After her mother has a new baby, little Elizabeti wants a baby of her own to hold and cuddle. She has no doll but finds a rock that is just the right size and she names the rock Eva. As Elizabeti's motehr cares for the baby, Elizabeti mimics her actions with Eva--feeding and burping her rock, changing its diapers, and tying it to her back with a kanga while she does her daily chores. When Eva the rock diappears one day, readers will be as surprised as Elizabeti to discover where she went, and they will find the resolution satisfying. Although the Tanzanian village setting will be unfamiliar to most children in the United States, they will recognize the warm family nurturing and Elizabeti's resourceful imagination. Highly Commended, 1999 Charlotte Zolotow Award. (Ages 3-7)

Ezra Jack Keats Book Award, Ezra Jack Keats Foundation
Best Children's Books of the Year, Bank Street College of Education
Best Books of the Year, School Library Journal
Notable Children's Book, American Library Association (ALA)
All-Time Best Books for Big Kids, Parents.com
Best Children's Book Award, Peace Corps Writers
Charlotte Zolotow Award - Highly Commended Title, Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
Children's Books Mean Business, Children's Book Council (CBC)
Choices, Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)

In Spanish. A young Tanzanian girl finds a special doll, and realizes how much she loves the doll when she almost loses her.

Upon the arrival of her new baby brother, Elizabeti decides she needs a doll she can care for the way her mother cares for the new baby. After looking around her village, Elizabeti finds the perfect doll to love, and names her Eva.

When Mama changes the new baby's diaper, Elizabeti changes Eva. When Mama sings to the baby, Elizabeti sings to Eva. And one day when Eva turns up lost, Elizabeti realizes just how much she loves her special doll.

Translated from Elizabeti's Doll, La muñeca de Elizabeti is a universal tale of love and tenderness that will touch readers of all ages.