Review on 📚 Hitty: A Chronicle of Her First Century by Kelsey Brown

I have wanted to read Rachel Field's "Hitty: Her First Hundred Years" (nicely illustrated, I believe, in pen and ink by Dorothy P. Lathrop) for some time. A few years ago my mother bought me a reproduction of a Hitty doll by Robert Raikes (a major doll and bear carver, although apparently he no longer makes Hitty dolls). After buying the doll and doing some research, we found the edition. Fields novel with original text and illustrations from 1929. There is another, more recent edition with updated text by Rosemary Wells and illustrations by Susan Jeffers. The new book comes out, I believe, to mark the seventieth anniversary of Field's original novel. I never read that version, actually sent it back when I realized it was an adaptation, but other reviewers' outrage at the changes suggests I did the right thing. In case you haven't guessed, Hitty's fans are numerous and loyal. Surprisingly, Hitty was real. [.] is just a page chronicling the life and story of this amazing doll. The page contains an image of a daguerreotype actually mentioned in the novel, as well as many other interesting photographs and well-researched facts. As the subtitle suggests, when Field's fictional account of her adventures begins, Hitty is already a centenarian. Hidden safely in a New York City antique pen and paper shop, Hitty decides it's time to tell his story for posterity. What follows is a children's novel worthy of the Newberry Medal it received in 1930 for "Most Outstanding Contribution to American Children's Literature." Hitty begins life as a lucky piece of rowan carried by an old merchant. In exchange for shelter during a particularly bad Maine winter, the Old Trader decides to carve a doll out of his piece of wood for the family's seven-year-old child, Phoebe Preble. Hitty and Phoebe have many adventures together. Arguably more than a single doll could handle (including a section very similar to the Moby Dick segment, aimed at a much younger audience). But as readers will quickly discover, Hitty is no ordinary doll. As the story progresses, Hitty changes hands and goes to different owners. As with most things, some owners turn out to be better than others, just as certain events in Hitty's life deserve a place in her memoir more than others. It becomes clear that Hitty is special because Field did it first. At first I thought the novel might seem outdated since it was written so long ago. But fortunately, I was wrong and found the text to be up to my modern standards, and Hitty's shirt survived its first century. Many of the ideas Hitty expresses in the book are very relevant to this day. Hitty's calm demeanor and cheerful spirit also make this doll absolutely adorable. Field's prose is wonderful. Even though I knew Hitty was safe in the antique shop, any new threat made me fear for Hitty and waited to know if she had survived. The text explains the people Hitti meets in her first century just as well. As far as classic children's literature (especially for younger children) goes, I can't think of many better examples. If you want even more hitty you can visit Gail Wilson's website. This very talented (and expensive) doll maker offers his own version of the Hitty, available both pre-made and as a set.