THE MEANEST DOLL IN THE WORLD

In the further adventures of best friends Tiffany Funcraft and Annabelle Doll, the two are accidentally carried to a strange home in a school backpack. There they encounter Princess Mimi, a small, vividly wicked doll, so bad that she’s good. Mimi, who’s convinced that she’s a real princess and will someday be queen of all the dolls, is terrorizing the other dolls in her house. When Tiffany and Annabelle help the frightened dolls overcome her, Mimi follows them home, intent on revenge. Annabelle understands that if the dolls choose not to be threatened by her, Mimi will make enough trouble to destroy herself. Wrapped in humor and adventure are serious considerations of self-esteem, the power of intimidation, and the nature of friendship. Selznick’s precisely detailed illustrations, opening with the most brilliant curtain-raiser in children’s literature, enhance the humor, fright, and chaos caused by Mean Mimi. With its indelible mingling of wit, action, characterization, and art, this stands alone, but will especially thrill expectant fans of the original Doll People. (Fiction. 7-11)