Emma Smith's debut children's novel, perfect for fans of Gwyneth Rees and Enid Blyton.
At Winfell Farm, nothing is as it seems...
Dani has lived all her life at Winfell Farm. As a tiny doll, life has always been fun... Walking around the house after lights out, stealing cake from the fridge, and swimming in the pond during the hazy summer months.
Until Laura, now eighteen, moves off to university, and all of her toys are carted up the stairs and into the attic - including Dani and her friends! But under the eaves of the old farmhouse, Dani soon realises that someone not only wants them gone, but thrown out of the farm altogether...
And it's up to Dani to stop them.
The first book in the gorgeous children’s series Winfell Farm, suitable for ages 7 and above.
Emma Smith is a young adult and children's author from Yorkshire. She wrote and illustrated her first “book” when she was seven years old and hasn’t stopped writing since. When she’s not walking on the beach or drinking an iced coffee with a crumpet and some chocolate, you’ll probably find her reading something dark and mysterious… and most certainly YA.
Maybe I'm biased when I say that little me would have loved this book. I found it so hard to give into my inner child at first... but by the end, escaping to Winfell Farm through Dani, based on a doll I too once adored, healed something deep inside of me. I hope you love this world as much as I do.
In this enchanting tale, life at Winfell Farm is painted in hues of magic and nostalgia. The author captures the storyline and characters with vivid, enchanting imagery that draws you into the heart of Dani's playful world.
The narrative takes a turn as Laura, now eighteen, heads off to university, leaving her childhood behind. All her beloved toys, including Dani and her friends, are downgraded to the dusty attic. Here, amidst cobwebs and forgotten memories, Dani uncovers a chilling threat: someone wants them gone, banished from Winfell Farm forever.
Emma Smith blends suspense and charm as Dani takes on the role of a determined heroine, fighting to preserve the only home she’s ever known. The writing encapsulates the reader into the uplifting journey of survival and of growth and resilience.
The story beautifully carries themes of change and growth, which resonates with the reader.
"Change was a good thing. Without it, nothing would have a chance to grow"
This book is a must-read for anyone who cherishes the magic of childhood and the enduring power of hope. It’s a tale that is as heartwarming as it is thrilling. A five-star read, I would definitely recommend!!
I would like to thank Emma Smith for selecting me as an ARC reader for this book. <3
This is such a nostalgic, cute read that I couldn't put down and loved flying through. It reminded me of so many books and films I loved growing up and it is one I will definitely be gifting to young girls I know that can love it in the way I loved Rainbow Magic growing up.
The Dolls House at Winfell Farm follows Laura’s dolls after she moves away to university and the dolls get moved to the attic, where they meet one of Laura’s other old toys and have to learn the importance of friendship, working together and standing up for what they believe is important.
While this is written for a certain audience of children around the age of 7 I think that it can be read and enjoyed by those of all ages that enjoy a good story and want to be taken back to the magic of their childhood.
I was hooked from early on wanting to know where Dani would take everything and how it would all end. I grew to really love the dolls and all of their different characters and personalities, I never got them mixed up or forgot who was who which is something that with this many characters could easily happen but Emma wrote it well and made them all distinct enough and everyone felt key for the story. Along with being able to tell all the dolls apart we felt the characters emotions which is something that I am growing to love with Emma’s writing.
There were times that I would have liked it if something else had happened however it felt perfectly written for the target audience and everything surrounding the villain was explained and shows why these things aren't good which is exactly what you want from a book aimed at young children.
A book that I would highly recommend for those wanting to feel childhood nostalgia and with children around 7 who love to read books. I will be buying this for family friend’s children in the years to come definitely.
The Dolls' House at Winfell Farm was such a cute read, I loved every moment of it. I read this book in one day, and if I wasn’t interruped, I most likely would have finished it in one sitting hahah
The story follows Dani, a doll, and all her friends as they are moved up to the attic, after Laura, the girl who uses to play with them, leaves for university. The story is a beautiful tale of friendship, staying together in times of need, team work, and of moving on from the past and looking towards the future.
The story was very easy to read and follow despite the number of characters. It also has an element of mystery which I absolutely loved and had me hooked. I thoroughly enjoyed my time reading it and would recommend it to any child in late elementary or middle school. I know I would have definitely loved reading this as a child and I’m excited for any child that gets to read this.
Emma’s debut childhood novel is adorably nostalgic, crammed to the brim with childhood essence.
It follows a community of dolls, thrown out into a dark and damp attic after being neglected for years in the playroom. Then a scary, new figure is threatening the dolls, posing a threat to their village and safety. These dolls have created a society for themselves, living like real people. The dolls house at winfell farm is a story of adventure and bravery, showing you how to stand up for what you believe in. But it’s also warming and down to earth, reminding you of your younger years and the excitement of playing with dolls. Emma has bought these dainty, delicate dolls alive perfectly. Each doll was crafted with their own individual personality and their own role in this scheme. Dani was the bravest, and she was probably my favourite. I’m curious to see her story following Laura at university. Emma’s writing style is elegant and descriptive. This new genre is a fabulous addition to her works and it’s safe to say I enjoyed myself. I can’t wait what new stories she has to bring to Winfell Farm.
If you're searching for a book to gift to a child (or want to read something light & fun) this is it, I promise! Emma managed to write each and every single one of the characters so very well described, it honestly felt like I knew all of them! The book felt really lighthearted while dealing with something serious at the same time, I think this book would be great to help children learn how to stand up for themselves and also for others. Also Dani in particular is a great character for children to look up to in my opinion.
I think this series has A LOT of potential, and this book was a great start to the series. When I think back to myself being around 9-10 years old, I probably would have loved this book and the series that is supposed to come out of this. This is a great universe for children to dive into and there is a lot of potential for future stories, I can't wait to read about Danis time at University with Laura!!
To me this story felt a bit like if Toy Story and Tinkerbell had a child haha, but so much more wholesome and really comforting. Everything was so well described that I could really picture everything in my head (I normally have some problems with that). I think this universe could be a great escape from reality for many children and also if you're an adult, it felt so comforting for my inner child to read this book.
Also, as a future educator I would LOVE if this book comes out in German one day so that I could read it to the children at work, so if you're in an English speaking country and work with children, you should definitely think about getting this for your class!
This is by far one of the cutest books I’ve ever read; the setting, the characters, the descriptions - everything was just soooo adorable!
Despite being older than the recommended age, I really enjoyed this book, which proves that books intended for younger readers can be enjoyed by anyone. I felt that this book was just so nostalgic and reminded me of so many of the books I used to love as a child, specifically The Magic Faraway Tree and the Rainbow Magic Fairy series.
I loved the plot of the story and really loved the aspect of the dolls and other toys coming to life and having their own little community when there are no humans around.
Despite being dolls, every character had their own personality, which made the whole book even cuter. I also really enjoyed the fact that everyone had their own roles in the village and felt that it made it more realistic? Maybe that doesn’t make sense because they’re dolls, but, you know.
Somehow, Emma managed to include so many different characters and personalities without overcrowding the story, which some authors seem to do, but I never confused any of the characters, which made it a lot easier to read.
Just like her YA books, TDHAWF was written so well overall - and some of the scenes made me feel the emotions alongside the characters. Like the fear the dolls felt when they were being moved from the Playroom to the attic, or when Dani met Willow for the first time.
I thought this was an adorable read and I’m totally giving this to some of my younger cousins as Birthday presents when they’re slightly older!
I’m so, so honoured I got to be an ARC reader and I’m totally buying the book to display on my bookshelf once it releases!
When I was younger I loved the Amelia Jane books, about a group of toys that came alive when humans weren't around (way before Toy Story!) and so reading this children's novel was very reminiscent of that series.
It's something that lots of children wish would happen, our dolls come alive when we're not there. But, alas, we just have our imagination!
The book covers what happens when after dwindling interest children grow out of playing with dolls. In this case Laura's parents move her dolls, doll house and other toys up to the attic, where they quickly rebuild their community, but what happens when they find out they're not the first toys that have been put up there and are replacements for other toys that fell out of favour years ago.
This book is aimed at under 10s and I think it would be great to read with children. It's really well written and I could totally picture the dolls and loved the descriptions of their matchbox beds and how cutoff fabric from favourite clothes had made their blankets and covers.
Overall I really enjoyed it, although felt for Willow in the same way I felt for Amelia Jane in the books from my childhood!
This was such a cute and magical read and I felt key messages such as growing up and sisterhood were conveyed throughout. I absolutely loved the ending and felt it was such a poignant ending to Dani's fantastic story. Especially for children aged 7-9, I felt that the idea of dolls coming to life and living in their own little world was so special, and added such a personal feel to the book.
I really loved the characterisation, as while there were lots of characters, I could always remember who was who. I thought the way each doll had their own personality and character traits showed each one had been really thought about and had been carefully crafted, which made the whole story flow.
Personally, I felt the nostalgia of my own childhood was encapsulated, but also a nod to the fact that change happens for the better.(I also loved the authors note at the end, I thought it was so cute!) I would definitely recommend!!
3.75⭐️ || First off, let me say that I received this book in an early opportunity as an ARC copy. ||
This was a quick and fun read! It’s obviously a children’s book, but I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. Emma did an amazing job and I’m sure a lot of children will enjoy this story!
The base of it immediately reminded me of Toy Story (which is NOT a bad thing! Truly, it’s nothing alike besides the fact that the dolls are alive.) and I don’t think I remember other stories with the same base! This is the type of book that’ll have you think twice about stuffing your toys away, even when you’re way older and it’s time to put your children’s toys away, this will stay in the back of your mind.
Emma’s writing is original and captivating, and I recommend that if you liked this book (or your sister, brother, cousin, did) you check out her other works!!
Thank you Emma Smith for my ARC copy of this story and for letting me step into the world of Winfell farm!
This book is truly wonderful, depicting a magical world I certainly could have gotten lost in as a kid. An all around cute story about friendship, accepting change, and teamwork, all told through the curious happenings of dolls run wild.
While I am certainly not the intended audience for this book, I can see all the ways this could be a favorite for young children. Important themes and lessons are seamlessly incorporated in the fun, and the storyline is very digestible, if a little hard to follow at times.
The author’s imagination and world building are spectacular. While there are some opportunities to continue to grow and hone her style, I have enjoyed every one of her books and am excited for what’s to come.
PS: I could SO see this book being a cute cartoon of some kind
I received this advance reader copy from the author in exchange for an honest review
This was a very sweet, wholesome story about a community of dolls who live together in Winfell farm’s playroom who are moved to the attic after their owner moved to university. In the attic, the dolls have to work together to defeat a new enemy.
This book was such a quick, lovely read that discussed jealousy, growing up and sisterhood. I wish we could have seen a bit of a redemption arc for the villain however there were clear messages throughout that explained the villain’s behaviour without excusing it which I can see is essential for young children to see represented in media
This had me feeling so nostalgic, almost like I was a little girl again, experiencing Enid Blyton for the first time.
I adored how there was a whole village of dolls, each with their own role, and how all the buildings had been set up. They really did have their own little lives and it was so easy to feel a part of it.
The dolls themselves have such vivid characterisation. Everyone was so thought about, and no one felt like filler for the sake of it.
Since I read the ebook, I unfortunately didn’t get to read it with the illustrations but I’ll definitely be getting a paperback! They make such a lovely addition and this would be the perfect gift for a little girl <33
as someone who was obsessed with toy story and having my dolls take part in elaborate games, this book was so wonderfully nostalgic to read. it was such an easy read that i just flew through and enjoyed so much.
each of the dolls had such a vivid personality and the conflict with willow made so much sense with the plot of the dolls accepting laura growing up.
this is definitely the kind of book that’s perfect for 7-9 year olds!!
this book was so sweet and felt so nostalgic!! a perfect mix between tinkerbell and toy story. the dollhouse was described so well i felt like i knew how it looked. this book was so lovely and me as a child would adore it. even though this book was written with younger children in mind, i absolutely love it and im sure my sister will too :)
This was a really cute little read, I was given the chance to read as an ARC reader.
This story I would say is aimed at 7-9 year olds it was such lovely little read, I would have loved reading this when I was younger. It really gave me Toy Story feels, I felt like I sunk into the story and just enjoyed being little again and believing in the magic.
I flew through this book! So cozy and nostalgic. It was very Toy Story-esque and I loved it! Would definitely recommend for a quick easy read and for the youngens! Definitely perfect for a reading corner in a classroom!
Such a beautiful story that takes you back to pretending to be asleep to catch your toys coming alive. It truly made me want to get all my toys out and tell them I love them all even now at 22. Definitely a story I’d recommend to the little ones in my life.
Charming, sweet, and a hint of mysterious, The Dolls’ House at Winfell Farm is a perfect intro for both young readers and older readers seeking nostalgic magical core.
A wonderfully whimsical story perfect for younger readers or those looking for nostalgia! A definite must read for its cosy and comforting vibes! And wonderful addition to anyone's library!!!!
I read this book to my younger brother, and it’s safe to say we both loved it. It had a whimsical feel with so much detail it felt like I was there. I loved all the characters, but especially Dani. She reminded me of myself when I was younger. I’m not the best at writing reviews, but I knew I had to for this book. This book reminded me of my childhood aswell, and all I wanted to do was curl up with it and a candle and some hot cocoa. I totally recommend reading it with your younger ones, or even just by yourself (be ready to be transported to your childhood!). Such a good book, perfect fall read.
i was lucky enough to receive an arc copy of this book, and I loved it so much!! it is full of feelings of coziness, nostalgia and friendship, and I enjoyed this book way more than I thought!
I loved the description and personalities of all the characters, especially the determination and bravery of Dani, and loyalty of Jaime. if you know a child around the age of 7-9, I would highly recommend you get them this book -especially if they're fans of the rainbow fairy magic series or enjoy playing with dolls!!
thank you so much Emma for giving me the opportunity to read an early copy of this heartwarming story 🤍🤍
I’ve been reading this with my little girl and although she’s still quite young she’s been absolutely loving reading this with me in the evenings! Thank you so much Emma for such a beautiful children’s book!
Following the story of Dani as her and the other dolls are moved up to the attic once Laura moves out to university, this is such a cute, nostalgic read ideal for children and adults who like a bit of magic!
This reminded so much of books I loved as a child such as the Rainbow Magic series, Gwyneth Rees' books and Enid Blyton's Magic Faraway Tree!! It also gave Toy Story vibes which is one of my favourite films. I loved delving into this world and need more from it please!!
It's a fun, gripping storyline with ideas such as things more complicated than just good vs evil weaved seamlessly in. I was so wrapped up in this story and honestly found it so hard to put down.
I loved how each doll had their own distinctive personality and I'm excited to read any future dolls' stories. The writing was beautiful and I could clearly picture the doll's community and Winfell Farm. I loved escaping into that world!
I was hoping for more with the badger's storyline as I grew quite fond of it haha. But it was hinted that there may be more of that to come!
The first book I read in 2024 was a different book by this author, and I wanted to start this year off with the first book I read being one of Emma’s. I’m so glad I decided to do this (I think this could be a yearly thing now)!
I really enjoyed this book. The nostalgia of the plot took me back to my own childhood, playing with dolls and just hoping that now I don’t play with them anymore, they’re living like the dolls in this book. I can’t wait for more books in this series. I will definitely be reading more books by this author this year!
I was expecting Toy Story-esque with healthy dose of whimsy. What I wasn’t expecting was complex feelings about changes and growing up. Not sure whether this was the perfect thing to read the day after I got my first university offer or the absolute worst thing to read the day after I got my first university offer, either way it was brilliant. I adored the characters and the detail was incredible. It really felt like I was one of the dolls. Can’t wait for the rest of the series.
They get up to more than you think when you’re not around - your toys, that is. They have hobbies, ambitions, and emotions like humans do. The Dolls’ House at Winfell Farm is the perfect lens through which to see those antics. Unfortunately, someone, having suffered years ago the same fate as the toys now have, wants nothing to do with those antics - or the toys.
TDHAWF is written in a manner and a length very suitable for the target demographic, but nonetheless enjoyable for older readers too, of course!