The Mary Frances Housekeeper; Adventures Among the Doll People by Jane Eayre Fryer is my first completed book in 2012. I've actually been reading it aloud to Becky on and off for several weeks. This book was written back in 1914 and it is a charming didactic sort of book that teaches little girls about housekeeping duties by telling the story of Mary Frances and how she helps her paper dolls get a house, furniture, clothes and an automobile among other things. The dialogue is quite dated as is the representation of the 'colored' maid and chauffeur. We had to have a little bit of a talk about stereotypes. However what comes through is the kindness of everyone, both Mary Frances' family, her mother, brother and father, as well as the doll family. It is quite comical at points. And it is fascinating to read the homey instructions for how to make an invalid's bed, how to do wash, how to dust properly, etc.
The neatest thing though about this particular Mary Frances book is that it comes with the paper dolls. Becky liked to play with them while I read. And inside the book there are colored plates showing the cut outs for making the furniture. It is really darling!
Jane Eayre Fryer wrote a whole Mary Frances series of books about cooking, gardening and knitting and crocheting. I love the cookbook one. I love to read recipes from the olden days!
This book is very enjoyable if you want to cozy up with your daughter and work out your domestic impulses! The stereotyping of the maid and chauffeur are regrettable however.
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Sounds like a cute, but educational book.
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