Did you have a doll house as a child? I vaguely remember having one of those little metal doll houses with plastic doll house furniture as a child in the '50s, but it did not survive my childhood (or perhaps the childhood of those siblings who came after me.) Regardless, such toys are happy memories. Of course, there are books to help you identify such doll houses and the furniture of that time. Check the list below for the titles and availability of those books.

Most children today are still fascinated with miniatures. Years ago, I built a doll house from a kit for my daughter. You can imagine the hours that such a project took, and to no avail! After three coats of blue paint (sanding between each coat,) my daughter was not captivated by its beauty or its magic. As she lost interest, so did I. So, for over twenty years that little house lived in the attic of my house, until recently. Now, after a renovation by a dear and talented co-worker, the little blue house is looking just as it should, complete with flooring, wall paper, and front steps. With new, inexpensive doll house furniture and some Pottery Barn miniature family members, I have a doll house to be enjoyed. Sometimes, the family baby doll winds up in the doll house oven, but she does fit, and I'm sure that was the question in the four-year-old's mind. Even if I never intended for it to be a house for He-Man and various super heroes, I'm happy to say that, thanks to my grandsons, those creatures are alive, well, and happily running up and down the stairwell of that little blue house. Let RCPL provide books to inspire you to create your own miniature playhouse. Begin with choosing your period style with Decorate a Doll's House: Authentic Period Styles from 1630 to the Present Day. Make some of your own furnishings with help from Doll House Décor: Creating Soft Furnishings in 1/12 Scale. Find ideas for the final touches in both Finishing Touches and Making Miniature Gardens. All these books are also listed below, with links to our catalog.