Hitty, Her First Hundred Years facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Hitty, Her First Hundred Years

Author	Rachel Field
Illustrator	Dorothy P. Lathrop
Country	United States
Language	English
Genre	Children's novel
Publisher	Macmillan
Publication date	1929
Media type	Print (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages	207

Hitty, Her First Hundred Years is a classic children's book by Rachel Field. It was first published in 1929. This amazing story won the Newbery Medal in 1930. This award is given for the best American children's book.

The book is told by a wooden doll named Hitty. Her full name is Mehitabel. She was made in the 1820s. Hitty then travels all over the world. She has many different owners during her long life.

In 1999, Susan Jeffers and Rosemary Wells updated Hitty's story. They made it simpler and added a new part. This new part was about Hitty's adventures during the American Civil War.

Hitty's Amazing Adventures

This book tells the story through the eyes of a small wooden doll. Her name is Mehitabel, or Hitty for short. She was carved in the early 1800s. A traveling seller made her from a special piece of wood. This wood came from a Mountain Ash tree.

How Hitty Was Made

Hitty was made for a little girl named Phoebe Preble. Phoebe lived on Great Cranberry Island in Maine. This happened during a winter when Phoebe's father was away at sea. Hitty remembers hearing her own origin story many times.

The Old Peddler treasured the small piece of wood. He had brought it all the way from Ireland. Mountain-ash wood was thought to bring good luck. It also protected against bad magic. That is why he always carried it in his pack.

The peddler usually traveled from May to November. This was when the roads were clear. But one year, snow trapped him far north. He had to stay at the Preble House. Mrs. Preble and Phoebe were very happy to have his help. He stayed there until spring.

Hitty's Travels Begin

The book describes Hitty's many adventures. She gets separated from Phoebe. Then she travels from one owner to another. This happens over a hundred years. Hitty visits many different places. These include Boston, New Orleans, India, and the South Pacific.

She gets lost at sea at one point. Another time, she is hidden in a horsehair sofa. She is also left behind in a hayloft. Hitty even becomes part of a snake-charmer's show. The famous writer Charles Dickens picks her up too.

Hitty's Return Home

Eventually, Hitty arrives at a summer home in Maine. This house turns out to be the original Preble residence. It is where she first lived. From there, she is bought at an auction. She goes to an antique shop in New York. There, she sits among bigger and fancier dolls. These dolls are made of porcelain and wax. It is in this shop that Hitty writes down all her amazing memories.

The story of Hitty was inspired by a real doll. Rachel Field bought this doll. Today, the doll lives at the Stockbridge Library Association. This library is in Stockbridge, Massachusetts.

Book Updates

In 1999, the children's book author Rosemary Wells and illustrator Susan Jeffers created a new version. It was called Rachel Field's Hitty: Her First Hundred Years. This version was an illustrated storybook.

A children's literature expert, Cathryn M. Mercier, reviewed this new book. She noted that it removed some old-fashioned words. It also changed some parts that might be seen as problematic today. However, Hitty's unique personality became a bit less strong in this updated version.

Another book about Hitty was published in 2004. It is called Hitty Preble of the Cranberry Isles, Maine. Wini Smart and Bruce Komusin wrote it. This book was published by the Great Cranberry Island Historical Society.