The Doll People’s Christmas by Ann M. Martin and Laura Godwin
Pictures By: Brett Helquist
Published by: Disney * Hyperion, 2016
Genre: Children’s Picture Book, Christmas
Pages: 32
Price: $17.99
Source: borrowed from the library
From Goodreads:
Christmas is Annabelle Doll’s favorite time of year. She loves celebrating with her family, and she especially loves all the beautiful decorations Kate and Grandma Katherine put up in the dollhouse. She can’t wait to have Tiffany and the rest of the Funcrafts over for their very first Christmas. But when the angel topper for the Dolls’ tree breaks, Annabelle is convinced the holiday is ruined. And things only get worse when Kate and Nora decide to use the dolls to create a nativity scene downstairs, meaning Annabelle won’t be able to keep her special traditions at all! But as Christmas spirit fills the Palmers’ home, Annabelle realizes that all she needs for a truly perfect holiday is to share it with her friends and family.
Review: Annabelle Doll lives in a Victorian dollhouse in Kate Palmer’s bedroom with her family. Tifanny Funcraft lives in a modern plastic dollhouse in Nora Palmer’s room. This Christmas the two doll families would be celebrating together and Annabelle is excited to show Tiffany, “the perfect Christmas.” But when Kate is putting up the dollhouse decorations, she accidentally drops the angel for the top of the tree and it breaks. Now there’s nothing for the top of the tree and Annabelle thinks Christmas is ruined. Things get worse when Annabelle and the other dolls are brought down to the nativity scene for the first time and left there overnight. Then Captain, the cat appears and begins swatting at the ornaments on the tree. Will the dolls be his next target? Will they survive their first Christmas outside the dollhouses?
I grew up reading Martin’s The Babysitter’s Club series and loved it. The Doll People’s Christmas is the fifth book in the Doll People series, but the first book in the series that we’ve read. My son didn’t enjoy the book very much and I’m not sure how much widespread appeal the book will have, with the characters being doll house figures. The books touches upon holiday traditions, dealing with change and appreciating the spirit of Christmas which are good lessons for everyone.
Overall Rating: Optional Read
