Lucy Wolcott and her younger sister Glory are two young orphans who have no one in the world but each other. Every day, they labor from dawn to dusk in the bleak, cold shelter of a public workhouse in old London Town, where there is little to eat and the nights are cold and damp. The only light in their lives comes from the stories that Lucy invents about a family she barely remembers, and a doll named Morning Glory who Lucy promises is destined to return to them someday.
When Lucy finds an old, discarded doll, Glory is certain that it’s the long-lost Morning Glory. But Morning Glory is no ordinary doll, and how she leads the girls to the most surprising turns of fortune makes for a heartwarming story that brims with love, hope, and the truest spirit of Christmas.
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"This is absolutely one of my all time favourite books; I've read it at least once a year since I first came upon it. It's a sad but heartwarming tale of two sisters placed in unfortunate circumstance and their struggle to find solidity in their lives. Really cute."
— Tawna (5 out of 5 stars)
“Bernadette Dunne’s narration is solid, making the characters real. Dunne’s versatility, as she ably differentiates the characters, highlights the extremes of poverty and wealth in the lives of the different social classes and leaves the reader with a warm, hopeful feeling.”
— AudioFile“Imagine that 150 years ago, Charles Dickens decided to write a book just for little girls: a touching tale of not one but two deserving orphans…Woodruff has spun just such a magical story…A ‘dollightful’ surprise for Santa to tuck under the Christmas tree, perhaps in the arms of an old-fashioned doll.”
— Kirkus Reviews" About orphans. Really nice read. I liked it. "
— Madison, 2/14/2014" This is a sweet, quick read, with a lovely and heart-warming relationship between the two sisters. It's sort of like a shorter, less complex Dickens novel, and with girls as the main characters. "
— Susannah, 1/21/2014" nothing in this world is as g reat as stories from the family. a small heart can be big enough for me "
— Casandra, 1/15/2014" My mother-in-law loves this book. I had a hard time getting through the heart breaking beginning for these two little girls because I kept thinking of my own little girls. "
— Danica, 12/18/2013" This story is beautiful. I love it. "
— Akila, 12/16/2013" I am currently reading this book with Hannah. It has short chapters which is perfect for short attention spans. "
— Sara, 10/30/2013" A very sweet moral tale of two loving orphan sisters who find themselves on their own in the world. "
— Brianna, 9/9/2013" I read this book when I was kid! I loved it. I just found it on here and just seeing the cover gives me all sorts of nostalgia :) "
— Nikita, 8/11/2013" No matter how old I am, this book still makes me cry just like it did when I was ten. This one is worth reading more than once. "
— Serena, 7/28/2013" This book is so good, I read it almost every christmas season. "
— Kaycee, 5/17/2012" I remember reading this in...maybe 5th grade and absolutely loving it. It must be good because it was certainly a book that some parts still stick clearly in my memory and I think about sometimes, and I haven't read it in six years. "
— Meghan, 1/21/2011" I read this book in middle school and loved it. I still read it every december now. =) "
— ♥Bree♥, 5/4/2010" This book is adorable and cozy and Christmasy and orphans and dollish. Good stuff. "
— Kelly, 1/23/2010" Charming and heart-warming little story. This is a book I would have especially loved as a young reader. "
— Bethany, 7/17/2009" A heartwarming Christmas tale. Read this to my girls. It's touching and wonderfully written. "
— Lila, 5/17/2009" I listened to this on Playaway. The British accent of the reader was a real plus. "
— Jessie, 3/4/2009" I really liked the historical details. A good book for girls who liked "A Little Princess," and would also make a good Hallmark Christmas movie. "
— Nina, 11/20/2008" I loved this book so much! I read it countless times and each time I loved it all the same. "
— Yuki0luv, 8/1/2008" a real tear jerker... and very inspiring... your creative jucies will most definately be flowing! "
— Kathy, 1/29/2008" i read this in second grade and loved it! i attached to the characters and never frogot it "
— Hope, 2/9/2007" poor lucy and glory feel sorry for them.makes you feel different about the olden times. you sould change it :) "
— Gemma, 4/24/2006" I read this book in the 5th grade, and loved it. I'm in eleventh grade now, and this book has hung in the back of my mind ever since. "
— Brandi, 11/1/2005" Beautifully written with a good ending "
— Kaylie, 8/20/2005" This story takes place in the mid 1800s in England. A very touching book. "
— Connie, 5/10/2005" great sad story that ended with great happiness. reminded me a bit of oliver twist but in a lady perspective. "
— Isabel, 2/2/2005Elvira Woodruff is the author of many popular novels. Her books have won numerous awards and honors. The hundreds of letters from children that she receives each year keep her excited about writing. She lives in Martin’s Creek, Pennsylvania, where she keeps a garden that is filled with morning glories.
Bernadette Dunne is the winner of numerous AudioFile Earphones Awards and has twice been nominated for the prestigious Audie Award. She studied at the Royal National Theatre in London and the Studio Theater in Washington, DC, and has appeared at the Kennedy Center and off Broadway.