Big Susan :: Education by Design Store

Customer Reviews

Let's Pretend

2008-01-25
Here's a story that combines imagination with reality in such a whimsical way that children (and grownups) will appreciate Mr. and Mrs. Doll as they face the pickle they are in. Readers will hurry through the book, hoping that Big Susan comes back to the doll house to keep the promises she's made. Afterwards, you and your child may find yourselves doing some spring cleaning in your own dollhouse. A truly good read.

My very favorite dollhouse book

2006-07-19
If you or some little person you know likes dolls and doll houses, read this book to them. Big Susan is the name of the little girl who "owns" the doll house that the Doll family lives in. The story focuses on Christmas Night when the dolls come alive. It is a family story of love, sacrifice and sharing. It is a great book for little people who know their dolls can talk and come alive when they are asleep.
I checked this book out of the library as much as I could get away when I was a kid. My local library burned when I was in high school, and one of the library staff asked if there was anything I wanted as a souvenir. I asked for one thing, "Big Susan. I still have the book and reread it several times a year.

My favorite book from childhood

2006-04-04
I cannot believe it! I have been looking for this book for 53 years! I had read and loved it to death as a 7 year old - I borrowed it so many times from the school library that I practically wore it out. Once I became an adult I wanted to find this precious book for my own daughter and alas - it was no longer in print. I hunted and hunted!!! NOW - here it is again! I now can share this magical story with my granddaughter! I always thought that MY dollies came to life when I slept each night - that book proved it! A MUST for every little girl and boy to read. Pure magic!!!

Childhood revisited

2005-09-07
Big Susan and I became friends 45 years ago, give or take. But with moving etc. I didn't know where she was. Having seen her advertised I thought I would enjoy her again. My only children are cats, so I couldn't really share Susan with them, which may have been why I lost track of her. Having had a learning disability I read slowly when I was young, I'm much faster now, and remembering her so fondly I gave myself a treat.

Big Susan is a reminder of gentler and simpler times, when things ran on imagination and good will, and not on batteries and lasers. While I loved it, I tend to be from a less bombastic generation, but I still think this is a lovely book that should be enjoyed and imagined with.

BIg Susan

2005-07-07
A wonderful book written and illustrated a while back by renouned author and illustrator Elizabeth Orton Jones. Mz. Jones recently passed away and will be sorely missed in our community.

Big Susan by Elizabeth Orton Jones

2005-05-12
Mr. and Mrs. Doll and their six children, Nurse and the old Cook all lived in a house which had no front and belong to Susan. Susan was just an ordinary-sized little girl with taffy colored pigtails. But to the dolls she was a very Big, very Wonderful, very Important Person.

There was one short night in every year when they needed no help from Susan - that Wonderful Night when all Dolls come alive and can speak.

An exciting story full of ups and downs scaled to dollhouse proportions, full of sense and nonsense, fantasy and truth, with glimpses of the Christmas miracle that can happen anywhere - even in a dollhouse. A different sort of Christmas book, one that will be enjoyed at any time of the year and by the whole family.

Such a delightful, wonderful little book! 2005-02-13
I would have adored this book had I read it as a child. I am so pleased to have found this treasure to read to my children (ages 4 and 6). After reading this magical and touching little book, even my 6 year old son was inspired to play with our oft-forgotten dollhouse. They were off to tidy up the dollhouse which had been neglected so that the dolls would be happier. Thank you to Purple House Press for reprinting this lovely book, and for all the other out of print treasures you have reprinted!

Big Susan 2004-11-13
My mother read this book to my sister and me when we were small. It lived on in my memory all these years and I found the book again many years after my mother's death. All the wonderful images came rushing back as I turned the pages. I think this is a classic and am sending it to all the little girls I know, and donating it to our school library. It is a magical, wonderful, precious book.

The wonderful world of dolls! 2003-08-06
I loved this book as a child and now my own daughter loves it (and my son too)! The marvelous imagination of this book and the dolls that come to life when Big Susan isn't around is phenomenal! I would recommend this book to anyone, especially for those little girls at heart like myself :) It's a great read for young and old and perfect for Christmas.

Big Susan 2000-03-06
I love the idea of dolls coming alive Christmas Eve and I have always hoped it was true! Now my children read this wonderful book and I hope they will pass it on to theirs. Great illustrations and wonderful language by the dolls.