Being Little

 Mariah is new. Her world is new to her, too. She feels little, because everything is so big.

She feels very, very little.

Except for the few doll chairs, the chairs are very big.

Mariah told Charlotte that the chairs are too big to move.

"That's because they're heavy," Charlotte said.
"How do we sit in them?" Mariah asked.
"Sometimes we have to get help from others," Charlotte explained. "Children or grownups can lift us up and put us into the chair, if we want, or we can help each other if they aren't around."

"The refrigerator is very big, too," Mariah observed. "How do you get help getting food?"
"Of course, we don't really need real food, because we're dolls," Charlotte answered, "but if we did we would ask to be picked up, like this."

"Look how big the shoes are," Mariah said. "How can you put them on?"
"These shoes belong to people," Charlotte explained. "To grownups. We don't have to put them on, because they don't fit us. We have special shoes, just for us."

Mariah climbed into a very big, comfy chair to read a book. "Even the words in the books are big," said Mariah to herself. "What is 'b-i-s-c-u-i-t-s'? I can't sound that out to make any sense of it."

Mariah got down from the very big, comfy chair and went off to find Charlotte. She found her in the bedroom on the very big, comfy bed.
"I'm having trouble with this big word, Charlotte," Mariah explained. "I can't sound it out."
Charlotte helped Mariah climb up on the bed, so they could sit and look at the book together.

"It's 'biscuits,' Mariah," Charlotte explained. "See, it makes sense, because a person in the story has dog biscuits for the dog. Biscuits are like cookies."

"I think I see," said Mariah. "You don't just sound out the word. You figure out what makes sense in the story, and then you try to think of a word that fits the letters and the meaning."

"You are one smart cookie, Mariah," Charlotte said.

"A smart biscuit!" exclaimed Mariah.

They stayed on the very big, comfy bed, which was very comfy, and they chatted about other things that they thought were big, or that they needed help with.

When they had mentioned everything they could think of, they decided to get down to search the house for more things that were big and that they would need help with. They had taken off their shoes to get onto the bed, so they needed to put the shoes back on.

"I can put these shoes on all by myself," Mariah told Charlotte. "They are not too big."

"But I will need help from a person to get my shoes on and tied," said Charlotte, "even though my shoes are not too big. Fortunately, there is someone here who can help," she added. "That person is taking the photos."

The girls spent the next hour finding things in the house that were very big and that would take help to be able to use. Like the toilet, which was very big.

It was like a game. Charlotte had so much fun with Mariah that she decided to let her wear her pearl necklace. It looks so nice with Charlotte's black sweater, pants and shoes, which she had also loaned Mariah to wear. Charlotte's pearls were not too big for Mariah. Charlotte's clothes were not too big, either. They were just right.

"I know I'm going to enjoy being a member of this family," Mariah said with a sigh. "Even if most things are very big, and I need help with lots of things, and even if I'm very little."

"I know it's going to be wonderful, because I know I can get help if I need it and I will have clothes and shoes that are just right. I know that because I'm a smart biscuit!"

Cast--

Mariah: Götz Happy Kidz Mariah, "Chosen" from My Doll Best Friend

Charlotte: Götz Happy Kidz Anna in Paris

You can follow The Doll's Storybook here.

Do you have questions or comments for us? Would you like to order an autographed copy of one of our books? You can email us at thedollsstorybook@icloud.com.

Note: No dolls were harmed during production of this blog. All dolls shown are Götz Happy Kidz, Classic Kidz or Little Kidz. If you like these stories and are willing, please make a donation of any amount to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or any organization that supports pediatric cancer research and treatment. We are not affiliated with St. Jude in any way other than these donations.

"The Doll's Storybook" is not affiliated with Gotz Dolls USA Inc. or Götz Puppenmanufaktur International GmbH.
Watch for the next story each Friday afternoon at 1:00 PM Pacific Time.

Mariah: Stories from the Doll's Storybook, Emil: Stories from the Doll's Storybook and soon Classic Tales Retold: Stories from the Doll's Storybook are available from BookBaby and other booksellers worldwide, such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Royalties (net proceeds) go to support pediatric cancer research and treatment. If you don't get free shipping elsewhere, buy from Book Baby. Half of the price goes to St. Jude. Autographed copies of all three books are available from the author for $20 including shipping. (Multiple books to the same address have a discount on shipping.) To inquire, email thedollsstorybook@icloud.com.

Image on Mariah's yellow T-shirt used with permission, from Free To Be Kids, where human-size shirts with this image are available.

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Copyright © 2018, 2023 by Peggy Stuart

Welcoming the Newcomer

"Look who's here," Veronika cried, gently guiding another doll into the room. "This is Mariah."

The other dolls crowded around to meet the newcomer.

"You're...different," said Jolena.
"You mean because I'm darker than you are," suggested Mariah with a laugh, putting down her tiny suitcase.

"We're all different in some way, Jolena," said Mandy. "For instance, I'm the only one with red hair."

"And I'm the only one who is left-handed and wears braids all the time," said Veronika.

"Like I'm the only one with blue eyes," suggested Jolena, getting into the game.

"And I'm the only one with hazel eyes," added Charlotte.

"Some of us are alike in some ways, though," said Mandy. "Mariah, Veronika and I all have brown eyes, even though we are different in other ways."

"Jolena and I both have blonde hair," Charlotte pointed out.

The dolls decided that there were three of them with light skin and no freckles....

and one with light skin with freckles.

"And I'm a freckle all over, laughed Mariah."

"You're a beautiful freckle," said Jolena. "I think you're beautiful!"

"We're all alike in some ways, too," Veronika continued.
"Right," said Charlotte. "For instance, we all have that funny thing where two fingers of our right hands are stuck together."

"And the special bracelet," added Mariah.
"We all have elbows and knees that bend," said Veronika demonstrating how her knee joints bend, while Mandy showed what she could do with her bendable elbows.

"But none of our ankles bend," said Jolena, "so I can't point my toes, but I can still dance."

 "And our eyes don't close when we lie down."

"We have another thing in common that's very important," said Mandy. "We're all made of vinyl, through and through. That means we are all mostly the same, even though we may look different in some ways."

"I think that's why I'm here," Mariah said.

"When I was put into my box, someone told me I was coming to be with a special family of dolls. You tell children all over the world stories about important things they need to know, and the stories are fun."
"That's true," said Charlotte. "We learn from each other and have fun at the same time, and we tell what we learn from each other to children."

"Yes," said Mariah. "But all of you have light skin. Many children who read these stories may have dark skin or have skin that's somewhere between light and dark. Children come in different colors, just like dolls."

"I think I understand," Mandy said. "You're saying that children who have dark skin need to see a doll more like them in the stories."

"Yes," Mariah agreed, "but not just children with dark skin. Children who look like you, Mandy, also need to know that there are dolls and children who look like me, and that those children are just as interesting and fun as the children who look like you, or Veronika or Charlotte or Jolena."

"This will be great!" Veronika exclaimed. "Let's put your things away. Then we can read all the stories from the beginning, so you can learn about us. Then we can talk about the stories, so we can learn about you."

Mariah smiled at Veronika. "I already know one thing," she said. "I know I'm going to be very happy here with you and all your readers. Maybe someday I'll even get to be in a real book! I always wanted to be in a real book."

Cast--

Veronika: Götz Classic Kidz Vroni
Charlotte: Götz Happy Kidz Anna in Paris
Jolena: Götz Happy Kidz Lena in Aspen

Mandy: Götz Happy Kidz Katie 2015
Mariah: Götz Happy Kidz Mariah, "Chosen" from My Doll Best Friend

You can follow The Doll's Storybook here.

Do you have questions or comments for us? Would you like to order an autographed copy of one of our books? You can email us at thedollsstorybook@icloud.com.

Note: No dolls were harmed during production of this blog. All dolls shown are Götz Happy Kidz, Classic Kidz or Little Kidz. If you like these stories and are willing, please make a donation of any amount to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or any organization that supports pediatric cancer research and treatment. We are not affiliated with St. Jude in any way other than these donations.

"The Doll's Storybook" is not affiliated with Gotz Dolls USA Inc. or Götz Puppenmanufaktur International GmbH.
Watch for the next story each Friday afternoon at 1:00 PM Pacific Time.

Mariah: Stories from the Doll's Storybook, Emil: Stories from the Doll's Storybook and soon Classic Tales Retold: Stories from the Doll's Storybook are available from BookBaby and other booksellers worldwide, such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Royalties (net proceeds) go to support pediatric cancer research and treatment. If you don't get free shipping elsewhere, buy from Book Baby. Half of the price goes to St. Jude. Autographed copies of all three books are available from the author for $20 including shipping. (Multiple books to the same address have a discount on shipping.) To inquire, email thedollsstorybook@icloud.com.

Image on Mariah's yellow T-shirt used with permission, from Free To Be Kids, where human-size shirts with this image are available.

<a href="https://www.bloglovin.com/blog/19832501/?claim=j3fj3mbb8kt">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

Copyright © 2018, 2023 by Peggy Stuart

Flying or Lying?

Veronika found Jolena looking sad.

"What's the matter," she asked.
"We were training in the gym for doing flips," Jolena told her. "We need to train for freestyle skiing all the time, you know, even when there is no snow."
"And?" asked Veronika.
"Shawn is a new kid. He has been bothering me. Today he said I was lying when I said I was flying." Jolena looked down at her hands. "I know he meant I did a bad thing, but I don't know what."

Veronika thought for a minute. "Tell me what you did and said," she suggested.
"Well," Jolena began, "when it was my turn to do a flip, I said I was flying. Then Shawn started making fun of me. He said I wasn't flying, I was lying. I don't understand, but it made me feel bad."

Veronika smiled. "I think I know what's going on," she said. "First of all, you weren't lying."
"I wasn't?" Jolena asked. 
"You were just saying how you felt," Veronika explained. "You didn't mean you were actually flying.”

"What is lying anyway?" Jolena asked.
"Well, let's say you took the last cookie on the plate and ate it," Veronika began.

"Then Mandy came along and said, 'Hey, who took the last cookie?’ You were afraid Mandy was going to be mad at you, so you said you didn't take it."

"Let's say that you said you saw Charlotte take it," Veronika said. "That's lying."

Jolena nodded. "That would be bad."
"Yes," Veronika agreed. "It would be a lie, because you said something that wasn't true, and you did it to protect yourself. It's a bad lie, because you hurt someone else at the same time."
"I wouldn't want to hurt Charlotte!" Jolena exclaimed.
"No, of course you wouldn't!" Veronika agreed. "But lying is saying something that isn't true. We should always tell the truth. Truth is very important. You would feel bad, because you knew you had done something that was wrong. And you hurt Charlotte with your lie, so that's even worse," Veronika went on. "And you would feel bad."
"Yes, I would," said Jolena. "That would be worse than having Mandy mad at me."
"And maybe Mandy would notice the crumbs on your face," Veronika suggested.

"And maybe I would have crumbs on my pants, too," Jolena agreed. "So Mandy would know. That would be worse than having Mandy mad at me for taking the cookie.”

"But pretending or using our imagination to explain how we feel isn't lying. And there are other things we can say that are not really true but are not really lies," Veronika said. "Let's say I ask you if my new dress looks good on me."

"Maybe you think pink isn't a good color for me, but you don't want to hurt my feelings, so you say I look beautiful in the dress," Veronika said. "That isn't exactly a lie, because I look beautiful to you, because you love me. It would be better, though, if you suggested another color might be better, and say it in a kind way, because it would help me, but it wasn't a bad lie.”

Jolena nodded. "I think I understand," she said. "When I said I was flying, I didn't really mean I was flying. I was just saying it felt like flying. But why did Shawn say I was lying, then?”
"I'm not sure," Veronika replied. "Tell me about Shawn."
Jolena explained that Shawn is new in class and isn't very good at the exercises yet.
"Jolena, you're very good at what you do," Veronika suggested, "so maybe he's jealous of you. Maybe he wants to be as good as you are, and it makes him feel bad that you are better than he is, so he's trying to make you feel bad, too."
"So what should I do?" asked Jolena.
"I think maybe if you encourage Shawn and point out his improvement as it happens, you'll find that he will start to feel better about himself," Veronika suggested. "However, you have no reason to feel bad about what you said, and he can't make you feel bad if you don't let him."

"That's what I'll do," Jolena said. "I'm lucky to have such a wise sister, only your example about the cookie doesn't really make any sense."
"Why not?" Veronika asked.
"Because dolls don't really like to eat cookies," Jolena replied. "We like to pretend to eat cookies. If I said I ate the cookie and said it to help myself and hurt someone else, then I would be lying!"

The dolls looked at each other and laughed. "Besides, you do look good in pink," Jolena added. "And that's the truth!"


Cast--

Jolena: Götz Happy Kidz Lena in Aspen
Veronika: Götz Happy Kidz Vroni

You can follow The Doll's Storybook here.

Do you have questions or comments for us? Would you like to order an autographed copy of one of our books? You can email us at thedollsstorybook@icloud.com.

Note: No dolls were harmed during production of this blog. All dolls shown are Götz Happy Kidz, Classic Kidz or Little Kidz. If you like these stories and are willing, please make a donation of any amount to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or any organization that supports pediatric cancer research and treatment. We are not affiliated with St. Jude in any way other than these donations.

"The Doll's Storybook" is not affiliated with Gotz Dolls USA Inc. or Götz Puppenmanufaktur International GmbH.
Watch for the next story each Friday afternoon at 1:00 PM Pacific Time.

Mariah: Stories from the Doll's Storybook, Emil: Stories from the Doll's Storybook and soon Classic Tales Retold: Stories from the Doll's Storybook are available from BookBaby and other booksellers worldwide, such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Royalties (net proceeds) go to support pediatric cancer research and treatment. If you don't get free shipping elsewhere, buy from Book Baby. Half of the price goes to St. Jude. Autographed copies of all three books are available from the author for $20 including shipping. (Multiple books to the same address have a discount on shipping.) To inquire, email thedollsstorybook@icloud.com.

Image on Mariah's yellow T-shirt used with permission, from Free To Be Kids, where human-size shirts with this image are available.

<a href="https://www.bloglovin.com/blog/19832501/?claim=j3fj3mbb8kt">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

Copyright © 2018, 2023 by Peggy Stuart