The Doll of Lilac Valley

Excellent period piece. Reminds me of when children could walk down the street safely.

My mother bought this book for us girls when we were little because it took place in Townshend, VT, just a few miles away. It seemed very real to us, as we always went to the fair and auction each summer, and were very close to an old farm couple like Hattie and Henry. We imagined the joy of finding a strange and special doll like Laurie did. I think this book has held up well with time, as Laurie's life back home in New York (her single mother experiencing money problems) and the adjustments to very different surroundings will touch a chord in modern children. A Queen Anne doll sells for over $10,000 today, and a modern-day Laurie would feel so proud to be able to help her mother, just as Laurie did then.

Laurie lives in the city with her mother, a single parent. She is sent away to the country for the summer as a "fresh air" child. She brings Kathleen, her special doll twin, with her on the bus as they travel to a family she does not know. Through a twist of fate, Laurie arrives at the country house of Hattie and Henry without her beloved companion. Although she doesn't abandon hope of finding Kathleen, Laurie looks for another doll at the auction of a local doll collector's possessions. The child's pocket change is no match for the money of serious adult collectors, but she does manage to find a hidden treasure.This book was originally published in 1958, and will appeal to adult doll book collectors. When Hattie gave Laurie a small, doll sized cast iron stove to play with, I had to have one! Such old-fashioned touches will charm the nostalgic reader, but the text is also sound enough for today's 9 to 12 year old readers. References to "Jumeau", "wax doll", "penny wooden" and "Queen Anne" provide a great opportunity for experienced doll collectors to share information about doll types and doll history with younger doll collectors, who may have only known about plastic, vinyl, and porcelain dolls. I have read this book several times, and still find it enjoyable.