Trying to remember the name of a book. Utterly vague description inside yet I know someone will know. ...

[NKF]

About a girl who has dolls who live in a pencil case. Oone doll has a name like Miss Orange Blossom. Possibly witten by someone like Rumer Godden. Certainly not a nobody.

Ring any bells?

[NKF]

Thta was meant to say one doll.

[Wallace]

Sounds vaguely familiar. Don't worry someone will know

[Onlyaphase]

Was that the book where the little girl built a model Japanese house for the little Japanese dolls? Desperately trying to remember the name..

[NKF]

It's something to do with being lonely and the dolls help with that. It's driving me mad.

[WinnieThePooh]

this site might help you.

[NKF]

Yes. Miss Happiness and Miss Flower. And yes the Japanese dolls house. Oh, thanks very much.

[nooka]

I think that you mean Miss Happiness and Miss Flower, although the pencil case was for keeping their bedding. There is a sequal called Little Plum, and there was another baby doll too, but I can't remember it's name. Rumer Godden wrote quite a few books about dolls.

[Bluestocking]

I don't think Little Plum was a sequel - it's the one about the family who live next to a snooty rich girl ("Gem TJ, tall and slender, she's got legs like a crooked fender") and the doll or dolls bring them together.

[nooka]

It is the sequal, honest! The little girl (Nona) from the first book lives with her cousins, and they live next to Gem - it may be that her doll is Little Plum and Belinda's is Little Peach (thinking about it I'm sure that's right). I read them a few months ago

[Bluestocking]

Thanks, Nooka, you are of course right.

[NKF]

What age group is it for?

[chonky]

Oh I loved that book. There used to be a really dog eared copy at my grandma's (quite possibly my aunt's or my mum's). I'd love to know where it is now.

[Fauve]

We love Rumer Godden - I read The Doll's House to my dd, aged 9, and I still think about it. Four Dolls was equally moving. I'll have to try these, too - thanks.

[Shitemum]

I just bought 'Miss Happiness and Miss Flower' off ebay yesterday!
'Little Plum' is the sequel and there's another called 'The Dollshouse'.

Am going to read them to DD1 as her first chapter books, after 'My naughty little sister', that is.