The Lonely Doll Learns a Lesson

Edith #4

by Dare Wright

Edith ("The Lonely Doll") brings a kitten back from the country, and her friend Little Bear feels very left out as Edith focuses all of her attention on her cuddly new playmate. It's only when Edith is confined to her bed with the measles, that she begins to realize how much she misses Little Bear's companionship. Little Bear sneaks in for a visit that turns into a disaster when he tries to cut Edith's tangled hair. When Little Bear gets the measles, too, Edith uses her savings to buy him a puppy. Much to Mr. Bear's delight, the two agree to share their pets and harmony is restored.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1961

Reviews

[Mir · Rating 3 out of 5]

Edith the doll is obsessed with her new kitten and neglects her friend Little Bear, who is hurt and jealous. When Edith goes too far by saying that her kitten is better at checkers than Little Bear, she gets her comeuppance. God strikes her down with chicken pox! DOOM!

What's that? You didn't know dolls could get the pox? Ignorant heathen! The smiting power of divine retribution is unbounded by natural law! And knowing the sort of dolls you spend your time with, I'd be a little more careful, if I were you.

Anyway -- chicken pox. Edith is miserable and lonely confined to the sickroom. Little Bear comes in and, under the guise of helping her untangle her hair, hacks it off! Take that, kitten-lover! When she cries, Father Bear tells her to stop making a fuss and then makes her spend all her savings on a gift for Little Bear. The natural order of male primacy is reasserted and they all live happily ever after.

Or do they?



Kind of an ominous vibe there, no?

Oh, and the kitten is a real, live kitten. I have no idea how Dare Wright got it to pose for all the scenes. She must've been one talented (if messed up) lady.

A note on books: I wish the camera focus had been just a little sharper so one could see the titles on the shelves in background. It is frustrating to not know what they are. Visible partial titles: The Dam Busters, Naked to Mine [something], 7 Arts, The 27th [or 37th] [three-letter-word, maybe "day"] by John M[something]. Also, Edith reads Now We Are Six and "Measles is Catching" and something with pictures, maybe a craft book. Father Bear reads poetry.


My review of the first book: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edith gets so obsessed with her kitten she blows off poor Little Bear, her orig. BFF and Little Bear isn't having it. Enter Mister Bear, who teaches Edith a thing or two about loyalty and friendship. I can think of more than a few adults who should read this book and get their manners in check. No shit.

This is probably the most dialogue heavy of all The Lonely Doll books. I almost forgot to look at the pictures because there was so much shit written in the captions. Another lesson in manners from Dare Wright.

[Marsha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book scared me as a young girl.

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

The doll actually looks fevered and out-of-sorts. Untangling sweaty, matted hair would have felt good to any child if it was done as gently as Little Bear did. I can remember feeling quite a bit of empathy for Edith as a youngster.

[Tabatha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love any book Dare created with her magical yet realistic looking doll and bear photography... I've collected all her fiction and nonfiction. We don't see enough of her anymore, but I'm glad her books are in print.

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

The weirdest of the series.

[Alison Hanlon · Rating 1 out of 5]

The Lonely Doll Learns a Lesson is a chilling story where innocence is shadowed by control and threat. Edith, a lonely doll, endures Mr. Bear’s harsh “lessons,” which feel more sinister than nurturing. Little Bear, her supposed friend, becomes a nightmare—wielding knives, cutting her hair, and keeping a gun nearby when illness strikes, hinting at a grim outcome.

The sepia photos capture Edith’s hollow-eyed stare and lifeless poses, adding to the haunting atmosphere. More horror story than children’s book, this tale feels like a cursed object, creeping into your mind long after you’ve closed it.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

“A new friend is a fine thing, but that’s no reason to neglect an old friend. You can love them both.” When a kitten enters the villa, Edith is obsessed and Little Bear gets jealous. A puppy for Little Bear is just the solution. “Little Bear got over the measles–And Edith’s hair grew a whole half inch” after being hacked by Little Bear in a fit of helpfulness. “And the kitten made friends with the puppy–And they all lived peacefully together–most of the time! And everybody was very happy.”

[Jessie Drew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wolfie and I enjoyed it!

[Madame Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I felt sorry of Edith because Little Bear can be such a brat sometimes.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the many childhood books I'm revisiting with the girls. My five year old self loved it.

[Angel Wright-Sackett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poor Edith, it's hard to be little.