by Anne Parrish
First published 1930
Mr. and Mrs. Doll live peacefully in their miniature house with their children William and Annabelle, plus Dinah the cook who keeps their small world running. Their quiet existence ends abruptly when someone ships their dollhouse across the ocean as a present. A violent storm strikes during the voyage, wrecking the ship and washing the entire Doll family onto the shores of an empty tropical island. Now these tiny inhabitants must figure out how to survive in a vast wilderness that dwarfs their delicate forms. William and Annabelle explore their strange new surroundings while their parents worry about finding food and shelter. Dinah applies her practical skills to their impossible situation. The family discovers that being small in a big world brings both unexpected dangers and surprising opportunities. Their island adventures test their courage and cleverness as they adapt to life far from the safety of their former home. This tale captures the wonder and worry of starting over in an unknown place, told with gentle comedy and warmth.
Genres: fiction, adventure, fantasy
Vibes: emotional, gentle, whimsical
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Tropical Island
Period: 20th-Century
265 pages · Hardcover · Harper & Row