The Doll Shop Downstairs

Nine-year-old Anna lives with her Russian immigrant Jewish parents and two sisters above her family's doll repair shop on the lower east side in New York City. When World War I interrupts their supply of spare doll parts from Germany and the business is threatened, Anna comes up with the idea of making their own dolls and helping with the war effort at the same time. Whether or not they have siblings, kids will relate to middle child Anna, who has to deal with a bossy older sister and babyish younger sister. The book is based on the true story of the inventor of “Madame Alexander” dolls, which still exist today.