The Birthday Doll - Hardcover

Cutler, Jane

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0374307199 ISBN 13: 9780374307196

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR), 2004

Synopsis

Pretty is as pretty does

Franny gets two dolls for her birthday. Rose has yellow curls, big blue eyes, and a frilly dress. She chants "Ring around the Rosy" when you squeeze her hand. Suzie is an old rag doll, all floppy and faded. Franny's grandmother sees some lovely qualities in Suzie, but Franny is unconvinced. After her birthday party, Franny climbs into bed with beautiful Rose, while Suzie is left alone atop the toy shelf in the bedroom. But Rose's frilly dress starts to scratch, and her yellow curls smell like plastic. Maybe Franny will give Suzie a try after all.

With its deceptively simple text and sweet watercolors, this book feels like a classic doll story, as soft and familiar as Suzie herself.

About this title

About the Author:

Jane Cutler is the author of many books for children, including Leap, Frog and others in the series for middle grade readers about Jason and Edward Fraser. She lives in San Francisco, California.

Hiroe Nakata has illustrated many children's books. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.

From School Library Journal:

PreSchool-Grade 2--Despite the singular toy of the title, this is really a tale of two dolls. The first is a fancy, new, talking model that arrives in the mail on the morning of Franny's birthday party. The girl is enchanted with Rose and her plump pink cheeks and frilly dress and plays with her until it is time to get ready for the celebration. The event passes "quick as a wink," and she receives a variety of presents. After the cleanup, Grandmother helps Franny put away her gifts, including a rather worn rag doll from a new friend. When the girl expresses dismay at the toy's condition, they stick her on a top shelf. At bedtime, she realizes that while pretty as a picture, Rose is not very huggable and, predictably seeks out the comfort of her somewhat threadbare, but lovable alternative. Sweet, delicate illustrations portray a bouncy heroine and a loving home. In a bit of artistic foreshadowing, the old rag doll resembles Franny while Rose does not. A surefire hit for doll lovers.--Rosalyn Pierini, San Luis Obispo City-County Library, CA
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About this edition

• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 0374307199
• ISBN 13: 9780374307196
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: Nakata Hiroe