The Good, The Bad, and The Barbie

The Good, The Bad, and The Barbie: A Doll's History and Her Impact On Us
By Tanya Lee Stone
Viking, 2010.
130 pages. Nonfiction.

Tanya Lee Stone's The Good, The Bad, and The Barbie: A Doll's History and Her Impact On Us is a fantastic look into the life and times of Barbie. Stone discusses the business savvy of Barbie's inventor, Ruth Handler, and the epic rise of Mattel. Handler created Barbie to fill a void in children's toys. She noticed that her daughter Barbara (the inspiration behind the name "Barbie") had only two options: to play mother to her plastic baby dolls, or to play with her paper dolls until they were ratty. Handler was inspired to create a middle ground between plastic baby dolls and paper fashion dolls. Thus, Barbie was born.

This book contains photographs of Barbie throughout the years, as well as quotes from children, professors, celebrities, designers, and authors. The most interesting facet about this book is that it doesn't take a definitive stance on Barbie: good or bad? She is, and always has been, a divisive doll, and this is reflected in Stone's book. She thoroughly examines whether Barbie is a harm to the feminist movement, or a boost for girls' hopes and dreams. The Good, The Bad, and The Barbie: A Doll's History and Her Impact On Us features history's most beautiful and controversial toy- what's not to love?

Comments

Review: Umami

Umami By Jacob Grant New York: Viking, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, 2024. Picture Book. Umami is a little penguin who is sick of eating the same thing everyday, cold fish --ugh! She becomes determined to find new foods and flavors, so Umami begins a journey across the sea in search of something different to eat. She reaches a place with a plethora of delicious options, and tries bitter, sweet, sour, and foods with umami (just like her name!) among others. Umami decides to bring all these delicious new flavors back for the other penguins to try in a feast. But, will the other penguins enjoy this new experience? Filled with charm and humor, Umami is a diverse romp through a universal experience --am I willing to try something new? What will it be like? The idea of trying new foods and flavors make it especially relatable, and the appealing illustrations will have many readers ready to hop out on a culinary adventure. A humorous and sweet ending, caps off this delig...

Review: Faker

Faker By Gordon Korman New York: Scholastic Press, 2024. Fiction. 214 pages. 12-year-old Trey is used to starting over at a new school -- he has the routine perfectly memorized: make new friends, introduce his dad to the wealthy parents of his new friends, and "Houdini" themselves out of there before they get caught running their latest scam. Trey's dad is a master con artist, and Trey has just been promoted to full-partner. Their new scheme for the next big score brings them to the affluent suburb of Boxelder, TN where Trey's dad has cooked up a fake electric car company for investors to buy into. The only problem is that Trey is starting to grow tired of moving around and never putting down roots, especially after forming a fast friendship with Logan and developing a crush on Kaylee, a socially conscious girl in his class. As Trey longs for a normal life, is there any way he can convince his dad to get out of the family business? Gordon Korman is a perennial favorit...

Five Faves: Picture Books with Festive Treats

In my family, December marks the beginning of the holiday season, where we get to spend time together and do all of our favorite traditions. And, of course, eat lots of yummy food. I love that holidays look different for different families, but so many families have special foods they eat during the holidays. These are some of my favorite picture books about families making (and eating!) special holiday treats. These books might even give you new ideas of festive treats to try! The Last Tamale Written by Mendiola Orlando Illustrated by Teresa Martinez New York: Harper, 2024. Picture Book. Once a year, Luis' whole family gets together for their annual tamalada -- a party where they make tamales using a super-secret recipe. It's all love, family, and tradition until there is only one tamale left. Who will get it? It's an all-out family battle to decide who gets the last tamale. Colorful and humorous, this story is perfect for the holidays or whenever your family likes to enjo...

Provo Library Children's Book Blog

Search This Blog