Martin, Ann M. and Laura Godwin illus. by Brian Selznick. The Doll People. Little, Brown, 2003. ISBN 978-0786812400 288 pp. $7.99

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Ann M. Martin and Laura Godwin wrote a delightful and satisfying tale called The Doll People. The illustrations by Brian Selznick take the story to a whole new realm of wonderfulness. I’m serious. He is a fantastic illustrator–Amelia and Eleanor Go For a Ride is one of my favorite picture books ever!

Anyway, in The Doll People we discover that the little doll people in children’s dollhouses may, in fact, be alive. They may go on adventures in the house while the humans are sleeping. One or more of them may get lost in the house. If you think you see one of your dolls running or talking or dancing or playing piano, you may really be seeing a live doll. If you do catch one of them busy at one of these activities, they will go into temporary doll state as punishment for not being more careful to act like a doll around the humans.

It’s a fun read that I look forward to recommending to 3rd and 4th grade girls. The sequel will be out soon, called The Meanest Doll in the World.

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