The Story of Barbie and the Woman Who Created Her

by Cindy Eagan, Amy June Bates (Illustrator)

A beautifully illustrated picture book about Barbie--the most famous doll in the world--and her visionary creator, Ruth Handler.

After noticing how her daughter played with "grown-up" paper dolls, Ruth Handler wanted to create a doll that would inspire little girls to use their huge imaginations and big dreams about their futures. While others told her it wasn't possible, Ruth Handler proved them all wrong by creating the most famous doll ever. This beautiful hardcover picture book will inspire children ages 3 to 7 to believe that anything is possible--especially with Barbie!

Since 1959, Barbie has shown girls that they can live their dreams. From an astronaut to a chef to a president, she knows that girls can do anything!

Genres: Picture Books, Nonfiction, Biography, Childrens, History, Womens, Historical

40 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2017

Reviews

[Kerri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always loved Barbie, and spent many happy hours of my childhood concocting elaborate fantasy narratives involving my many dolls, with Barbie often taking center stage - she had the best and most varied wardrobe, which, as this books points out, meant she could be anything I wanted her to be. I was blissfully unaware of the various controversies and debates surrounding Barbie, (many of which I do think are fair, and have lead to much more diversity in what Barbie offers, which is a positive thing) and just thought of her as a fun doll, with enviable hair, whose main flaw was that she never looked quite right on any of my model horses because her legs didn't bend enough at the knee.

For me, this was a fun, nostalgic book. It's not hard hitting, and while it is a brief history of Barbie, the details about the woman who created her are sparse, and I'm not sure why that line is included in the title when it doesn't feature that heavily in the actual book. I am interested to read a few more books that focus more specifically on Ruth Handler and her team at Mattel -- I'm sure the story is more complex and interesting than is portrayed here, but of course this is a picture book, not an in depth biography.

The illustrations are lovely, done in a style I've always been partial to, and highlight the evolution of Barbie, her outfits and her careers. While I loved seeing the way Barbie's world got bigger, representing the growing options that were becoming more accessible to real women, I find myself most drawn to a 50's/60's styles, especially the cheerleader -- I think this stems from my love of the movie 'Grease'. I also love the astronaut Barbie.🚀

I don't imagine this book will appeal if you don't already like Barbie, but it's an enjoyable read if you do!

[Calista · Rating 3 out of 5]

My niece thought this was a good book. She told me that it is about a woman who doesn’t take no for an answer and she invents Barbie. She gave this 4 stars.

It was informative. I never knew a world without Barbie. It seems strange to think that toy makers wouldn’t want to make this. Ruth Handler had to fight for her idea and she did. Before Barbie, there were only baby dolls. Men who ran companies thought it was a bad idea that would never work. Silly to think that now that it’s a billion dollar company. Barbie, besides her shape, has evolved with the times. It’s a neat history book. It does gloss over the history and doesn’t go into body image at all. Very interesting to think that everything does have a beginning and most beginnings are interesting.

[Enid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Barbie and her many and changing roles through the decades, simply told with fanciful illustrations.

[Barbara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was excited to find a picture book about Barbie, the doll that made her debut in 1959. After all, my name is Barbara, just like Barbie's namesake, the creator's daughter. And my mother made sure that I had my very own Barbie with various clothing choices, a sports car, a dream house, and even Ken, back when I was growing up. Mine had the cat eyes drawn with heavy eyeliner and a high ponytail. I'd never been much for dolls in those days, but I did enjoy playing with Barbie since I was able to express my own fantasies about growing up through her. Honestly, if the book's title had just been The Story of Barbie, I would have appreciated it more because that's what the book is--a tribute to the doll and how she has evolved over time. But there is only scanty information about Ruth Handler and how she persuaded Mattel to market this doll pitched for older girls. The images consist of family scenes but mostly show Barbie through the decades. It's clear that she evolved in her appearance, her outfits, and even the various roles she played, but there are parts of the story that are missing here, which would have made the book more appealing for me. I appreciated the illustrator's attention to detail and recognize many of the outfits my Barbie had, including her tight-fitting ensemble for singing in a nightclub and her gold sheath dress with matching coat trimmed in fur. I wanted to know more of the story and perhaps have a note about the positive and the negative influence of this ubiquitous doll. It would also have been helpful to have references and to tell more of Ruth's story. A better choice for older readers is The Good, the Bad, and the Barbie, a well-written and balanced account of the story by Tanya Lee Stone.

[michelle (travelingbooknerds) · Rating 4 out of 5]

a very beautifully illustrated children’s book of how the inventor of barbie against all odds created a doll that changed pop culture and the world as we know it. my mother also loved seeing the fashions and told me how nostalgic they made her feel for her own youth. loved the stunning message of community and creating your own opportunities, not giving up even when roadblocks may be placed in your way, living your dreams! my late father did legal work for mattel most of my life so barbie has always been a part of and meant so much to me and my family. it’s so awesome to get to see so many people be curious about and embrace her and everything she’s about :D can’t wait to gift a copy to all my friends kids <3 honestly would love to hang some of these pages as prints they’re so lovely.

[Mary Ann · Rating 1 out of 5]

This could be inspiring but there are too many holes and things left unsaid to be satisfactory. No source notes or works cited. No explanation of how Ruth's idea was brought to Mattel or why they changed their mind. No discussion of any of the controversy about Barbie's looks or figure.

[Kris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was actually a lot more feminist and encouraging of women than I expected it to be, but it doesn't give enough information, It is too short, even for a picture book and just glosses over what could be a really interesting story.

[Harlow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can be anything I want to be!

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I was growing up Barbie was my girl. I loved dressing her in fashionable clothes, driving her in her Barbie car, going out with Ken. I had no idea how Barbie came to be until I read this. How interesting was that? Many of the Barbies that they showed in the end of the book I had/have!! I am going to have to get this for my library. Fun for little girls and big girls like me.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid biography for beginner readers interested in learning about the history of Barbie and the woman who invented her. I know I needed the reminder that Barbie isn't about looking a certain way but expressing the idea that girls can grow up to be whatever they want to be.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Works well as both a picture book and as informational non-fiction too.

[Jamie Johnson Leach · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Wednesday afternoon group at the library loved this one! 😉💜

[Baroness · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable short read.

[cathy]

thank you queen ruth

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-illustrated and nostalgic, this picture book history of Barbie is a fun read and would make a good companion book with a girl's first Barbie.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eagan, Cindy The Story of Barbie and the Woman Who Created Her, illustrated by Amy June Bates. PICTURE BOOK. Random House, 2017. $18. 9780399557972

“My whole philosophy of Barbie was that through the doll, the little girl could be anything she wanted to be,” Ruth Handler, Barbie’s creator.
Ruth was an inventor and one day, she noticed that her daughter played more with the grown-up looking paper dolls then she did with her baby dolls. This gave Ruth an idea. She would create a teenage doll that could wear all sorts of different clothes and go on adventures. Originally Mattel didn’t like the idea, but Barbie was unveiled at the 1959 Toy Fair and she sold out. Since then, Barbie has dozens of different careers, visited the moon, and ran for president five times. Barbie will continue to evolve into what little girls need and want her to be.

I found this picture book biography (that reads like a storybook) very inspiring and pro-women. Ruth Handler’s creation is now known worldwide and even has her own television show. The illustrations feel soft and nostalgic, but still beautiful and eye-catching for young girls, just like Barbie.

Pre-K, EL (K-3) – ESSENTIAL. Samantha Hastings, MA, MLS.
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018...

[Miss Ryoko · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's refreshing to see a positive take on Barbie. It drives me crazy how many people complain about Barbie. She's a toy for crying out loud! And Barbie has done some amazing things in her life time. Why we are so focused on what she looks like and what her figure looks like is beyond me. I truly believe the outcry of Barbie's proportions not being "realistic" is a direct reflection of the self loathing humans have for themselves. Don't worry about anyone else's body proportions, whether it be Barbie's or Adriana Lima's. They can look however they want to look, just like you can. I have never once looked at Barbie and been like "Oh... I wish my body looked like that... I'm awful." Your low self-esteem is all on you, not on a toy or anyone else. If you don't like it, change your attitude and your mind set. Learn to love yourself and stop saying it's a toy's fault you or others have low self esteem.

Lol, okay getting off my soap box now. I commend Ruth Handler for being so ahead of her time with the creation of Barbie and what she represents. And I am so happy that Barbie is still around today! I loved my Barbie dolls and still love looking at them in the store today as an adult.

[Meg · Rating 2 out of 5]

Barbie went to the moon 4 years before Neil Armstrong!

[Read Ribbet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eagen focuses this nonfiction book on what inspired the creation of this familiar icon. It is also a story of a woman Ruth Handler who persisted in her vision of how to change the toy industry. It's an interesting story that fans of Barbie may especially like.

[Liz Sergent · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw this at my library so I thought I would give it a try. It was a great picture book of the history of Barbie and a little about Ruth Handler who created the famous doll. It is a nice picture book with sketches. Not a whole lot of substance, but worth checking out.

[ErinTheLibrarian · Rating 2 out of 5]

All illustrations except one photo on the jacket inside. Very short, sometimes not even a whole sentence on the page. Wouldn't work well for a biography report but it is interesting for browsing. Superficial.

[Holly Letson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is wonderful. It fills girls with the "We Girls Can Do Anything!" spirit that Barbie always brings. Plus, it is filled with wonderful illustrations that profile some of the most popular and influential Barbie dolls from the past decades.

[Elia Basista · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although geared more towards females, this book is a fun read! Everyone knows Barbie and now you can read the history behind it! This book also shows women entrepreneurship and power which is great to introduce to students at a young age. I also enjoyed the illustrates done by Amy Bates.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave it 4 stars for the illustrations. The story is good but a little thin. I'm not sure what age group this is targeting. For the full story I purchased Barbie and Ruth by Robin Gerber.

[Donalyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

The illustrations were great, but the writing fell flat. Highly recommend The Good, The Bad, and The Barbie instead.

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Positive read for the Barbie fan in our house.

[Vanessa · Rating 2 out of 5]

cute

[Jess Verzello · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this iconic look back on Barbie's origins and how she has inspired girls across decades.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short and quick intro into Barbie's creator. Perfect for young ones who aren't looking for too much info yet.

[Crys · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5