The All-I'll-Ever-Want Christmas Doll
 First edition | |
| Author | Patricia McKissack |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Jerry Pinkney |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's literature, picture book |
| Published | 2007 (Schwartz & Wade Books, an imprint of Random House) |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (hardback, paperback) |
| Pages | 40 (unpaginated) |
| ISBN | 9780375837593 |
| OCLC | 838317346 |
The All-I'll-Ever-Want Christmas Doll is a 2007 picture book by Patricia McKissack, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney. It is about a girl, Nella, living during the Great Depression, who receives a doll for Christmas. Initially, she doesn't share it with her sisters but later relents after discovering that it's not fun to play by herself.
Reception
School Library Journal, in a review of The All-I'll-Ever-Want Christmas Doll, wrote: "McKissack's knack for combining historical detail with true-to-life family drama and language is shown to good effect, showcased beautifully by Pinkney's evocative watercolors, which give a real flavor of the time period. Learning to appreciate what you have and to share what you get are two lessons that never go out of style".[1] Library Media Connection called it "a memorable book".[1]
Booklist, Publishers Weekly and Kirkus Reviews gave starred reviews and commended Pinkey's illustrations.[2][3][4]
The All-I'll-Ever-Want Christmas Doll has also been reviewed by The Horn Book Magazine,[5] and The New York Times.[6]
Awards
- 2008 ALA Notable Children's Book[7]
- 2008 CCBC Choice[8]
- 2008 Charlotte Zolotow Award - highly commended[9]
- NCTE Picturebooks With Noteworthy Endpapers - recommended[10]
References
- ^ a b "The All-I'll-Ever-Want Christmas Doll: Reviews". catalog.wccls.org. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
- ^ "The All-I'll-ever-want Christmas Doll". kcls.bibliocommons.com. OCLC 76135990. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
Pinkney creates a series of beautiful narrative tableaux, illustrating the characters' feelings as well as their actions with clarity and grace. A gentle lesson that plays into the spirit of the holiday.
- ^ "The All-I'll-Ever-Want Christmas Doll (starred review)". Publishers Weekly. PWxyz LLC. October 22, 2007. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
In expertly wrought watercolors, Pinkney focuses on how light hits certain objects—voluptuous oranges, a new patchwork quilt, a baby doll's yellow frock—which are some literal bright spots for a family holding onto the positive despite their Depression-era struggles.
- ^ "The All-I'll-Ever-Want Christmas Doll (starred review)". Kirkus Reviews. Kirkus Media LLC. November 1, 2007. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
The longer story is full of humorous dialogue and scenes of realistic family life showing the close bonds within the family. Pinkney's watercolor illustrations are masterful, as always, capturing the emotions on the girls' faces and filling in details of the family's Depression-era world.
- ^ "The All-I'll-ever-want Christmas Doll". kcls.bibliocommons.com. OCLC 76135990. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
Though McKissack sets this story in the past, her characters' feelings and desires are universal. Pinkney's warm watercolor-and-pencil illustrations portray the family's poverty yet glow with what it is rich in: love.
- ^ Goddu, Krystyna Poray (December 2, 2007). "Sunday Book Review: Children's Books Toy Stories". New York Times. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
McKissack's direct and unfettered language partners beautifully with the vivid tones of Pinkney's pencil-and-watercolor illustrations.
- ^ Notable Children's Books: 2008 - Younger Readers. American Library Association. Retrieved March 3, 2017 – via booklistonline.com.
- ^ Kathleen T. Horning; Merri V. Lindgren; Megan Schliesman (2008). CCBC Choices 2008: Seasons and Celebrations (PDF). Friends of the CCBC Inc. p. 25. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
- ^ "The All-I'll-Ever-Want Christmas Doll". ccbc.education.wisc.edu. School of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
Patricia C. McKissack's lively story about three close-knit African American sisters facing an authentic—and authentically resolved—conflict is told with vivid language that brings both the period and the people into full relief. Jerry Pinkney's watercolor illustrations provide additional details and a wonderful visual backdrop for the story.
- ^ Jonda C. McNair (January 2013). "Picturebooks with Noteworthy Endpapers: Additional recommended Picturebooks with Noteworthy Endpapers" (PDF). Language Arts. 90 (3). National Council of Teachers of English: 225. Retrieved March 3, 2017.