Author: Yona Zeldis McDonough
Illustrator: Diane Palmisciano
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
Subgenre: Realistic Fiction
Themes: dollhouses, neighbors, sisters, using imaginations, handling the loss of someone, family and meeting new people
Primary and Secondary Characters: Lila, Jane, their mom and dad, Henry, William, Annabelle, Miss Whitcomb, Margaret Whitcomb and all the dolls that lived in the dollhouse
Awards: Cooperative Children's Book Choices 2001
Date of Publication: 2000
Publishing Company: Henry Holt and Company
Summary:
Set during the 1930's and the Depression, Lila and Jane are always excited to run down Cheshire Street to Miss Whitcomb's house to look in the windows at something special that she always had on display. The something special that she had was a dollhouse. Lila and Jane would always pretend to have characters that lived in the dollhouse and they would both use their imagination and play with the dollhouse through the window. On their daily routine playing with the dollhouse, Miss Whitcomb noticed the girls. She invited them inside to play with the dollhouse upfront. The girls obviously grew close to Miss Whitcomb and she even gave them treats when they came over. On Christmas Eve, they took Miss Whitcomb her gift and she had ordered the girls to come and get their gift tomorrow, on Christmas. The next morning, Lila, Jane and their brothers and Annabelle (the baby) woke up to a beautiful Christmas tree in their house and they were all happy to see their gifts from their parents. Hearing a knock on the door, it was Miss Whitcomb's neice, Margaret. She brought bad news saying that Miss Whitcomb had died overnight. The girls were devastated. A few days later, Margaret had told them that Miss Whitcomb had left them something special, the dollhouse. The girls were excited to have the dollhouse, but were still sad about not being able to bring the house to magic with Miss Whitcomb. But, they had everything that reminded them of her, their magical dollhouse.
Set during the 1930's and the Depression, Lila and Jane are always excited to run down Cheshire Street to Miss Whitcomb's house to look in the windows at something special that she always had on display. The something special that she had was a dollhouse. Lila and Jane would always pretend to have characters that lived in the dollhouse and they would both use their imagination and play with the dollhouse through the window. On their daily routine playing with the dollhouse, Miss Whitcomb noticed the girls. She invited them inside to play with the dollhouse upfront. The girls obviously grew close to Miss Whitcomb and she even gave them treats when they came over. On Christmas Eve, they took Miss Whitcomb her gift and she had ordered the girls to come and get their gift tomorrow, on Christmas. The next morning, Lila, Jane and their brothers and Annabelle (the baby) woke up to a beautiful Christmas tree in their house and they were all happy to see their gifts from their parents. Hearing a knock on the door, it was Miss Whitcomb's neice, Margaret. She brought bad news saying that Miss Whitcomb had died overnight. The girls were devastated. A few days later, Margaret had told them that Miss Whitcomb had left them something special, the dollhouse. The girls were excited to have the dollhouse, but were still sad about not being able to bring the house to magic with Miss Whitcomb. But, they had everything that reminded them of her, their magical dollhouse.
How it will be used in the classroom:
This chapter book is a great book that offers students a sense of magic to read. Getting carried away into the story, students could make the dollhouse their own sense of imagination. This would be a great book for students to read in either the third or fourth grade. Although geared towards girls, this book has a great story to offer to anyone with a great imagination!
This chapter book is a great book that offers students a sense of magic to read. Getting carried away into the story, students could make the dollhouse their own sense of imagination. This would be a great book for students to read in either the third or fourth grade. Although geared towards girls, this book has a great story to offer to anyone with a great imagination!
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