October 15, 2021
K-Gr 2-From deer to otter on down to wood mouse, the animals are flummoxed by a rag doll they find in the forest. She has brown yarn hair and floppy arms and legs and appears to be sleeping blissfully. But her smell and feel and lack of a tail or wet nose are unfamiliar. When the gang follows footprints that lead away from the doll, they come upon their first road, first house, and first child, who looks remarkably like the rag doll. They leave the doll on a swing and return the next night, drawn to a lit window, through which they see the little girl reading tenderly to her doll. At last the animals see something they do recognize: the embodiment of love. A fine pen line and spare palette make the crisp illustrations pop off the white background. Children will love the facial expressions of the animals as they progress from consternation to surprise over things that are ordinary to a human child. The dialogue among the animals is charming, while the narration features lyrical descriptions of their world. VERDICT A sweet story touched with humor that will encourage listeners to view their daily doings from an animal point of view.-Jan Aldrich Solow, formerly with Fairfax County Public Sch., VA
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