Dollmakers and Their Stories: Women Who Changed the World of Play
Grade 5 Up–This book will appeal to doll collectors as well as to those researching the history of toys or female entrepreneurs of the past century. The author is the founding editor ofDollsmagazine, and her love for antique and contemporary dolls is evident in her clearly written, enthusiastic account. She profiles Martha Chase, Käthe Kruse, Sasha Morgenthaler, Beatrice Alexander Behrman, and Ruth Handler, all from the past century. While these women made important contributions, young readers will more likely be intrigued by the stories behind the Madame Alexander and Barbie dolls they might own themselves. A concluding chapter presents women who are currently creating dolls that capture young girls' hearts. The black-and-white photographs are too few and too small for a subject with such visual punch. Caroline G. Goodfellow'sThe Ultimate Doll Book(MetroBooks, 2001) features large, full-color photographs of dolls through the ages, making it a book with more general appeal.–Joyce Adams Burner, Hillcrest Library, Prairie Village, KSCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.