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William’s Doll, by Charlotte Zolotow, illustrated by William Pene du Bois, 1972, New York, NY: HarperCollins. 32 pages. ISBN: 978-0064430678.
Age/Interest Level: 4-8 years
Lexile Level: 840L
Awards: N/A
Reader Annotation: What William wants more than anything is a doll. However, everyone around him calls him names for wanting such a “sissy” toy.
Plot Summary: William wants a doll, which he thinks is a pretty simple request. He wants a doll that hug and play with and tuck in at night, just as though it was his child. However, everyone around him thinks that’s a terrible idea. His brother thinks he’s being creepy and his neighbor calls him a “sissy”. In response, his father buys what he decides are manly toys: A basketball, tools, etc. His grandmother, seeing what’s happening, decides to take matters into her own hands.
Critical Evaluation: This book makes careful use of language, using the fewest amount of words to tell the story. Its simplicity is great for a beginning reader, which is really the best level for a work like this. It turns the idea of gender stereotypes on its head and allows children to realize that labeling things based on gender doesn’t necessarily make sense. After all, what makes a doll girly? These are learned concepts, and this book succeeds at least somewhat in counteracting those thoughts.
Why Included: This work, for a beginning reader, shows some age. However, and unfortunately, it is completely relevant to the climate in today’s United States. This is a great gateway to a conversation on gender roles, stereotyping, and what it means to have an identity.
Age/Interest Level: 4-8 years
Lexile Level: 840L
Awards: N/A
Reader Annotation: What William wants more than anything is a doll. However, everyone around him calls him names for wanting such a “sissy” toy.
Plot Summary: William wants a doll, which he thinks is a pretty simple request. He wants a doll that hug and play with and tuck in at night, just as though it was his child. However, everyone around him thinks that’s a terrible idea. His brother thinks he’s being creepy and his neighbor calls him a “sissy”. In response, his father buys what he decides are manly toys: A basketball, tools, etc. His grandmother, seeing what’s happening, decides to take matters into her own hands.
Critical Evaluation: This book makes careful use of language, using the fewest amount of words to tell the story. Its simplicity is great for a beginning reader, which is really the best level for a work like this. It turns the idea of gender stereotypes on its head and allows children to realize that labeling things based on gender doesn’t necessarily make sense. After all, what makes a doll girly? These are learned concepts, and this book succeeds at least somewhat in counteracting those thoughts.
Why Included: This work, for a beginning reader, shows some age. However, and unfortunately, it is completely relevant to the climate in today’s United States. This is a great gateway to a conversation on gender roles, stereotyping, and what it means to have an identity.