William's Doll

William's Doll is written by Charlotte Zolotow and illustrated by William Pene Du Bois. This book is about a little boy named William who wants a baby doll more than anything. He gets teased and called a "siss" by his brother and the neighbor children. William's father doesn't understand why William would want a baby doll. His father gives him a basketball and train set to try to get William's mind off the doll. Although he enjoys the basketball and train set, William is still set on wanting a doll to care for. When his grandmother comes for a visit, William tells her about wanting a doll and how how his brother makes fun of him for it. William's grandmother goes out and buys him a doll. William's father gets angry and can't understand why he needed a doll. William's grandmother explains to his father that he needs it to love and care for so when he becomes a father he will know how to love and care for his child.

William's Doll is a controversial book as society is pressured to abide by gender roles- girls play with dolls and boys play with basketballs. I am not exactly sure how I feel about this book. I think to some extent it reinforces teasing and name calling for boys who play with dolls since William gets teased by everyone but his grandma. I sense that children reading this book would value majority's opinion and the opinion of other children over a grandma's. On the other hand, I think that the book has a genuine message. I like how the grandma says William needs the doll to learn to love and care for something, because one day William will be father and will need to know how love and care for his child. I thought William's doll had a really cute ending!