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exurbanis's review
3.0
The activities, sorrows, and joys of a family of dolls living in an old doll house are related from the dolls’ point of view.
It’s rather dated, but charming. Read this if: you ever played with a dollhouse – or wanted to (and who didn’t?) 3 stars
It’s rather dated, but charming. Read this if: you ever played with a dollhouse – or wanted to (and who didn’t?) 3 stars
tanyarobinson's review
4.0
This is a classic old children's book from the 1940s that thankfully has modern editions. I actually discovered this one for my daughter in early grade school and we read it together. I remember the bratty doll, Marchpane, and how we talked about not wanting to behave that way. It seems that old books were a lot more focused on forming behavior, whereas today's are all about entertainment value.
debnanceatreaderbuzz's review
4.0
For Tottie and her doll family, life is wonderful, though the family longs for a dollhouse home of their own. When the doll family does receive a dollhouse, it arrives with trouble in the form of the wicked doll Marchpane, and the difficulties begin.
This is a charming story of dolls with delightfully wide range of human-like behaviors, with their children who also exhibit a markedly wide range of behaviors. A charming story.
This is a charming story of dolls with delightfully wide range of human-like behaviors, with their children who also exhibit a markedly wide range of behaviors. A charming story.
mat_tobin's review
3.0
This is my first experience of reading Rumer Godden and it's a book very much set in its time with one, slightly surprising element which is a scene of death and loss in a book that I would argue is for quite young children. Although the death is that of a doll, this would not detract from the impact as the story itself revolves around the life of a small family of dolls who are owned and loved by two young sisters. This whole moment came as a shock to me and it was better for it.
Although you could argue that a story written shortly after the second world war about a family of dolls who are looked after by two girls is a little dated and twee, there is something powerful going on here with characterisation. Each doll is very much its own character: Mr Plantagenet ( nervous and with poor self esteem having been cared poorly by previous owners), Birdie(a little ditsy yet whose care for the family shows itself to be unparalleled), Apple (a little, adventurous boy who can be fickle at times), Tottie (the main character - small yet strong and caring and Marchpane (incredibly self-centred and vain). And because of this, I would argue that it's a fine story about humanity and what it is that makes us who we are.
Oliver Postgate adaptation
Although you could argue that a story written shortly after the second world war about a family of dolls who are looked after by two girls is a little dated and twee, there is something powerful going on here with characterisation. Each doll is very much its own character: Mr Plantagenet ( nervous and with poor self esteem having been cared poorly by previous owners), Birdie(a little ditsy yet whose care for the family shows itself to be unparalleled), Apple (a little, adventurous boy who can be fickle at times), Tottie (the main character - small yet strong and caring and Marchpane (incredibly self-centred and vain). And because of this, I would argue that it's a fine story about humanity and what it is that makes us who we are.
Oliver Postgate adaptation
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