Madame Alexander. The Creator of the Iconic American Doll. Susan Goldman Rubin. Illustrated by Sarah Dvojack. 2022. [October 18] 48 pages. [Source: Library]
First sentence: More than one hundred years ago, a little girl named Beatrice Alexander looked out her window to the bustle below. Beatrice's parents had come across the ocean to America and settled in New York City. Many families like theirs had moved into a neighborhood called the Lower East Side, where the buildings overflowed with people.
Premise/plot: Madame Alexander is a picture book biography of Beatrice Alexander (aka Madame Alexander). Her parents owned a doll hospital in New York City. Her father (step-father) repaired dolls. She sometimes helped especially as she grew older. (Though even when she was younger, she 'helped' by comforting the broken dolls.) As an adult she started her own doll business--but not a doll hospital. She wanted to make dolls that wouldn't break, a more affordable, "American," doll. (As opposed to the porcelain dolls imported from Europe).
My thoughts: I loved every page of this one. I found it fascinating through and through. I also appreciated how her Jewishness was shown/depicted. I loved the author's note though the font size was super-teeny-tiny. (Granted, this will be more for adults than young people.)
Picture book biographies can be so very good. This one definitely falls into that "very good" category. Can't wait to recommend this one to others.
© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers
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