New Labels:
TOP PICK: These books are my favorite must-have doll books. They all are high quality books that many adults should enjoy.
Chapter Book/Picture Book/Short Story: This information is being given to help you know what kind of book to expect when you purchase each title.
Fiction/Non-Fiction: Most of the books on this list are considered children's fiction. Some of them may be non-fiction books for children.
OOP: An older Out Of Print book is labeled OOP. You will have to look for it as an older, used book. Many of my OOP books are old library books that are still in wonderful condition. Take advantage of the fact that many older doll book titles are not frequently read at the library.
IP: A newer book will still be In Print. I also label a book IP if it was recently In Print. I do not guarantee that a current, new copy will still be available through your favorite book source, but even a used copy should be fairly new and easier to find then some older titles.
S/NS: S denotes a book about a "sentient" or living doll. A story marked "S" may be a story about a doll that has adventures that she is an active part of, or her thoughts may merely be made known to the reader. NS is "non-sentient', or a story about dolls where dolls do not come to life.
Age Recommendations: I have also included age recommendations in the following age groups: 4 to 8, 4 to Adult, 9 to 12, and 8 to Adult. They are my personal recommendations as an elementary teacher, but are not meant as a hard rule to follow. Books for 4 to 8 year olds are generally more current picture books with shorter stories. Books for Ages 9 to 12 are generally chapter books, or picture books with longer stories and include both modern and vintage titles. Those books including "Adult" in the recommendation are the highest quality books that might be the most appropriate for adults or family use. Many books I have labeled for "Adults" are the older books, which many children overlook, but may be appreciated by adult collectors.

Bailey, Carolyn Sherwin
Miss Hickory
Puffin Books, 1977, lithographs Ruth Gannett
Chapter Book. Fiction. IP. S. Ages 8 to Adult
Miss Hickory is a wood doll made with an apple twig that grew just so. She has the head of a hickory nut, which is why she is sometimes so "hardheaded". She has spent her summer living in a log cabin made from corn cobs, and anticipates another winter indoors. Then, the country family who usually brings her in for the winter decides to winter in the city, leaving Miss Hickory to fend for herself. However, she is not truly alone. Many woodland animals help her to live a more natural life and survive the winter. Spring finds Miss Hickory making an unusual choice as she decides to continue to live a natural life.

Bartels, Alice L.
The Grandmother Doll
Annick Press, 2001
Picture Book. Fiction. IP. S. Ages 4 to 8
The Grandmother Doll is similar to the better done picture book Babushka's Doll. Crabby Katy is recovering from the flu and trying her mother's patience. She gets sent to her room several times, where a grandmother doll waits for her. The Grandmother doll inspires Katy to be creative, and she finally finds some peace in caring for the Grandmother doll. This book gets five stars from me for encouraging creativity, but the cartoon illustrations may not appeal to adults. It is an excellent book to share with children, and the story varies enough from Babushka's Doll to make them both worth having in a child's collection.

Bianco, Margery Williams
The Little Wooden Doll
MacMillian Publishing, 1953, illus. Pamela Bianco
Short Story. Fiction. OOP. S. Ages 8 to Adult
An old wooden doll waits in the attic for new life, listening for the sounds of children to come rescue her from her dusty fate. When children finally find her in the attic, the bald, naked doll is rejected and falls from the window sill to the great outdoors. She is befriended and clothed by small woodland friends, who also help her to find a home where she will be loved once again.

Poor Cecco

Brenner, Barbara
Amy's Doll
Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., 1963, photography Syd Katzoff
TOP PICK. Picture Book. Fiction. OOP. NS. Ages 8 to Adult
Young Amy gets the old-fashioned (bisque head/jointed composition body) doll of her dreams for her eighth birthday. Sarah Jane becomes her special child, afforded all the privileges of the one beloved doll. One winter day Sarah Jane is left outside after an adventure with the children. When Amy finds her again, Sarah Jane is in need of cleaning, restringing, and restoration. Thus begins her trip to the New York Doll Hospital. The black and white photographs in this book pricelessly capture the early 1960's. You may have to pay over $40 for a good/excellent copy of this book, but I treasure my copy of this story of a girl and her doll.

Burnett, Frances Hodgson
Racketty Packetty House and Other Stories
Dover Publications, 2002
Short Story Collection. Fiction. IP. S. Ages 9 to Adult
This collection of Frances Hodgson Burnett's short stories includes the lively dollhouse story "Racketty-Packetty House". The dolls in the dollhouse are characters who believe in fun and play in their old dollhouse. The owner gets a castle dollhouse, and the old "racketty-packetty" house is pushed on the floor and behind a chair until it can be properly burned. They are saved from this fate several times by fairies. Then, a real princess comes to visit the girl and sees the "racketty-packetty" house.

Caudill, Rebecca
The Best Loved Doll
Henry Holt and Company, 1962, illus. Elliot Gilbert
TOP PICK. Picture Book. Fiction. IP. NS. Ages 4 to 8
Betsy is invited to a doll party where there will be prizes for different categories of dolls, such as "best dressed" and "oldest". Her four dolls talk excitedly about which one should go to the party. Three of them would most certainly win the award, but Betsy chooses her best loved doll to take to the party. The simple story along with the original 60's line drawings and soft muted purples will bring a retro pleasure to adults.

Cheney, Cora
The Doll of Lilac Valley
Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., 1959, illus. Carol Beech
Chapter Book. Fiction. OOP. NS. Ages 9 to 12
Laurie is the daughter of a single mother, living in the city. She becomes a "fresh-air" child and is sent to live with a couple she does not know for the summer. She bravely clutches her doll, Kathleen, on the bus ride to the country. When Kathleen is left behind on a lunch stop, Laurie spends the rest of the summer looking for her or another doll. A surprise comes her way after she does the right thing for the Queen Anne doll from the auction rag bag.

Field, Rachel
Hitty: Her First Hundred Years
Aladdin Paperbacks, 1998 (1929), illus. Dorothy Lathrop
TOP PICK. Chapter Book. Fiction. IP.S. Ages 8 to Adult
Hitty is a charming, wise, sentient character who documents her life and adventures from her original creation to her time in an antique shop. Hitty experiences life with many different people companions throughout her years and often travels on the winds of fate. Her travels include her beginnings in Maine, a sea voyage, India, and time around various states in the Eastern half of the United States. This well written novel is a must have for doll collectors. Do be warned, though. You, too, may be captivated by her charm and pulled into Hitty's world and her many modern adventures with present day people.

Friedman, Tracy
Henriette: The Story of a Doll
Scholastic, 1986, illus. Vera Rosenberry
Chapter Book. Fiction. OOP. S. Ages 4-8
Henriette is a 14 inch porcelain doll. Her original owner is now the older grandmother of an orphaned granddaughter she cannot take care of. Henriette leaves the plantation home (greatly changed by the Civil War) to find the granddaughter in the Georgia orphanage. She knows that the granddaughter is now her rightful companion, so she hops a plantation wagon headed for Georgia. The reading level on this book is third grade, but it is only 63 pages long and has short, quick chapters. Although this book is not the highest quality of doll book writing, the adventure held my attention and younger readers may enjoy it as a read aloud. It is also a good independent reading book for children ages 8 to 10.

Godden, Rumer
Four Dolls
Greenwillow Books, 1983, illus. Pauline Baynes
Impunity Jane, The Fairy Doll, Holly, Candy Floss
Impunity Jane, 1955. OOP. S. Ages 9 to 12
Impunity Jane is a tiny china doll who lives a sedate and neglected life for several generations of girls. One day, she is discovered in her dollhouse by a boy cousin and finally has a chance to live the adventurous life she has always dreamed of.
The Fairy Doll, 1956. OOP. S. Ages 9 to 12
The youngest child in a family of four children is constantly berated by her siblings as she struggles to grow past immaturity. Great Grandmother blesses her one Christmas with the gift of the Fairy Doll, who usually resides on the tree. She cares for the Fairy Doll, and the Fairy Doll helps her grow to maturity and confidence.
The Story of Holly and Ivy, 1959. OOP. S. Ages 9 to 12
See description below.
Candy Floss, 1960. OOP. S. Ages 9 to 12
Candy Floss and her crew of friends live the carnival life with their owner, Jack. Jack fondly calls Candy Floss his "good luck charm". Then, a spoiled child determines that the doll must be hers at any cost.

The Story of Holly and Ivy
Viking Penguin, 1985(orig. 1959), illus. Barbara Cooney
TOP PICK. Picture Book. Fiction. IP. S. Ages 9 to 12
The setting of this story is Christmas, but it is one of my favorites year round. An orphan named Ivy and a doll named Holly both want a home more then anything else in the world. Although this plot sounds predictable, the well woven story by Rumer Godden will make the journey to its inevitable end and enjoyable one. This version with illustrations by Barbara Cooney will make it a treasured book for any doll collector.

The Doll's House
Puffin Books, 1976 (orig. 1948), illus. Tasha Tudor
TOP PICK. Chapter Book. Fiction. IP. S. Ages 9 to 12
This adventure of a little wood doll is a classic dollhouse tale. Tottie cares for her dollhouse family and faces jealousy when the beautiful new doll moves in.

Miss Happiness and Miss Flower
Harper Collins, 1989 (orig. 1961)
Chapter Book. Fiction. IP. S. Ages 9 to 12
Two Japanese dolls arrive at the new home of a lonely girl who has left India to live with her cousins in England. The listless girl finds new interest in life in caring for the Japanese dolls, Miss Happiness and Miss Flower. This book offers an excellent description of Japanese culture with notes on the Japanese dollhouse and an explanation of vocabulary and traditions. Some people love this book for those qualities, but it isn't one of my favorite Godden stories. The story itself is too diluted by the factual information given. Its sequel is titled Miss Plum.

Goffstein, M.B.
Goldie the Dollmaker
A Sunburst Book, 1997
Short story. Fiction. IP. NS. Ages 9 to Adult
This unusual little book is not quite a picture book and definitely not a chapter book. It may be worth having for adult collectors of wood dolls. The story is the story of Goldie, a wood doll maker living in a time and place before they were wood doll artists. This is a simple story of the simple life with simple black and white sketches, which makes it so simply irresistible.

Holub, Joan
The Doll Hospital books are a new series of chapter books. Each book is the story of Lila and Rose, who have come to live with their maternal grandmother. Far Nana, as they call her, has a doll hospital in her Victorian house. She also has the talent of listening to the dolls she is restoring and tells Lila and Rose each story from a first person point of view (the doll's voice). The books have a "story within a story" format that may be confusing for some younger children to follow. The marked reading level on these books is third grade, which is about 8 years old. I have recommended them for ages 9 to 12, but they are easier chapter books then others I have previously recommended for this age group. They are good read aloud books for ages 6 to 8 if your child is not reading at a higher grade level, or good independent books if your 7 or 8 year old is a strong reader.
Chapter Book. Fiction. IP. S. Ages 9-12

Doll Hospital: Tatiana Comes to America
Scholastic, 2002
Book One in the series is the story of Tatiana, who leaves Russia with her girl, Anya. Anya comes from a wealthy family and travels to America in first class. She meets a girl from the lower passage when she drops Tatiana over the balcony of the ship, and they both encounter some unexpected adventures. This book comes with a paper doll insert of Tatiana, who can be dressed with clothing printed off the Scholastic website.

Doll Hospital: Goldie's Fortune
Scholastic, 2002
Book Two in the series is the story of Glory, who is a Depression era doll who longs to be different. As her family moves to shack and makes due, Glory finds that her wish to be an original is granted. This book comes with a paper doll insert of Goldie.

Doll Hospital: Glory's Freedom
Scholastic, 2003
Book Three in the series finds Glory, a wax doll traveling from a Civil War era plantation (where she may melt), to the North in the hands of a runaway slave girl. Her later discovery by a modern woman makes news and history. This book comes with a paper doll insert of Glory.

Doll Hospital: Saving Marissa
Scholastic, 2003
Book Four in the series is about a 1950's baby doll and the girl who loves her, despite her conservative Depression raised mother. The cover and inside illustrations of this book are different from the illustrations in the earlier books. They are more cartoon-like, and I suspect this was done to appeal to a younger audience. This book also does not come with a paper doll, but the quality of the story is consistent with the earlier books in this series.

Horne, Richard Henry
Memoirs of a London Doll
The MacMillian Company, 1967(orig. 1846), illus. Margaret Gillies/Richard Shirley Smith
TOP PICK. Chapter Book. Fiction. OOP. S.Ages 8 to Adult
This wooden doll tale reminds the readers of the time when dolls were all handmade by craftsman and other individuals instead of factories. Maria Poppet, the doll, is proud of her distinguished beginnings with a family of doll makers. She is eventually won by a clever boy who trades a cake for a doll for his sister. Maria Poppet goes through a number of homes before settling in the place she hopes to stay forever. This book was written by Richard Henry Horne, who also has published this book under the name Mrs. Fairstar. Looking for this book is worth the prize of finding it.

Kassier, Norma
Magic Elizabeth
Harper Trophy, 1999 (orig. 1966), illus. Joe Krush
Chapter book. Fiction. IP. NS. Ages 9 to 12
Sally must spend the summer with her Aunt Sarah. Aunt Sarah is more then just a little creepy, and Sally has a hard time adjusting to her odd ways. Then, Sally finds a magic mirror in the attic of the old house, and the secret of a missing doll.

Lasky, Kathryn
Sophie and Rose
Candlewick Press, 1998, illus. Wendy Anderson Halperin
Picture Book. Fiction. IP. NS. Ages 4 to 8
Sophie finds a baby doll owned by her mother and grandmother before her. Well meaning Sophie loves Rose to pieces. She becomes a favorite playtime companion who brings much comfort and joy to Sophie. This book is also a comfort for those who love dolls enough to want them to be everywhere for always.

Lewis, Naomi
Rocking Horse Land and Other Classic Tales of Dolls and Toys
Candlewick Press, 2000, illus. Angela Barrett
TOP PICK. Fiction. IP.S/NS. Ages 4 to Adult
This book of collected stories is a treasured gem. All of the stories are well written with beautiful illustrations by one artist. This well chosen group of stories includes excerpts from the first few chapters of "The Memoirs of a London Doll", and the short stories "Vasilissa, Baba Yaga, and The Little Doll", "The Steadfast Tin Soldier", and "Rag Bag". This is a great way to get classic doll tales in one wonderful volume.

Martin, Ann/Godwin, Laura
The Doll People
Hyperion Books for Children, 2000, illus. Brian Selznick
Chapter Book. IP. S. Ages 9 to 12
Annabelle and her family live for generations in a Victorian dollhouse. After it is passed along to the older of two sisters, the younger sister must also get a dollhouse. The younger child acquires a new, modern, and entirely plastic dollhouse, which is placed as a neighbor to the old house. Tiffany and her plastic family quickly befriend the bisque family and they all go on an adventure to search for a long missing family member. Although the text contains a plot repeated in more then one dollhouse story, the cartoon illustrations are cheerful attention getters. I wanted to keep reading the story to find out what the dolls were doing in each illustration. This book is a great pick for children who are old enough to enjoy chapter books, or for adults looking for a cotton candy supplement to their doll book diet.

Mayer, Marianna
Baba Yaga and Vasilisa the Brave
Morrow Junior Books, 1994, illus. K.Y. Craft
Picture Book. Fiction. IP. S. Ages 4 to Adult
Vasilisa starts out as a Cinderella story when an orphaned girl ends up living with her stepmother and two stepsisters. The sweet tempered girl is mistreated and overworked, but she holds onto life and love in a little doll given to her by her birth mother long ago. Vasilisa is sent to the evil witch, Baba Yaga, to get fire for the family. Vasilisa suspects she may never return, and Baba Yaga puts her through many tests and trials. It is then up to the little doll to lead her back to life and love. This Russian folk tale is offered in many versions, but the version listed is my favorite.

McGinley, Phyllis
The Most Wonderful Doll in the World
Scholastic, 1978, illus. Helen Stone
Short Chapter Book. Fiction. OOP. NS. Ages 4 to Adult
Dulcy has many dolls to play with, but suffers from a restless discontentment. She always wants something new or better. Then, a neighbor who is going away for the winter gives Dulcy one of her dolls to take home. Dulcy sets the doll in the box down on the way home to help another neighbor rake the autumn leaves. Despite efforts to find the doll, she is lost. Dulcy spends the winter telling great stories about how wonderful the lost doll was and how perfect her clothes were. According to Dulcy's imagination, the doll had everything Dulcy or her friends would ever want in a doll. The doll re-enters her life in the spring, and Dulcy finds that her imagination was much better then the reality. But, she also learns the difference between what is real and what is make-believe. This wonderful story was originally published in 1950 and has been in a recent reprint edition. The story is lesson that children may relate to, but the vintage illustrations are sure to please adults.

Moxley, Lucina Ball
The Dandy Dollhouse Stories: The Mexican Dollhouse
Guild Press of Indiana, Inc., 1996, illus. Ann Eckerson
Picture Book. Fiction. IP. S. Ages 9 to 12
This book is the third book in The Dandy Dollhouse Stories series, and is one of the most available. The dollhouse residents are living, sentient dolls. The family living in the Mexican dollhouse offers a model Mexican family from the mid-1950's, when the story is set. However, the most important story in this book is the story of two girls who extend their hands in friendship to the new girl, the Mexican girl who owns the Mexican dollhouse.

Nivola, Claire A.
Elisabeth
Sunburst Books, 2001
TOP PICK. Picture Book. Fiction. IP. NS. Ages 4 to Adult
This positively magical tale starts in World War 2 Germany where a girl must leave her beloved doll behind during her family's fast escape. Later, in America, she finds her old friend when she is searching for a doll for her own daughter. The introductory note at the beginning of the book leads the reader to believe that this is a true story. However, it is classified as fiction, so you'll have to be the judge of what is true and what is the product of imagination. The illustrations and the story are both sophisticated and sensitive. This book is a must-have for any doll collector who also collects doll picture books.

Polacco, Patricia
Babushka's Doll
Simon and Schuster, 1990
TOP PICK. Picture Book. Fiction. IP. S. Ages 4 to 8
Babushka's is the Russian name for "Grandmother". In this tale, Natasha demands her Babushka's attention, but Babushka has laundry to hang and goats to feed before it is Natasha's turn. During lunch, Natasha discovers a special doll on the shelf, and Babushka allows her to play with the doll while she runs an errand. The colorful cloth doll quickly turns into an active, demanding companion who whines and complains. Natasha does her best to keep up with the doll and fulfill her needs, but soon learns a valuable lesson. She learns what it feels like to care for others who are demanding and selfish, and she learns that there is a reason to only play with Babushka's doll once! Polacco is a master storyteller and artist, making this a wonderful book to share with children or have as an adult collector.

Rosales, Melodye Benson
Minnie Saves the Day
Little Brown and Company, 2001
Chapter Book. Fiction. IP. S. Ages 9 to 12.
Minnie is an adorable brown rag doll who becomes an active, living doll when the people aren't looking. She was sent to young Hester by her grandmother, and quickly becomes a companion. The main adventure in this book happens when Hester has an older neighbor babysitting her for the afternoon. Both Hester and the babysitter fall asleep, but Minnie knows that there is work to be done. Minnie enlists the help of the other dolls and toy animals to "save the day". The true jewel of this book is that it is a story set in an African American community in Chicago during the Depression. Like the American Girl historical books, there is a section in the back about African American history in Chicago in 1933. Some of the information included is about the availability of brown or "colored" dolls during that time period. The reading level will be above the reading level of many 8 year olds, but it is an appropriate read-aloud story for the 4 to 8 audience.

Smith, MaryLou M.
Grandmother's Adobe Dollhouse
Route 66 Publishing, 1984, illus. Ann Blackstone
Picture Book. Non Fiction. OOP. NS. Ages 4 to Adult
This well written and charmingly illustrated book is a walk through tour of New Mexican/Spanish style architecture, furnishings, and common household accessories. Although this Albuquerque published book is becoming more difficult to find outside of the region, it is worth the look for those interested in Southwestern style on a miniature scale. It doesn't offer specific plans or how to achieve the look in a dollhouse, but it does offer plenty of inspiration!

Stover, Marjorie Filley
Midnight at the Dolls House
Scholastic, 1990
TOP PICK. Chapter Book. Fiction. OOP. S. Ages 9 to 12
This later published book is the prequel to When The Dolls Woke. We are introduced to Melissa Wurling and her post Civil War Boston family. Melissa is an adventurous girl who has a terrible accident that leaves her bedridden for several months. Her mother buys her a family of dollhouse dolls to keep her spirits up and to help her entertain herself during the long weeks. Melissa later receives a house for her special doll family, and then has to deal with a jealous cousin from South Carolina. Stover does an excellent job weaving together the thoughts and independent spirits of each doll with their role as a girl's toys. I would recommend reading Midnight at the Dolls House before reading When the Dolls Woke.

When The Dolls Woke
Scholastic, 1985
TOP PICK. Chapter Book. Fiction. OOP. S. Ages 9 to 12
The modern day of niece of Melissa, the original dollhouse owner, inherits the dollhouse as the last living resident of the old Boston home prepares to go to a retirement home. When old Aunt Abby visits young Gail before her move to the retirement home, Gail learns her Aunt Abby's secret troubles, and it is up to their ancestors and the dollhouse residents to save the day.

Waddell, Martin
The Toymaker
Candlewick Press, 1991, illus. Terry Milne
Picture Book. Fiction. IP. NS.Ages 4 to 8
The Toymaker makes wood dolls for his daughter to play with. She is too weak to play with the neighborhood children, so her father makes her dolls resembling those children. When she becomes old and her father, the Toymaker, has passed away, those aging children return to find the dolls of themselves as children and the daughter makes one final tribute to her father. This is an excellent book for children.

Wells, Rosemary
Rachel Field's Hitty
Simon and Schuster, 1999, illus. Susan Jeffers
TOP PICK. Short Story. Picture Book. Fiction. IP. S. Ages 4 to Adult
Colorful illustrations introduce a new generation of readers to Hitty's adventures. While this version starts out along the same path as the original, the author wanders down her own path to re-invent Hitty's travels. Although it deviates from the original story, it is a high quality version that may be a good supplement, or good introduction to the original book. I count myself as one reader who wanted to read more about Hitty after reading this book.

Winslow, Marjorie
Mud Pies and Other Recipes: A Cookbook for Dolls
Walker Publishing Co., 1996 (orig. 1961), illus. Erik Blevad
Short Story. Nonfiction. IP. NS. Ages 4 to Adult
This unusual book of childhood "recipes" is a reprint from 1961. It reminds the reader of simpler times, encouraging the use of ingredients such as mud, flowers, leaves, and sawdust. It is written in cookbook fashion, complete with suggested menus for different occasions. The format along with the line drawings will please any doll collector with a fondness for days gone by.

Winthrop, Elizabeth
Katharine's Doll
E.P. Dutton, 1983, illus. Marylin Hafner
Picture Book. Fiction. OOP. NS. Ages 4 to 8
Katherine and Molly are best friends until Charlotte appears. Charlotte is the baby doll that grandmother sent to Katherine. Katherine tries to share Charlotte with Molly, but is not always successful. A slip of Katherine's tongue may ruin the friendship if she doesn't learn that there are many things that Molly can do with her that Charlotte can't do.

The Castle in the Attic

Woodruff, Elvira
The Christmas Doll
Scholastic, 2000
Chapter Book. Fiction. IP. NS. Ages 9 to 12
Lucy and Glory are orphaned sisters walking the winter streets of London. Lucy finds a special job as the young artist who paints the hearts on dolls in a doll shop. At the end of the season, the girls find their reward. This is a charming, old-fashioned story. No dolls come to life, but there are enough references to please to sophisticated doll collectors.

Yaroshevskaya, Kim
Little Kim's Doll
Groundwood Books, 1999, illus. Luc Melanson
TOP PICK. Picture Book. Fiction. IP. NS. Ages 4 to Adult
Little Kim is a girl growing up in Russia. She wants a doll more then anything else, but her parents want a strong girl. They believe that if they allow her to play with dolls that she will not become a strong, Russian woman. However, Kim is determined. She turns everything she is given, from wooden spoons to toy guns into a doll that she rocks and holds. Finally, her parents realize that they do indeed have a strong little girl who is able to hang onto her desires even when they are discouraged. Everything from the illustrations, the quality of the story, to the font used in this book make it a worthwhile text for adults as well as children.

Zolotow, Charlotte
William's Doll
Harper Trophy, 1972, illus. William Pene DuBois
TOP PICK. Picture Book. Fiction. IP. NS. Ages 4 to Adult
William wants a doll more then the anything, but his family encourages him to play "boy" games. Finally, a wise grandma gets him a doll and explains to his parents why it is valuable play for him. Boys need to learn to be nurturing fathers just like girls learn to be nurturing mothers. This 1970's text from Free To Be You and Me is still a liberating story to share with the family.