William's Doll by Charlotte Zolotow
Book Summary: William’s Doll is about a young boy (named William) who wants a baby doll of his own that he can take care. Instead his dad buys him traditional "boy's toys". One day William is walking with his grandma when he tells her that what he really wants is a baby doll, and so they go to the store and he picks out his own doll that she buys him. When they arrive back at William’s house, William’s father is upset, but the grandmother explains that William needs the doll so that he can practice for one day when he is a father.
My Impressions: I thought this was a cute kids story to teach tolerance. William’s father is not happy that his son wants a baby doll toy - he doesn’t see it as appropriate for a boy. But in the end William’s grandmother shows her son (William’s father) a new way to look at the situation. The book gets its point across (that it’s ok to want something different) without screaming it. I think that this is a great message to get across to children.
Professional Review: "An excellent book about a boy named William who wants the forbidden -- a doll. The long-awaited realistic handling of this theme makes it a landmark book." -- from School Library Journal via the Amazon.com website
Library Uses: I think it would be neat to read this story to kids and then talk about the different viewpoints (the grandma vs the dad). I’m sure the librarian would end up with lots of stories about a toy that a child wanted but his/her parents said no for some reason.
References: Zolotow, C. (1972). New York, NY: Harper & Row.
All-of-a-Kind Family by Sydney Taylor
Book Summary: All-of-a-Kind Family is about a Jewish family living on the upper east side of NYC at the turn-of-the-century. The family consists of five girls who are all two years apart in age; the book recounts their adventures growing up from going to the beach in the summer to a rainy day playtime to celebrating the Jewish holidays. At the end of the book Mama gives birth to a son Chaim (Little Charlie) making Papa delighted to finally have a son.
My Impressions: I really liked this book, I think, because I recognized a lot of the traditions. While I wasn't brought up in a very religious household, I could picture a lot of what was being described because I was familiar with the traditions (such as building the sukkah and stealing the afikomen). I remember reading this book when I was young, but I couldn't remember anything about it. While I'm not sure how many children could relate to this book today, I thought it was an enjoyable read.
Professional Review: "Written in the early 1950s and set at the turn of-the century in New York City's Lower East Side, Sydney Taylor'sAll-of-a-Kind books remain a staple with readers who enjoy building long, comfortable relationships with fictionalfamilies. Narrator Suzanne Toren's voice is every bit as comfortable and comforting as the stories themselves:from Mama's warm, lightly accented English to fretful Sarah, adventurous Henny, and responsible Ella. The events these five children encounter are definitely domestic in nature — a lost library book, a family-sized bout with Scarlet Fever — right up to the satisfying, if highly unlikely, reunion of two young lovers parted by misfortune.Toren's lively approach, however, invests each occurrence with all due drama. Somewhat frenetic music between each of the chapters seems an unnecessary distraction in an otherwise satisfying audio production." -- audiobook review
Library Uses: I could see this book being used in projects dealing with biographies or American history lessons. The whole book would be difficult to use in one setting, but a chapter here or there could definitely be pulled for a lesson.
References:
Beavin, K. (2001). [Review of All-of-a-kind family by S. Taylor]. Horn Book Magazine, 77(1). Retrieved from http://archive.hbook.com/magazine/
Taylor, S. (1951). All-of-a-kind family. New York, NY: Dell.
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