. It turns out that she also has a book about Barbie. She didn't have it at the fair, but I looked it up later and ordered it.
This book is based on the life of a famous doll creator, Madame Alexander. Yona Zeldis McDonough had read her story and was inspired by it to write this book. In the book, 3 sisters live with their parents above a doll repair shop in New York City at the time just before WWI. It's their father's shop, he repairs china and porcelain dolls for a living. I understand how this idea would be appealing to a doll lover, of course. The family is a poor immigrant family, but still, what a wonderful environment to grow up in!
Since the family can't afford expensive dolls for the girls, they are allowed to play with the dolls that have been brought in for repair as long as they follow the rules and do not take them out of the shop. Each girl has found one special doll that she considers "hers." These dolls have been in the shop for some time because Papa cannot find the right parts to repair them. Bernadette Louise is the name Anna has given to her doll. Anna is the middle sister and the story is told from her point of view.
When the war breaks out, it becomes impossible to trade with Germany. Germany is where all of the doll parts that Papa uses to repair the dolls come from. So, the family will be in trouble if they can't come up with an alternative way to keep the shop open. It is Anna who suggests making dolls instead of just repairing them. She says they should make their own dolls from materials that they can easily obtain.
Papa repairs as many dolls as he can with the parts that he has, then must return the dolls he can't repair to their owners. The 3 dolls that Anna and her sisters play with do not receive a response from their owners and there is hope that the girls will actually get to keep them.
This is such a sweet part of the story. We see how much Anna truly loves Bernadette Louise. It's very touching just how much. The author really captures the love that a girl has for her special doll. I think I love that aspect most about this book. Nowadays, girls can be criticized for being too "girly" - but loving dolls is a special part of being a girl and I don't see anything wrong with that.
In a lot of ways, this book has that cozy feel to it than you might find in the "Little House on the Prairie" books that I also used to love as a child. If you are a doll lover of any age, you will want to read this book!
I was at a book fair a while ago and I actually got to meet the author. I was drawn to the books at her table because I've always loved dolls and as it turns out, she has always loved dolls too. We talked about our mutual love of Barbie, both growing up and even now as adults - something that not everyone understands. It turns out that she also has a book about Barbie. She didn't have it at the fair, but I looked it up later and ordered it.
This book is based on the life of a famous doll creator, Madame Alexander. Yona Zeldis McDonough had read her story and was inspired by it to write this book. In the book, 3 sisters live with their parents above a doll repair shop in New York City at the time just before WWI. It's their father's shop, he repairs china and porcelain dolls for a living. I understand how this idea would be appealing to a doll lover, of course. The family is a poor immigrant family, but still, what a wonderful environment to grow up in!
Since the family can't afford expensive dolls for the girls, they are allowed to play with the dolls that have been brought in for repair as long as they follow the rules and do not take them out of the shop. Each girl has found one special doll that she considers "hers." These dolls have been in the shop for some time because Papa cannot find the right parts to repair them. Bernadette Louise is the name Anna has given to her doll. Anna is the middle sister and the story is told from her point of view.
When the war breaks out, it becomes impossible to trade with Germany. Germany is where all of the doll parts that Papa uses to repair the dolls come from. So, the family will be in trouble if they can't come up with an alternative way to keep the shop open. It is Anna who suggests making dolls instead of just repairing them. She says they should make their own dolls from materials that they can easily obtain.
Papa repairs as many dolls as he can with the parts that he has, then must return the dolls he can't repair to their owners. The 3 dolls that Anna and her sisters play with do not receive a response from their owners and there is hope that the girls will actually get to keep them.
This is such a sweet part of the story. We see how much Anna truly loves Bernadette Louise. It's very touching just how much. The author really captures the love that a girl has for her special doll. I think I love that aspect most about this book. Nowadays, girls can be criticized for being too "girly" - but loving dolls is a special part of being a girl and I don't see anything wrong with that.
In a lot of ways, this book has that cozy feel to it than you might find in the "Little House on the Prairie" books that I also used to love as a child. If you are a doll lover of any age, you will want to read this book!
May 28, 2017
Amazing, delightful story. A new favorite and one I would like to read again someday! :)
August 17, 2016
Wanted to like it
The Doll Shop Downstairs is the fictional story of a Jewish family in New York who has to make changes to keep their business going during WWII. It is inspired by a true story (the author has a nice note in the back of the book about that).
I thought it was cute and predictable. The story is told from the perspective of the middle child, and while I certainly understood her thoughts and perspective the dedicated voice has the potential to alienate a lot of readers ... mainly those who aren't middle children.
I picked this book up for free and really debated about whether to hold on to it or not. Our heroine ends of stealing a stamp from her parents (saying she's going to replace it) and there are never any ramifications for that act. I just didn't like planting that idea in kids' heads. A trivial thing, perhaps, but I never think stealing should be painted in a forgiveable light like that. I think the story would have worked just as well if she had asked her parents for a stamp.
Maybe I'll regret letting go of this book one day, but I think it's mostly forgettable anyway. Maybe if I read this as a child and had nostalgia attached to it I wouldn't feel that way. I wanted to like this book, but I just didn't connect with it.
3 stars.
This review originally appeared at http://sophiesmindset.blogspot.com/20... as part of the Reading Challenge 2016. To see the other books in the challenge, click here.
The Doll Shop Downstairs is the fictional story of a Jewish family in New York who has to make changes to keep their business going during WWII. It is inspired by a true story (the author has a nice note in the back of the book about that).
I thought it was cute and predictable. The story is told from the perspective of the middle child, and while I certainly understood her thoughts and perspective the dedicated voice has the potential to alienate a lot of readers ... mainly those who aren't middle children.
I picked this book up for free and really debated about whether to hold on to it or not. Our heroine ends of stealing a stamp from her parents (saying she's going to replace it) and there are never any ramifications for that act. I just didn't like planting that idea in kids' heads. A trivial thing, perhaps, but I never think stealing should be painted in a forgiveable light like that. I think the story would have worked just as well if she had asked her parents for a stamp.
Maybe I'll regret letting go of this book one day, but I think it's mostly forgettable anyway. Maybe if I read this as a child and had nostalgia attached to it I wouldn't feel that way. I wanted to like this book, but I just didn't connect with it.
3 stars.
This review originally appeared at http://sophiesmindset.blogspot.com/20... as part of the Reading Challenge 2016. To see the other books in the challenge, click here.
December 17, 2010
Absolutely wonderful! I would say this book is perfect for girls ages 7-10-ish. The story is losely based on how the Madame Alexander company began. It's about a Jewish family with 3 young girls living in the lower east side of New York City around the time of the first world war. They own a doll repair shop and live above the shop. When the United State places an embargo on all goods from Germany their father is unable to order any more parts to repair the porcelain, bisque, and china dolls.
I think this would be a great book to read aloud to your girls because there are several interesting talking points about history, religion, war, and making due when times are tight. There is also a glossary, timeline, and author's note at the end of the book that I feel would be better utilized at the front of the book.
This would make a darling gift paired with a Madame Alexander doll. (I've seen them several times at Tuesday Morning for about $25-40.00)
I'm looking forward to giving this book to my girls on book day--January 1.
I think this would be a great book to read aloud to your girls because there are several interesting talking points about history, religion, war, and making due when times are tight. There is also a glossary, timeline, and author's note at the end of the book that I feel would be better utilized at the front of the book.
This would make a darling gift paired with a Madame Alexander doll. (I've seen them several times at Tuesday Morning for about $25-40.00)
I'm looking forward to giving this book to my girls on book day--January 1.
March 22, 2015
A charming story that reminded me of All-of-a-Kind Family. I especially liked the historical connection with Madame Alexander, as my mother and I loved those dolls. I look forward to reading the sequel, which apparently adds kittens! :)
July 31, 2013
A very slight story. I wanted more depth. And the connection to the Madame Alexander story is so loose, it's hardly worth mentioning.
November 1, 2009
Gentle story with loving family and an old-fashioned feel. I especially appreciated the emphasis on play using the imagination -- it may give contemporary kids some good ideas.
July 27, 2010
The time doesn't feel right in this story. There is a name mix-up on p. 51 and other problems (p. 99 and in the author's note).
February 9, 2013
This book was ADORABLE. The cover is so cute and classic! The storyline was very unique, a definite read if you have not already!
April 20, 2015
First chapter book that Lois age 9 has loved and finished completely on her own.
July 21, 2017
A lovely little book I read to my young daughters.
December 24, 2018
I can't understand why modern writers think that first person, present simple narration is more effective for fiction writing than traditional third person, past tense--unless they're really bad at handling reported speech and shifting tenses. Present simple narration requires a surer hand than most writers bring to the effort, and this one is no exception. It doesn't make the action more immediate, it just saps the narrative flow. The sisters live in a cohesive family unit, so why are they all so "surprised" when they are nice to one another?
There's very little to connect the story itself with the author's intention as stated in the Afterword. We never get anywhere near Madame Alexander and her wonderful luxury dolls. I've said it before: if the author has to explain the intention of the book in a Prologue or Afterword, it's a sure sign they haven't achieved it. Good writing needs no explanation. I had hoped there would be more than one letter involved, it would have made the ending less convenient and added interest to this insipid little tale.
I was really disappointed in this bland, superficial little book.
There's very little to connect the story itself with the author's intention as stated in the Afterword. We never get anywhere near Madame Alexander and her wonderful luxury dolls. I've said it before: if the author has to explain the intention of the book in a Prologue or Afterword, it's a sure sign they haven't achieved it. Good writing needs no explanation. I had hoped there would be more than one letter involved, it would have made the ending less convenient and added interest to this insipid little tale.
I was really disappointed in this bland, superficial little book.
February 24, 2024
Not a professional by any means, I like to call myself a doll maker. This book is such an adorable story about little girls and their love for dolls, especially when family doesn't have a lot of money to indulge. The story is narrated by the middle daughter of three female siblings. Her point of view is easily recognizable of the sometimes "forgotten child" and/or "harmony seeker" monikers given stereotypically (yet, somewhat truthfully) to middle children.
Anna is creative, innovative, mature, and caring. She comes up with a solution during lean times at the start of WWI for her family's doll repair shop - making her also very resourceful!
Because of her care and great love of a "long, left behind" doll, Anna is granted her dream - to have a doll, just the right one, of her own.
Lili listened to two chapters of this but was too busy tending to her dolls ("girls" as she calls them) to want to pay much mind to listening to the rest of the story...still not quite there with attention span and chapter books. Someday, she may want to pick this up on her own to read, as it seems like a younger middle grade read.
Anna is creative, innovative, mature, and caring. She comes up with a solution during lean times at the start of WWI for her family's doll repair shop - making her also very resourceful!
Because of her care and great love of a "long, left behind" doll, Anna is granted her dream - to have a doll, just the right one, of her own.
Lili listened to two chapters of this but was too busy tending to her dolls ("girls" as she calls them) to want to pay much mind to listening to the rest of the story...still not quite there with attention span and chapter books. Someday, she may want to pick this up on her own to read, as it seems like a younger middle grade read.
January 8, 2023
5 stars ~ i loved this book!! certainly i'm not the target demographic for it anymore (i'm 15), but one of my friends gave it to me as part of my birthday present because it was one of their favorites when they were little and she wanted to be able to reference it in conversation. i'm a big geek about history and i'm an american girl fan, so it was a perfect fit. despite being a kids book, i really enjoyed the writing style, and the plot was compelling. i loved the details about school, the specific imagery when they were walking around the city, etc. and i won't lie— overall, it was a really enjoyable read, and helped to get my mind off some things in my personal life. i imagine it would be the perfect gift or read aloud for someone more in the target demographic who loves dolls. ♡♡
October 25, 2024
I absolutely adored this book. The Doll Shop Downstairs, is a children’s book about a family with three young girls. The girls’ father owns a doll repair shop and the fate of his business is at risk when World War I threatens to put him out of business because he is unable to obtain the parts needed from Germany to repair his customer’s dolls. As a family, they work together and come up with an idea to remedy their situation. This book transported me back to a simpler time. And I know that sounds weird because it takes place during World War I but it conveyed messages about appreciating the little things (even if they are flawed), making the most out of a tough situation, and being grateful for what you have. Most importantly it really drills down on the importance of family and doing good towards others. It was a very sweet and heartwarming book.
February 10, 2019
This was one of my favorite books in elementary school! The Doll Shop Downstairs is a charming novel about a young girl called Anna growing up in World War I-era America. I loved the honest but not at all cynical portrayal of economic hardship, and how Anna's creativity provided a realistic solution. I also thought Anna's perspective on being an "ordinary middle child" is one that many kids can relate to and that isn't frequently represented in such a genuine way. I think reading books like this one, where shyer/milder characters are able to shine and where young people make creative solutions, when I was a kid actually did a lot to shape my character nowadays. I love this adorable book and absolutely recommend it to all elementary school girls (and boys)!
February 27, 2021
Great book! About a girl called Anna who lives with her mother, father, and two sisters, Sophie and Trudie. Her parents run a doll repair shop, where people can come in to get their dolls fixed. But when around the corner comes World War I, the dolls parts from Germany can’t get shipped to them. So the Breittlemann’s Doll Repair, becomes the Breittlemann’s Doll Factory, and, with the girls’ designs, they make dolls from their own materials. The three broken dolls at the repair shop whose owners have still not yet come to claim, become the girls’. But then there is a catastrophe for Anna—her beloved doll, whom they named Bernadette Louise, has an owner who comes to take her. Anna is devastated. Can things ever be right again?
August 25, 2021
Read to my 9 year old and she loved it. Super cute book about a family who owns a China doll repair shop and when the war breaks out they have to adapt Since they can’t get the parts in from overseas so They make their own dolls using fabric. Told from a child’s perspective of the ups and downs of life. Super duper cute!
December 5, 2022
This is a delightful story of a Jewish family of 3 girls set in NYC at the out start of WWI. The story is charmingly told from the perspective of the middle daughter. And how she helps in the family doll business.The illustrations are adorable. My 7 year old daughter loved reading this book as well.
June 2, 2019
Reviewed this for a possible 3rd grade title. It's cute and there's an interesting history behind it. It could be part of a fun unit with making doll clothes or paper dolls. There was some nice emotion there. A possibility.
September 5, 2019
Such a sweet book about three sisters from an immigrant family from Russia. Their parents own a doll repair shop. Times get hard for them as WWI begins. But they are resilient and creative and good things start to happen.
November 11, 2019
This was absolutely charming, and I want to read on in the series now! I just grabbed this out of my neighbourhood little library on a whim, and I am so glad I did :) The girls are lovely, as is the setting and I love that the story was based a little on facts!
June 2, 2023
This was one of my favorite books as a child and I just finished reading it aloud to my little sister. Such a sweet story of family and sisterhood while gently introducing such a delicate time in history to kids. I love this story and the sweet illustrations that go along with it.
November 30, 2017
I love It!!!!!!!😘😘😘😘
February 26, 2018
Such a emotional, warm, comforting story. Shows the pain of war, and the love of family. A great read, and perfect for young readers.
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