THE RUNAWAY DOLLS
From the Doll People series, volume 3
by Ann M. Martin & Laura Godwin & illustrated by Brian Selznick
Fans of the first two Doll People stories will be thrilled with number three. China doll Annabelle and plastic doll Tiffany are ready for an adventure when the human Palmers leave on a two-week vacation, but when a mysterious box arrives, the dolls discover a baby doll is in inside! Annabelle is convinced it’s her lost baby sister. The only solution seems to be to take Tilly and run away. Risking “Permanent Doll State” numerous times, the girl dolls and their two brother dolls wind up in a toy store with antique and robotic dolls and the hateful, mean Mimi, returning from book two. How can they overcome their size obstacles and escape in time to get home before the humans return? Selznick’s charming, black-and-white scenarios make the doll personalities believable; he adds a number of full-page drawings at the beginning (à la Hugo Cabret) that build the drama, while the action leaves plenty of dollhouse room for future escapades. Hmmm, the dolls visit Dollywood? (Fantasy. 8-11)