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The Dollhouse Caper
The roughly handled Dollhouse family, uncomfortably aware that they may be soon discarded, must find a way to warn their Humans of an impending full-scale burglary
96 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1975
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119 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
October 5, 2009
This is a marvelous children's book, and it was written by my dear departed aunt!
Want to read
July 1, 2020Oh my goodness, I LOVED this book when I was a kid! I have wanted to find it for years and could never remember the name though that cover art remained bright in my memory. Stumbled across an image of the cover today quite by chance and am going to try and track down a copy for old time's sake and hope it's good enough to share with my own children.
September 6, 2020
I loved reading “The Dollhouse Caper”. It's an absolute charm. I love that the author makes no pretenses about the dolls in the house being real people. They are well and truly dolls and they know they are dolls. They aren't kidding themselves. They're not under the impression that they are real people and there's not much they're not aware of – even down to the dark chasm of dust and fluff behind the chest the house is kept on. When the Dollhouse and the Dollhouse family are kept on the high shelf, they go into what's called the Long Sleep. And they wake up when the Dollhouse is brought down and placed in the nursery to be played with. And when it is daytime and the three boys who live in the house can play with them, they cannot move, but at nighttime, they 'come alive'.
“But it's not fair!” Ruth said. “We only come to life in the nighttime.”
“It's fair,” Mrs. Dollhouse said... “The humans only come to life in the daytime.”
“Oh,” Ruth said, “I never thought of that.”
There are moments and lines that make the Dollhouse family so lovable and down to earth, as though dolls that come alive is an actual thing and we get a glimpse into the problems they have in life. Lines like, “Todd, where is your arm?”... “It's around somewhere, don't worry Mom.”... “We certainly will worry. It's the one with that nice wristwatch painted on it.” So charming!
Their life is often in perceptual chaos because the three children who play with them are boys. And unlike girls who would dress them properly and brush their hair and place them in pleasant, logical places, boys do things like stick the dolls' head down the toilet, or turn the staircase into a ramp, or have no qualm in leaving one of the dolls stuck under a piece of furniture. But the main problem in the Dollhouse family's life at the moment, is that the boys who live in the house are growing up. The youngest is just young enough to want to play with them still, but old enough to not want to admit it to his older brothers. And if the Dollhouse is never played with, it might just stay on that high shelf forever! But when the Dollhouse family overhear some thieves on the street 'casing the joint' for a robbery, they must figure out how they're going to communicate what they know to the owners to save the house and their belongings and also themselves!
This story is super sweet, heart-warming and very funny. It was an absolute pleasure to meet the Dollhouse family: Mr. Dollhouse who's head is frequently stuck down the toilet, level-headed Mrs. Dollhouse, Ruth the girl, Tom the boy, and Baby the beautiful china... well... baby of course, who was once found neatly wedged in the washing machine. It is fun to watch as the Dollhouse family try to get themselves noticed and at the same time manage to work their way back into the hearts of all three boys.
What a pleasure to read. No matter what age you are.
“But it's not fair!” Ruth said. “We only come to life in the nighttime.”
“It's fair,” Mrs. Dollhouse said... “The humans only come to life in the daytime.”
“Oh,” Ruth said, “I never thought of that.”
There are moments and lines that make the Dollhouse family so lovable and down to earth, as though dolls that come alive is an actual thing and we get a glimpse into the problems they have in life. Lines like, “Todd, where is your arm?”... “It's around somewhere, don't worry Mom.”... “We certainly will worry. It's the one with that nice wristwatch painted on it.” So charming!
Their life is often in perceptual chaos because the three children who play with them are boys. And unlike girls who would dress them properly and brush their hair and place them in pleasant, logical places, boys do things like stick the dolls' head down the toilet, or turn the staircase into a ramp, or have no qualm in leaving one of the dolls stuck under a piece of furniture. But the main problem in the Dollhouse family's life at the moment, is that the boys who live in the house are growing up. The youngest is just young enough to want to play with them still, but old enough to not want to admit it to his older brothers. And if the Dollhouse is never played with, it might just stay on that high shelf forever! But when the Dollhouse family overhear some thieves on the street 'casing the joint' for a robbery, they must figure out how they're going to communicate what they know to the owners to save the house and their belongings and also themselves!
This story is super sweet, heart-warming and very funny. It was an absolute pleasure to meet the Dollhouse family: Mr. Dollhouse who's head is frequently stuck down the toilet, level-headed Mrs. Dollhouse, Ruth the girl, Tom the boy, and Baby the beautiful china... well... baby of course, who was once found neatly wedged in the washing machine. It is fun to watch as the Dollhouse family try to get themselves noticed and at the same time manage to work their way back into the hearts of all three boys.
What a pleasure to read. No matter what age you are.
February 18, 2009
This is the best, most hysterical book! One my sisters and I checked out from the library repeatedly in our youth! Some very clever and imaginative goings on!
February 13, 2019
Read with my 6-year old daughter and she loved it. I read it as a kid as well.
December 19, 2013
My parents got this book for me when I was a kid, because I had a dollhouse and loved all things miniature.
This is a story where the dollhouse family comes alive in order to save the big family's home from danger.
I love this book! It has laugh out loud moments in it, fun fantasy, and some important lessons about family relationships and loyalty.
Fun book for boys and girls around 10 years of age.
This is a story where the dollhouse family comes alive in order to save the big family's home from danger.
I love this book! It has laugh out loud moments in it, fun fantasy, and some important lessons about family relationships and loyalty.
Fun book for boys and girls around 10 years of age.
March 22, 2016
I remembered this book thanks to looking up The Dollhouse Murders. This one, if I remember correctly, is a lot more light-hearted than that. I read it as a kid, and after all these years, the only thing I really remember about it is that someone kept sticking the father-doll's head in the toilet (the cover image is how I knew I had the right book!). And maybe some dolls kept getting dropped behind whatever the house was sitting on?
April 17, 2019
One of my all-time favorite books. If you like magical dollhouse/toy stories, you'll love this one about a Dollhouse family trying to warn their Humans about impending danger. The children of the Human family are all boys, adding to the uniqueness of the story, and the tale should strike a chord in kids of any gender. The dry humor throughout is still as amusing to me as a grown-up as it was when I was young.
January 15, 2019
Dated but enjoyable for its time and genre. Dollhouse people come to life and must warn the humans about an impending burglary. Very funny details and layered plot. I loved how the main characters were three brothers, as opposed to girls, who played with a dollhouse when they were younger. Still holds an excellent message about anti-stereotyping "boy" toys and the myths about growing up. Cute. Illustrations by Eric Blegvad, nice but not his best work.
June 5, 2018
Timeless, funny take on the theme of dolls coming to life when humans are not around. I loved the details around the mismatched, out of scale furnishings - it made me nostalgic for my old handmade dollhouse. Of all the children's books with dollhouse themes, this is one of the best.
November 26, 2007
Fun and fast reading. Good messages behind the fun!
February 3, 2009
loved this when i was young. still have it! cant wait for ava to read it
July 4, 2011
One of my very favorite books from childhood.
July 15, 2012
I loved this book as a child and I have kept it with me this whole time and I am way into my 30's now. I still find it to be a cute and entertaining quick read.
April 6, 2022
if you are interested in the author of this book, then I want to tell you this:
unfortunately i'm not related to Jean Stone O'Connell, but!! I am a very big fan of her and I can tell you some basic information (without revealing anything personal and residential addresses) about this wonderful woman!!
Jean Stone was born September 15, 1922, New York, Garden City, her parents were Mead Stone and Elise (Lillie) Stone, Jean has an older sister, Elise Emma Stone(Bell), a younger brother, William, and an older brother, Mead.
she graduated from Wesley College in 1944. She later wrole short stores for McCall's, Laddies' Home ja Journal and Today's Woman.
She married James Bernard O'Connell on September 6, 1947.
For some time they lived in New York. Later in 1954 they moved to Westport.
In Westport, Mrs. O'Connell was aclive in the Intercom munily camp, serving two terms as board chairman and in other; capacities. She also wrote the text for a book about the camp, entitled "Another Kind of Summer." In addition, she worked for the American Red Cross blood program in Westport, and i for the PTA.
Jean and James, in an amazing coincidence, had three children, three boys - Andrew O'Connell, James O'Connell and Patrick O'Connell.
But Unfortunately... Jean O'Connell died on July 6, 1975, of cancer. I have several photos of Jean, she had beautiful blue eyes, short dark curly hair, a wonderful smile. I love her, I love their whole family, I have been doing her biography for a year, and I can say that she is a wonderful person, a wonderful mother, a wonderful daughter, sister, aunt .... Love you Jean and all your family!!
I hope this information is useful
unfortunately i'm not related to Jean Stone O'Connell, but!! I am a very big fan of her and I can tell you some basic information (without revealing anything personal and residential addresses) about this wonderful woman!!
Jean Stone was born September 15, 1922, New York, Garden City, her parents were Mead Stone and Elise (Lillie) Stone, Jean has an older sister, Elise Emma Stone(Bell), a younger brother, William, and an older brother, Mead.
she graduated from Wesley College in 1944. She later wrole short stores for McCall's, Laddies' Home ja Journal and Today's Woman.
She married James Bernard O'Connell on September 6, 1947.
For some time they lived in New York. Later in 1954 they moved to Westport.
In Westport, Mrs. O'Connell was aclive in the Intercom munily camp, serving two terms as board chairman and in other; capacities. She also wrote the text for a book about the camp, entitled "Another Kind of Summer." In addition, she worked for the American Red Cross blood program in Westport, and i for the PTA.
Jean and James, in an amazing coincidence, had three children, three boys - Andrew O'Connell, James O'Connell and Patrick O'Connell.
But Unfortunately... Jean O'Connell died on July 6, 1975, of cancer. I have several photos of Jean, she had beautiful blue eyes, short dark curly hair, a wonderful smile. I love her, I love their whole family, I have been doing her biography for a year, and I can say that she is a wonderful person, a wonderful mother, a wonderful daughter, sister, aunt .... Love you Jean and all your family!!
I hope this information is useful
December 3, 2017
I'm a little sorry that this isn't one of a series because I found the Dollhouse family very charming. Too bad that their adventures didn't start back when they were at the toy store and were first put in their dollhouse. They have been in their house for quite some time now and the Dollhouse family's main fear is that they will be got rid of.
I could understand the Dollhouse family's concern because the background of how and why the dollhouse still even belonged to the Human family was the weakest part of the book. Readers are told that Kevin, Peter, and Harry had really wanted a dollhouse and they did apparently fix it up when they first got it but seem to have quickly lost interest in it. Since then it is only taken out once a year to be used as some kind of a Christmas decoration but the only concession to Christmas is setting up a miniature make-shift Christmas tree. It might have been more plausible that the Human family had the dollhouse and kept it this long if the parents had shown some interest in it as a family heirloom or maybe if one of the Human children in the book had been a girl.
But, in other ways, the book is showing its age. The burglars in the book are interested in stealing a silver tea service, two typewriters, and a hi-fi. On page 69, the three children are riding in the cargo area of the family station wagon and playing cards on the floor. We had seat belts in our car in 1975 but no one was required to wear them.
I could understand the Dollhouse family's concern because the background of how and why the dollhouse still even belonged to the Human family was the weakest part of the book. Readers are told that Kevin, Peter, and Harry had really wanted a dollhouse and they did apparently fix it up when they first got it but seem to have quickly lost interest in it. Since then it is only taken out once a year to be used as some kind of a Christmas decoration but the only concession to Christmas is setting up a miniature make-shift Christmas tree. It might have been more plausible that the Human family had the dollhouse and kept it this long if the parents had shown some interest in it as a family heirloom or maybe if one of the Human children in the book had been a girl.
But, in other ways, the book is showing its age. The burglars in the book are interested in stealing a silver tea service, two typewriters, and a hi-fi. On page 69, the three children are riding in the cargo area of the family station wagon and playing cards on the floor. We had seat belts in our car in 1975 but no one was required to wear them.
January 2, 2026
The Dollhouse Caper was a quick and easy read, but definitely a strange one. The premise reminded me of the original Toy Story idea, except… much weirder. Referring to the dolls as “Mr. and Mrs. Dollhouse” and the real people as “Mr. and Mrs. Human” felt genuinely diabolical and took me out of the story.
Despite being under 100 pages, the plot was extremely simple—mostly centered around the dolls trying to get the humans’ attention—which made it feel a bit stretched for how short it was. It’s readable and interesting enough to finish in one sitting, but some of the character choices were questionable and left me more confused than intrigued.
Despite being under 100 pages, the plot was extremely simple—mostly centered around the dolls trying to get the humans’ attention—which made it feel a bit stretched for how short it was. It’s readable and interesting enough to finish in one sitting, but some of the character choices were questionable and left me more confused than intrigued.
July 13, 2025
Very much love all stories about dollhouse dolls who come to life and help their humans. This one is quite sweet and it’s wonderful because the dollhouse belongs to a group of brothers. The family helps one of the brothers thwart a thief.
I enjoyed it as a young person and I still read it from time to time now.
I enjoyed it as a young person and I still read it from time to time now.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 21, 2019
i remember liking this as a kid maybe age 10?? but when i read it to the kids we had to stop and never finished- i don't like to think about robbers watching my house either no matter how clever the dolls were to warn the family. And my kids are too young to worry about that as well.
January 21, 2023
I am sure I liked this more as a kid, but I found it while cleaning out some old books from childhood, so naturally, I picked it up and read through it. A fun story I think I got from a scholastic order sheet in elementary school. I think my niece will get a kick out of it.
May 15, 2017
Like the precursor of Toy Story, the idea of toys coming to life was fascinating to me. I liked that the toys had feelings for their owners & loyally wanted to help them.
January 22, 2022
I read this as a child and re-read it as an adult. Still enjoy this story.
February 24, 2011
Found this in the sitting room of the sheep shearer's station (Braemer) at the foot of Mt Cook; the two children's librarians in the group (you know who you are) remembered it well, though I think the others in the group were a bit puzzled, especially as I read bits out loud with hoots of laughter.
February 3, 2010
ah the dollhoue so many memories although one seems to be missing where is she who is she find out :D
April 22, 2013
OHMYGOD I FOUND YOU! I FREAKIN LOVE THIS BOOK TO PIECES!!!!! LOVEEE IT. TO PIECES!!! I moved and I don't know where this book is anymore. I love it! My all-time favorite dollhouse book!
April 13, 2016
I read this when I was little and it was great reading it again with my daughter. It's a story that's still enjoyable decades later.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews