Even if this wasn't inspired by a true story it would be an incredible journey to speak of this doll and the comfort and support it could give to immigrant or refugee children entering a foreign country. Given that it IS a true story it becomes so much more!
A wonderful little comfort that any small child deserves is a special toy, blanket, plushy, doll, etc. This item can be anything really. For me it was a raggedy Ann handmade doll by my grandmother, for my sister a specialty doll from the 80's called Jammie Pies, and for my brother a little blue stuffed bunny.
This one item becomes a comfort like nothing else. It is often carried with them everywhere. It can be their friend, confident, hugging buddy, and/or the one constant that makes life easier for them.
This story and the lovely illustrations are perfect as a way to talk about random acts of kindness, the importance an item can have, and what comfort is. I wish I could buy this book, and a little doll or stuffy to go with it for every refugee/immigrant child that comes to Canada.

Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.

Our pre-school class enjoyed this story but it would probably be better for a bit older (we have 4-5 year olds). They didn't really understand the significance of the story being based on a true story but we were able to use the book to discuss how doing nice things for people who are new to their hometown or classroom can really make a big difference in helping their new friend feel welcome.

The power of comfort that the doll has to offer in a time of a big life change for a child is so universal and relatable and I think will resonate with kids.

“The Doll” was a very sweet story about a little girl and her family as they came over looking for asylum. As a refugee in a brand new country, the little girl was worried and afraid. When they arrived at the airport someone noticed this little girl, and decided to give them a doll. That doll was an act of kindness the little girl would never forget, and years later when she herself gets the chance to welcome a new refugee family, she passes the doll to the youngest of little girls.
Nhung N. Tran-Davies will have you hooked with ingenious descriptions, and smiling at the cleverness in words.
“The Doll” is a beautifully written and illustrated portrayal of how one small act of kindness can make a huge difference, even if we don't see it right away. Great reminder to be kind to one another. You never know the hardships that have been endured.

More than 40 years ago, Nhung Tran Davies received a doll as a gift from a little girl when she arrived in the US as a refugee from Vietnam. In 2016, her family sponsored a refugee family from Syria and she was able to give the doll to another little girl. That is the basis for the beautiful picture book The Doll. The story shows the challenges that refugees face and the importance of kindness. The doll itself watches over the first girl as she grows up and goes off to college to study to be a doctor. The doll comforts her and is a symbol of knowing that there are always people on your side. This is an amazing immigrant story as well as a story of empathy for those that are struggling.

The Doll by Nhung N. Tran-Davies is a moving picture book about immigration and the power of kindness. This picture book provides a heartrending peek into the challenges of having to flee one's home country as well as the power of a simple gift and the impact of welcoming immigrants (who in turn help to build our countries). This one would be a wonderful conversation starter both at home and in classrooms.

This book paints the picture of a little refugee girl being welcomed to a new country with an act of kindness. She received a doll from another girl as she entered the airport. Years later, she watched the news and saw how people were escaping Syria and seeking asylum, just like her family did. She went to the airport to welcome the refugees, bringing the doll to pass on the act of kindness that welcomed her into her new home. The story is told in such a poignant way, and at the end the author also describes how this is inspired by her own true story.
The refugee crisis is such an important topic to discuss, and this book could be a great resource to introduce this issue to kids in the classroom. I can already picture the questions and discussions that could arise from reading this book as a class! I would recommend this for grades 3 and up.

This book was a gift. I really appreciate Tran-Davies vulnerable sharing of her story. Based on her real-life events this book tells the story of a young girl refugee whose life is marked by a random act of kindness. It highlights how our actions have a ripple effect.

The doll symbolizes empathy, kindness, and a ray of hope. I thought it was so precious how, even though the child did not speak the language of the country she would hope to be her safe home, the welcoming message the doll represented was understood loud and clear. For that reason, I love the illustrator’s choice of having the same doll being gifted to a Syrian refugee decades later by our protagonist.

This was an eye opening and emotional read and I will share it with my students when the book is released. I work with new immigrants and I wonder how many have a similar story.

Thank you Nhung N. Tran-Davies, Second Story Press and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of The Doll in exchange for an honest review.

#TheDoll #NetGalley

In a story that perfectly encapsulates the sentiment of paying it forward, The Doll draws on author Nhung N. Tran-Davies experience as a “Boat Person” back in the 1970s during the war in Viet Nam. Illustrated by Ravy Puth, this beautiful, lyrical story will capture your heart.

At the airport, waiting for a family to arrive, a girl sits with a doll, ready to be gifted to a little girl as a sign of welcome. It’s a comfort to the little girl as she moves through girlhood to young adulthood, through high school and medical school, always watching over her, always making her feel welcome. When the opportunity arises to make another child feel welcome, we find the now grown up doctor at the airport, ready to gift a doll of welcome to a new child, a child arriving in Canada from war-torn Syria.

The Doll is an incredible, concrete story to share with children about kindness and how simple acts of generosity can change a person’s perspective, make them feel safe, make them feel welcome and help them throughout their lives. We need to show children these kindnesses through stories, real and imagined, about the power of goodwill and comfort.

The illustrations by Ravy Puth are striking, carrying the reader through the journey and telling the story along with the author’s words. There are moments of great sadness in the pictures as well as kindness and comfort.

I absolutely loved this picture book!
It is the story of a newcomer refugee and how a small act of kindness made her feel welcome to a place that becomes her home. Later, she will share feelings of welcome with others.

Her journey and what it means to be a refugee are discussed in language and visuals that are accessible to young children.

The authors note explaining how the story was inspired by real events, pushed my from touched to teary eyed. I cannot wait to share this heartfelt book with students.

This is a beautiful, emotional story that I cannot wait to own a copy of.
I somehow missed the sentence saying it was based on real events and was overcome with feelings once we reached the end and began reading about the real life story.
What an incredible and special story with gorgeous illustrations.
I would highly recommend this for families to read together and share a moment of humility, discussion, and love with one another.

The Doll, memoir by Dr. Nhung N. Tran-Davies, illustrated by Ravy Puth
PUB DATE: April 20, 2021

A young girl and her family escapes war-ridden Vietnam to arrive in a new country, Canada. She is gifted a doll that came to symbolize her new life and that she can find joy is new surroundings. This picture book memoir is beautiful in story and illustration.

When I read it to my 8-year-old daughter, I actually teared up. I saw the illustration of the “boat people” and for the first time explained to my daughter that her ba ngoai & ong ngoai (maternal grandma/grandpa) escaped Vietnam like these people on boats. It was treacherous. She was in awe and had no idea that her grandparents went through so much.

The story goes on with Tran-Davies, now a grown woman working hard and becoming a physician. My daughter saw that and exclaimed “like you mommy!” Tran-Davies then turns around to give this same doll to another refugee family from another country. This is absolutely amazing. There are not enough words to explain how I feel about a picture book that only has so many words itself.

Dr. Tran-Davies is a physician (like me!) and she founded the Children of Vietnam Benevolent Foundation. She spoke at the UN’s International Organization on Migration to help reduce hate speech and promote tolerance.

What a sweet story. Such a simple act of kindness and welcome for a scared child in a foreign land. All refugees should be welcomed as warmly. I think this would make a wonderful addition to a classroom. So many refugees in this world...so sad. Illustrations were wonderful

This story was absolutely beautiful, from the text to the illustrations. I loved the way the story came full circle from the little girl receiving the doll, to gifting it to another refugee child decades later. The colors in the illustrations are stunning. This is such an important piece of history for children to learn about and this presents it to them in a way they can understand, through the simple kindness of giving a doll to a scared little girl.

This book is the true story of the author's experience coming to the US as a Vietnamese refugee. I appreciated the overall message and call to action: Use what you have to help others who have less. I think this is especially important because Tran-Davies, as a former refugee, is now paying it forward to help other refugees who are in the same situation as she was. This is an important lesson: instead of dwelling on the past, you can use the capital you have gained to speak up and act in ways to support others.

Thank you to NetGalley and Second Story Press for the advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to Second Story Press & NetGalley for the review copy of THE DOLL by Nhung N Tran-Davies, illustrated by Ravy Puth.

This autobiographical picture book is based on the author's experience when as a child she was a refugee from Vietnam and immigrated to Canada. It is the story of how a simple gift can make a huge difference and when we are looking for comfort sometimes that includes comforting others.
A fantastic way to talk to children about the world in which we live and how we can show kindness and be welcoming to others.

A tired frightened little girl who was fleeing from Vietnam to find safety, was greeted with a lovely act of kindness when she arrived in her new country of Canada. A stranger, a very loving lady, stepped forward in the airport and handed her a doll.

Many years later the impact of that simple act still lingered in the now grown up woman's heart and she decided to grace another little refugee girl with a doll upon her arrival just like she had received.

This heartwarming story is sure to spark conversations about immigrants, their unimaginable struggles and how to accept and bless them when they arrive in your neighbourhood or in your classroom. The illustrations are extremely well done and enrich the story greatly. This story highlights compassion and empathy and is based on the author's own experience.

In Her Own Words





"This story is about a doll I was given when I first arrived in Canada, at the age of five, as a refugee from the Vietnam war 40 yrs ago. Adrienne, the young girl who gave me the doll remains a special part of my life. Her act of kindness 40 yrs ago ripples forth through the years as I, in turn, recently sponsored a Syrian refugee family. It was my turn to give the little Alma a doll. In 2018, the doll was displayed at Pier 21 Museum in Halifax, and for the next five years, she will be travelling across Canada to tell our story. "

I highly, highly recommend this book.

This is a beautiful book to approach the subject of refugees with young children. It's based on the author's experience of being a child refugee from Vietnam to Canada, and as an adult she passes along the kindness shown to her and welcomes a family of Syrian refugees. I would use this in my classroom to talk about the refugee crisis with my students, especially if there was a refugee family in our school community, to help the children develop empathy and understanding.

Picture book. An act of kindness towards a young immigrant girl- the gift of a doll- welcomes her to a new country. Decades later, that girl, now a doctor, passes her doll to another newcomer. Descriptive language and appealing illustrations make this a good read aloud to elementary age children to prompt discussions about the immigrant experience and encourage empathy.

This story is so sweet. It tells the tale of a girl who comes to the US and is met with kindness. Years later, the girl becomes a doctor and shows similar kindness to a new group of refugees.