Some friends, sticking up their noses at the sewing machine & supplies that mom gets Fanny for her birthday. I wish I had half the talent to sew and salvage-craft that Fanny does! And the silly friends will waste the rest of their lives chasing trends and never being satisfied, no matter how much money they waste or makeup they wear.

As Betsy says in her review, this book could have been, if created by one with less talent, twee, or didactic, or just stupid. However, it's heartwarming and fun, and oh just wonderful

Oh, and to those who accuse it of being 'girly' -- not really. Boys should learn to sew, too. My son and I just saved big bucks by figuring out how to turn extra flat sheets into fitted sheets. ( )

Fanny's mother won't buy her a single one of the popular Connie dolls despite the fact that her friends have many: "Because I don't like the way Connie dolls look." (think Bratz dolls) Fanny makes her own doll, Annabelle, that she brings to play with her friends' Connie dolls. Her doll is met with silence and feeling somewhat embarrassed, Fanny takes her home and stuffs her in a drawer. But that night, the doll "calls" to her and Fanny can't leave her there any longer. Yes, Annabelle is different but she is special. Once Fanny embraces that, there is no stopping her. She proudly brings Annabelle to play dates and furiously sews her new clothes.

Nothing pleases me more than to see my daughters making things with their hands. Their imaginations breathe life into their creations. One of my favorite pages in the book was of Annabelle lying in the drawer and smiling up at Fanny. A moment of recognition of the joy that is found in what is different. My girls were up and running after hearing this story. Paper dolls, cloth dolls, and entire wardrobes. I think Fanny is sure to inspire many a young girl. Maybe even us big girls, too. ( )

Fanny makes her own doll after her mother refused to buy a 'Connie Doll' (something akin to the Bratz dolls). She discovers that even though the doll isn't as fancy as Connie, it is special because she made it herself. ( )