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Rating: 
Summary: Sweet Memories.
Review: As a child, my mother remembers reading and very much loving this book. When I was born in 1984, she sought it out, and passed on the precious story. This is not a childrens book to pass up. It is filled with magic and emotion...not to mention, great pictures. I would give it 10 stars, if I could.
Rating:
Summary: A Fabulous Book!
Review: Cherished for decades, this story is a wonderful tale for children. Through extraordinary photographs, you will find yourself gently fallng into the sweet world that Edith [the Doll] shares with her bear friends as we learn about friendship and caring. I was 5 when my mother first read me this story; now in my thirties I will be reading it to my own two daughters and am sure they will treasure it too.
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Summary: A creepy book
Review: I did read this as a child, and though I could not have articulated the unpleasant feeling it gave me--I never liked it, that sad, vaguely arlarmed, looking doll, or the text. As an adult I find it very creepy. The doll who is so lonely and invites in a domineering father figure. THe bottom-up spanking is the illustration frequently complained about but they all invoke lonliness and passivity for me.
Rating:
Summary: A Fabulous Book!
Review: I had vaguely remembered these from childhood, when my little girl and I stumbled upon it at the library. To those of you who see this as absuive and sending a negative message--please consider: A) It was written when spanking children was considered perfectly acceptable (and no, I don't condone that, my daughter has NEVER been spanked) and B)my kid found the spanking thing quite amusing and smacked the picture of Mr. Bear to punish him back. In other words: It's a pretty book, with lovely photographs and THAT's what the children enjoy.Oh, yeah, my daughter ADORES the books and her Edith doll that goes with.
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Summary: Special childhood memory now passed on to new generation
Review: My mother used to read this book to me when I was a little girl (I'm now 40) and I even have an audio tape of her reading it to me when I was 18 mos and I would "read" along with her, reciting the parts that I had memorized from her many readings. I now have a 3 month old girl and am so pleased to have found an original 1957 edition of this book to read to her. I will also get the new edition when it comes out. The story is priceless and the illustrations (which are actually pictures taken by the author Dare Wright) are wonderful. Its a good story to use to teach about friendship and discipline in love.
Rating: 
Summary: A little disturbing
Review: My wife and I bought this book soon after my daughter was born (she's now 7), because of the admittedly beautiful photos and what on the surface appears to be a sweet story. After reading it a few times, we half-joked that after being spanked by the father bear, the Lonely Doll practically tells him, "Do anything you want, just don't leave me!" This bothered us enough that we put the book away and no longer read it to our daughter. As it turns out, after reading reviews of "The Secret Life of the Lonely Doll," we find we weren't too far off. "The Lonely Doll" provides a bit of insight into the life of Dare Wright, whose father and brother left at an early age, and who had an unhealthy relationship with her mother. Unfortunately, her disturbed psychology seems to be reflected in the "Lonely Doll" books.
So, unlike others, the spanking in the book doesn't bother us per se. But we didn't feel the "don't-leave-me-I'll-do-whatever-you-want" undertext was appropriate for a little girl in whom we're trying to engender independence and self-respect.
Maybe we're being overly analytical about what is ostensibly a children's book, and there are certainly other children's books with less-than-ideal messages. But we thought the message in this one was particularly undesirable for our daughter and thought other parents might feel the same.
Rating: 
Summary: sweet and simple
Review: Sweet, simple and very appealing to 4-6 yr old girls. I loved this as a child and during a library trip my 4 yr old chose it for herself. We finally had to buy a copy of each of the Doll stories. The ridiculous battle over whether to spank or not has no connection to the fondness my child feels for this story. She simply loves the cute little doll and the adorable bears. Dare Wright is very creative.
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Summary: BEWARE
Review: This is not an appropriate book for children! As a child, I myself found it highly disturbing. Although the pictures are cute, I would never allow my child to read it.
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Summary: Stories that stay with you for a lifetime!
Review: When I was a young girl, I had all of the Lonely Doll books. I re-read them often as I grew into adolescence. They taught me lessons in a non-threatening, memorable way - I paid attention!! As the mother of twin three year olds, I want to share them with my children. They are simply written and beautifully illustrated with wonderful black and white photographs taken by the author. Fortunately, after trying to find new copies, I mentioned to mother my frustration in not being successful in my search. She smiled and then later sent me the books I had so enjoyed as a young girl. I truly recommend this book, and the others should they be reprinted.
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