My sweet girl loves to read stories about people. She adores biographies and historical fiction.

She also loves a filthy little doll named Linda. Linda comes with us everywhere.

My sweet girl reads to Linda every single day. She shares her favorite stories with her doll. We always joke that Linda is the most well-read doll in town!

So, when I heard that there is a historical fiction series called The Friendship Dolls, I had a hunch she would love them.

The Friendship Dolls Series will Delight History Lovers

*Disclosure: I received a review copy of ‘Ship of Dolls’ from Candlewick Press in exchange for a review. I was not required to write a positive review and, as always, all thoughts and opinions are my own. I only choose to share resources that I would use with my own family and those that I believe other families will enjoy. 

The Friendship Dolls Series will Delight History Lovers

The Friendship Dolls Series, written by Shirley Parenteau, was inspired by a little-known historical event. In 1926, children from the United States sent more than 12,000 Friendship Dolls to Japan in hopes of avoiding war. The project was organized by teacher-missionary Sidney Gulick.

Shirley Parenteau’s engaging stories appeal to young readers who enjoy historical fiction, as well as doll lovers of all ages.

The following books are in The Friendship Dolls series:

1. Dolls of Hope by Shirley Parenteau

   Dolls of Hope is a historical book based on the 1926 Friendship Doll Exchange, a little-known historical event. Eleven-year-old Chiyo Tamura is sent from her home in a small Japanese mountain village to a girls’ school in the city. Never in her wildest dreams did Chiyo imagine she would find herself in Tokyo helping to welcome over 12,000 Friendship Dolls from the United States. Chiyo goes on to help create Miss Tokyo, one of the 58 Japanese dolls sent to the U.S. in return. A fellow classmate is jealous of Chiyo and some drama ensues. What will happen?

2. Dolls of War by Shirley Parenteau

   Dolls of War is the second book in the Friendship Dolls series. This book brings the story up to WWII. Eleven-year-old Macy James is living in Oregon in 1941, just as the war between the United States and Japan begins. Macy’s father is head of a local museum. In the museum, there is a Japanese Friendship Doll. This doll reminds Macy of her mother, who recently passed. As the story unfolds, Macy’s brother joins the Navy to fight against Japan. Will Macy’s feelings about her Japanese Friendship Doll change? Can she love Miss Tokyo and support the United States?

3. Ship of Dolls by Shirley Parenteau

   Ship of Dolls takes place in Portland, Oregon in 1926. Eleven-year-old Lexie wants nothing more than to leave the care of her strict grandparents and return to San Francisco, where her mother is a singer in a local speakeasy. Unfortunately, her mother’s new husband does not believe that a child should live with a mother who works nights. At school, Lexie’s class is raising money to ship dolls to the children of Japan in a friendship exchange. The children write letters to accompany the dolls and the child who writes the winning letter will go to a ceremony in San Francisco. Can a ship carrying these Friendship Dolls to Japan be Lexie’s ticket to see her mother again?

 

Here are some friendship articles for kids who love Friendship Dolls

• Family Kindness Project {Have You Filled A Bucket Today?}
• 10+ Children’s Books to Inspire Kindness
• 25 Books About Gratitude to Inspire Kindness at Home
• Celebrate Friendship with DiCamillo’s “Raymie Nightingale”
• Finding and Forging Gifted Friendships

Do you have a doll lover at home?

I sure do! Here are some posts:

• The Doll Kind: Encourage Kindness Through Play
• If You Give a Doll a Bath…
• Linda Love
• Make Your Own Worry Dolls
• Birthday Party for a Doll

Love history?

Check out these related posts:

• Inspire Learning with Fantastic History Games
• 10 of the Best History and Geography Gifts: Affordable and Fun
• History Unboxed: Hands-On History Fun
• Animal Helpers in History
• Family History Project: Grandparent Journals
• Family History Project Idea: Grandparent Journal for Homeschooling

Do you love family read alouds?

Here are some related articles:

• Coffee and Books: A 5-Day Series
• How to Raise Readers: 10 Tips for Parents
• Books to Help Parents Grow Readers
• Rock Your Read Alouds with This Simple Trick
• When Your Read Aloud Routine is in a Rut
• How to Boost Your Child’s Read-Aloud Confidence
• What to Do When Bedtime Reading is Giving You the Blues

Do you love fantastic children’s books, too?

Now, it’s your turn. Tell me: What is your child’s favorite history book? Share here!