The Doll People
| Company type | Book series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Children's literature |
| Founded | 2000 |
| Founder | Ann M. Martin, Laura Godwin |
| Products | Children's novels |
| Parent | Hyperion Books |
The Doll People is a children's novel authored by Ann M. Martin and Laura Godwin, released in 2000 by Hyperion Books with illustrations by Brian Selznick. This narrative delves into the hidden lives of dolls when unobserved by humans. It centers on a porcelain doll and her plastic companion as they embark on a mission to locate her missing aunt. The series also features other titles including The Meanest Doll in the World, The Runaway Dolls, The Doll People Set Sail, along with the picture book The Doll People's Christmas.
Plot
Annabelle is a ceramic doll belonging to an eight-year-old girl named Kate Palmer, having been passed down from Kate’s great-grandmother who was born in 1898. These dolls possess the ability to move and converse but must return to their designated places when humans approach, to avoid becoming "frozen" for 24 hours—or permanently immobilized if caught engaging in serious mischief. For her birthday, Kate’s sister Nora receives a plastic doll family known as the Funcrafts. Tiffany, the daughter of the Funcrafts, quickly becomes Annabelle’s close companion. United by their discovery of Auntie Sarah’s journal, they establish the Society for Exploration and Location of Missing Persons (SELMP). After investigating the disappearance of Auntie Sarah, who has been missing for 45 years, they ultimately uncover her location, resulting in a heartfelt reunion between the doll families.