Sugarplum

by Johanna Johnston

A tiny little doll named Sugarplum was always getting lost and being accused by the larger dolls of being no more than a trinket. But when she falls into a jar of newly made jelly and is lost for months, Sugarplum gets her chance to prove she is a little girl's real doll.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

40 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 1955

Reviews

[Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this book as a child, and I wasn't alone--there was often a waiting list for it at the library. This is one of those great "lost" books which should be reprinted.

All little girls who love their dolls will understand how hard it is to try to make tiny little clothes, when your tiny little fingers aren't used to handling a needle. Poor, painted-wood Sugarplum can only dream of having a real dress, like the bigger dolls. Little children of the age group this book was written for will also know how it feels to be "too little" to be taken seriously by "the big girls". The other dolls tell Sugarplum she is "just like a gimcrack, a trinket, a ring--not like a real doll at all!" Any child who's ever been pushed to the edge of the group will know how that feels. But Sugarplum is pocket-sized, so Suzy takes her everywhere...and gets her into a real jam!

All little children can relate to(and big folks remember) the pain of losing a favourite toy, and the joy of finding it again. The wonderful illustrations are 80% of the story.

I dreamed of buying a copy, but not at $200! How can we get this great classic reprinted? Who do we have to talk to?

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite childhood book and I treasure the ex-library hardcover that my mom likely bought for 10 cents at a library book sale. Sugarplum's adventures as a very tiny doll captivated me and still today I love the thought of looking out at the world from inside a jar of pink apple jelly.

[Cookie M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A favorite from childhood about a tiny doll whose diminutive size gets her into all kinds of scrapes.
This book is a rare treasure. Used copies sell for over $100. If I could ever find a copy of this book, I would pay the asking price and consider myself blessed.

[Autumn Aria · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's such a cute and endearing little story about a tiny little doll always getting lost all the time, together with beautiful illustrations in it.

This out of print children's book has been highly sought after and many folks are willing to pay a lot of money for a copy of it.

[Nade · Rating 5 out of 5]

A treasured book from my childhood - the story of Sugarplum who is always getting lost because she is so tiny and in the eyes of the "big dolls," not a real doll at all. Sweet and heartwarming with enchanting illustrations by Marvin Bileck.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was one of my favorite childhood books. After reading it, I was forever checking the jelly jar for my own Sugarplum doll. I would love to have a copy of it, but on Amazon they range from $75 - $300!

[Therese Hoehn · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite picture book as a child!!!!!

[wanderer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Utterly adorable. My eight-year-old niece highly recommended it, and she was right. The illustrations are the best part.

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember my teacher in kindergarten reading u this book to the class. I kept trying to find a copy when my kids were little but couldn’t remember the title and didn’t know it was out of print. I finally located an old library copy on Thriftbooks and am so happy to finally be able to read this as an adult,