Surprise Doll Toy for Kids - Interactive Wonder Books Collection - Perfect for Birthday Gifts & Pretend Play

I HAD THIS BOOK AS A CHILD, AND IT REMAINS MEMORABLE TO THIS DAY. It even seems an ESPECIALLY important book for right now -- at the beginning of the 21st century, and I think that everyone in the entire world should get to read it! I'll say why, after explaining the plot....The story is sweet, simple to understand, and suspenseful, as well! In a nutshell, it tells the story of Mary, a little AMERICAN girl whose father, a sea-captain, brings her back dolls from all the countries he has been to. After a while, she has six dolls: French, Russian, Dutch, Chinese, Italian and Spanish. But Mary wants a Sunday doll too...after all, there are seven days in the week! Her father thinks that "Six dolls are enough for any little girl", so Mary has to get the doll herself. She brings all her dolls to the dollmaker, and tells him to make her a "surprise doll"....one for Sunday.The suspense is in this section. What will the doll look like?Finally, Mary has her doll, and.........( SPOILER__ALERT! )....the doll looks JUST LIKE MARY! And why does it look just like Mary? Well, that's the secret and wonder of this book!In the real world, where, in most countries, everyone is related in some way to everyone else -- America, (and probably Canada, too), are....different. For, these North American countries, are, by and large, made up of the descendants of IMMIGRANTS. We have, of course, various COMMUNITIES made up of those of common descent, (areas called "Little Italy", "Chinatown", etc. can be found in many American cities)....but the COUNTRY, as a whole, comprises MANY ethnic groups.Proud of our ancestry, we are still also proud to be citizens of the U.S. (or Canada). This is sometimes difficult for Europeans -- whose countries are comprised of far more homogeneous populations -- to understand. Perhaps the late comedian, Alan King, (who was Jewish), said it best: "Israel is my mother, America is my wife: I love them both!!!!"It would be spoiling the ending of the book to state exactly what it is. But "The Surprise Doll" IS the story of America's "many populations into one", in a delightful microcosm. A reading of the various reviews of this book, here on Amazon....and a close examination of the picture of the cover of the book....should give strong hints as to what the ending of the book is! : )Today, too many people, in too many countries, criticize the USA. True, the USA is far from perfect. (Neither is Canada). But these two countries have at least one ideal that other lands would, I feel, do well to copy: we respect the INDIVIDUAL. People in various ethnic groups are as different as, (for example): Al Capone and Mario Lanza, (Italian descent); and Meyer Lansky and Jonas Salk, (Jewish descent). There's good and bad in every group....but we are ALL AMERICANS, (and all Canadians!) The story of "The Surprise Doll" is the story of the North American "Melting Pot" in it's best, and simplist, sweetest telling. I hope everyone -- especially those who criticize the USA -- can somehow read "The Surprise Doll", to see that the little girl, Mary, continues to love every one of her 6 previous dolls....but that she has a special place in her heart for her special, Sunday doll. Why she feels as she feels for each of her dolls, is the REAL story of what America, (and Canada), strive to -- and often succeed in -- being!A happy surprise for the 21st century to re-discover and learn from, indeed!