Got this at the library book sale. Miss the original cover so I used it here. It's definitely dated--white and gender essentialist among other things--but hey, it's from 1970 and I get why I lived it. I love how it opens with a fantastic(al) premise and knows its readers will just go with it (hooray for middle grade!). Who wouldn't want a tiny dog? Who didn't try to kiss their elbow and fly after reading this? And the ending is Dickensian! ( )

I'm indexing all the books my family owns on LibraryThing and had taken this one off the shelf to review today, leaving it on the kitchen counter. My wife recognized it as one of her childhood favorites that she hadn't looked at in years and despite protesting she was just going to look at it for a minute, she ended up reading the whole book through over lunch.

It seemed short, so I thought I'd give it a go too as I took a walk this afternoon, and I was quickly swept up in a gentle but still exciting tale of a little girl and her magical talking dog who come to the house of a stern old rich woman with a collection of expensive wind-up toys. Though she has no love for children, Mrs. Vancourt invites them in because she covets the little dog since it is about the same size as her toys and can do amazing tricks. Things are odd but mostly fine at first, but the dog is keeping secrets about the girl's parents and one of the wind-up toys does something unexpected one stormy day.

The story gets more magical and more engrossing as it slowly unfolds. The ending is a bit abrupt and too neat -- I would have loved one more chapter -- but it is still quite satisfying.

A happy little find from our own bookshelves! Treasures are everywhere! ( )

Sweet. ( )

I've been trying to kiss my elbow ever since I read this book over 35 years ago. ( )

One of my absolute favorites as a child. It was one of the first chapter books I read (about 6 years old). ( )