William's Doll

As a children's librarian, I wander through the children's book section on Amazon quite often. When I found William's Doll, I knew our library had to have it. The day I brought it in to share with second grade, one sharp boy spied the book with, "She has William's Doll. Hahahaha." Then boys surrounding William (I deliberately picked this class because "William" is in it) began to laugh and call him names. Immediately, I squashed the teasing. We talked about dolls, the various kinds, what dolls are for, and why William wanted one. We talked about whose daddies changed diapers, put babies to bed, and so on, and why they did these things. We talked about maturity and immaturity. I asked if second grade could be mature. One boy blurted, no, we're just kids. So we talked about maturity again.William wanted a doll because he envied the neighbor girl who had one. He wanted to change it, sing to it, coo with it, put it to bed. His brother and brother's friend walked in while William was acting out these emotionally charged moments. Of course, they laughed and called him names. His daddy gave him a basketball and goal, and a train set. William mastered layups, goal throwing, then beat his brother and friend. He used engineering (guy) skills to build stations and storage areas. Finally, granny bought him a doll, exactly the one he wanted with eyes that went blink and clicked when they closed, and told the worrying dad that William wanted to grow up to be a good father who helped with the tending of a baby.My second grade class took in the entire story without once snickering. They were totally on William's side in acquiring a doll. Books cause adventures. Magic happens. This book is highly recommended!

I love this book because it tells about a boy learning to be a father.

My 5 yo loved the story. Very relevant these days. Gray book to teach and provoque conversations around being true to yourself, having tolerance and being patient - great book

I gave this book to a friend who is writing a book….I love the story and used it for in-service when I was teaching…

I purchased this book--along with a baby doll--for a boy I know named William. It's a classic, and parents my age likely remember it from their own childhoods. However, the implicit message is that it's laughable for boy children to play with dolls, even though the book itself attempts to normalize this. A more modern take might not place so much emphasis on the idea that playing with dolls is normal, and rather depict a more pedestrian image of boys playing with dolls without censure.

This was a story that I loved as a child and would recommend to any parent to read to their son or daughter about the importance of allowing boys to have baby dolls great story

I first read Williams Doll to my oldest son back in the bad old 70's when he was three years old. I had bought him a doll for his 'big' first birthday present, and his father had made some noises about boys & dolls. Williams Doll was the perfect rebuttal and a wonderful discovery back then.This time around I bought it for my year old grandson - too young to understand it yet - but he will grow into it. Williams Doll is a terrific read aloud for kids (male and female)from two to six - and for the record my son nurtured his doll, as did his two sisters after him, and my son is now a wonderful father himself.

Great book that reminds parents your son should have a special something doll, stuffed animal, etc that can teach him to love and care for his special thing like someday he will love and care for his child.

A loving story about a boy who wants a doll to care for so he can grow up and know how to care for his own child one day.This book has special meaning to us, for we are parents of a beautiful young man, William, who was taken from us all too soon.Please buy this book for every little boy you know.

Lovely story

Lovely story, exploring the other-side of boyhood. Challenges stereotypes in a soft way. It tells the story of a little boy who wants a doll to love.

Nice story bought for my son william

My son was given this when he was one and loved it. I bought this for my grandson