Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Feiwel & Friends (2022), 48 pages
Description
Beatrice Alexander's family ran a doll hospital in their home in New York's Lower East Side, where she grew to love fixing and making dolls. Beatrice dreamed of becoming an artist, but her family couldn't afford to send her to sculpting school. She never stopped dreaming, and when World War I broke out, she came up with the idea to make dolls modeled after nurses to support the war effort and help keep children happy -- but they needed to be unbreakable because resources were scarce and families couldn't afford to repair or replace toys. With her innovative designs and ideas, she became a savvy, feminist entrepreneur.
Awards
Sydney Taylor Book Award (Notable Book — Picture Book — 2023)
CCBC Choices (2023)
Language
User reviews
LibraryThing member blbooks
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
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.
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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.
Show Less
ISBN
1250138590 / 9781250138590