Nesthäkchen and Her Dolls facts for kids
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| Author | Else Ury |
|---|---|
| Original title | Nesthäkchen und ihre Puppen |
| Translator | Steven Lehrer |
| Illustrator | Robert Sedlacek |
| Country | US |
| Language | English |
| Series | Nesthäkchen, volume 1 |
| Genre | Fiction/Adventure |
| Publisher | SF Tafel |
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Publication date
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2016 |
| Media type | trade paper |
| Pages | 224 pp |
| ISBN | 1530642000 |
| Followed by | Nesthäkchen's First School Year |
A Nesthäkchen is the youngest child in a family. Else Ury wrote a famous book series about a girl named Annemarie Braun. She is a doctor's daughter from Berlin, Germany. Annemarie is slim and has golden blonde hair.
The Nesthäkchen series has ten books. It follows Annemarie from when she is a baby until she is an old woman with grandchildren. The first book is called Nesthäkchen and Her Dolls. It was first published in Berlin in 1913. This book tells the story of Annemarie's early life.
Contents
Meet Annemarie and Her Family
The main character is six-year-old Annemarie Braun. She was born around 1903. This means the first book takes place in Germany around 1909-1910. Her family lives in Charlottenburg, a part of Berlin.
Annemarie's father is Dr. Edmund Braun. Her mother, Elsbeth, is a housewife. Annemarie has two older brothers. Hans is the oldest and very good. Klaus is cheeky and adventurous. Annemarie is the youngest, so she is called "Nesthäkchen." She is also nicknamed "Lotte."
Who Else Lives with Annemarie?
Many people live in the Braun home. Hanne is the cook. She thinks of Annemarie as her own child. Frieda is the maid. Lena is Annemarie's nanny, who Annemarie calls "Fräulein."
The family also has pets. There is a dog named Puck. Annemarie also has a canary named Antics.
Annemarie's Extended Family
Annemarie has a grandmother. Her grandmother's sister is named Albertina. Annemarie's mother, Elsbeth, has a sister named Kate. Aunt Kate lives on a farm in Silesia called "Arnsdorf." She lives there with Uncle Henry and their children, Ellie, Herbert, and Peter.
Annemarie's Daily Adventures
Nesthäkchen and Her Dolls shares Annemarie's everyday adventures. These stories happen in 1909 and 1910. Annemarie is a "higher daughter." This means she is from a wealthy family. She is not allowed to play with other children in the courtyard. These children are from poorer families.
Annemarie and Her Dolls
Annemarie spends most of her time with her dolls. Her favorite doll is Gerda. The book often shows what the dolls are "thinking." They act like a moral guide for Annemarie. They also share Else Ury's messages. For example, "Annemarie knew that doll Gerda did not agree with…"
One day, Gerda's doll wig falls off. Annemarie cuts off one of her own braids. She believes it will grow on her bald doll's head.
Outdoor Fun and Mischief
When the house is being cleaned, Annemarie usually goes for a walk. She goes with her nanny. Annemarie hopes for rain. She heard that when it rains, "the barometer falls." So, she takes her father's barometer off the wall. She drops it on the floor to help it fall.
An organ grinder comes by. Annemarie forgets she is not allowed to play with other children. She dances with them in the courtyard. Then she runs with them behind the organ grinder. They run through the streets of Charlottenburg. Annemarie even trades her nice shoes for a sailor girl's clogs.
Visiting the Countryside
Annemarie visits her relatives at their farm, Arnsdorf. She is a city child who is used to being protected. At the farm, she gets to play freely outdoors for the first time.
School and Growing Up
Annemarie gets bored at home. So, her mother sends her to a nursery school. This was a very modern choice in the early 1900s.
The book ends with a Christmas celebration. Annemarie thinks about starting school soon. She holds a doll wedding. This is her way of saying goodbye to her toys.
Books for Girls: The Backfischroman
The Nesthäkchen books belong to a German book type called the Backfischroman. This means "teenage girl novel." These books describe a girl growing up. They were written for readers aged 12 to 16. A Backfisch was a young girl between 14 and 17 years old.
The Backfischroman was popular from 1850 to 1950. These stories often showed girls learning about society's rules. The stories usually ended with the heroine getting married. She would then become a Hausfrau, or housewife.
Popular Backfischroman Authors
Besides Else Ury, other successful Backfischroman authors include Magda Trott and Henny Koch. Emmy von Rhoden wrote Der Trotzkopf. This book features a lively girl named Ilse Macket. Ilse is similar to Annemarie. She is energetic and sometimes disobedient. But she is kind and honest, which makes her popular. Like Annemarie, Ilse is her father's favorite.
More Nesthäkchen Stories
Else Ury first planned to end the Nesthäkchen series with book six. This book was called Nesthäkchen Flies From the Nest. It described Nesthäkchen's marriage. However, her publisher received many letters from young fans. They begged for more Nesthäkchen stories.
After thinking about it, Ury wrote four more books. She even mentioned her first doubts in the seventh book, Nesthäkchen and Her Chicks.
About the Author: Else Ury
Else Ury was a German writer. She was born in Berlin on November 1, 1877. She wrote many children's books. Her most famous character is Annemarie Braun. Annemarie is a blonde doctor's daughter. Her life story is told in the ten Nesthäkchen books.
These books became very successful. A six-part TV series called Nesthäkchen was made in 1983. It was based on the first three books. A new DVD version came out in 2005. Millions of people have enjoyed Ury's stories.
