Hitty, Her First Hundred Years by Rachel Field published in 1929 is now in the public domain. This Newbery Medal winner follows the history of a doll and her many adventures. It is often included on favorite homeschool reading lists.
Readers learn about life in the 19th century from a doll who had her start in Maine and travels through many adventures spanning 100 years. Mostly, Hitty is left behind for another to find.
Even now, after all these years, I can still hear the rustle of the people rising about me and their voices singing all together:
Praise God from whom all blessings flow,
Praise Him all creatures here below. . . .It made me feel solemn right down to the soles of my wooden feet.
The sermon and prayers were so long I gave up trying to follow them. As for Phoebe, she first grew fidgetty, then slumped back against her mother to take a nap. It was in this way that my mishap occurred. I suppose the muff was dangling from her hand as she slept. Gradually, her hold must have loosened, for next thing I knew I was falling headfirst out of my snug sealskin hiding place to the floor.
She travels by sea. She is carried by crows. Endures a shipwreck. Is captured by island natives. Gets lost in India. Is adopted by a sweet child. And is subsequently, and purposefully, left behind by the “sweet child.”
One might say, Hitty gets her comeuppance and comedownance. But in the end, Hitty “sees” things; things that may just get us thinking and “seeing” things ourselves.
Rachel Field was the daughter of a doctor. Her mother loved to read to her and she became an excellent writer very early on:
…and took every literature and writing course that was offered.
The book won the Newbery Award in 1929. And Rachel Field was the first woman to receive the award.
Field is the author of another one of our favorites, Prayer for a Child, which won the 1945 Caldecott.
Hitty makes an excellent read aloud with plenty of opportunities for discussions.
And now — it is free!
Free eBook
Suggestions
Ask your child to do one or more of the following:
- After reading a chapter aloud, have him provide an oral narration.
- Older students can provide a written narration.
- What is a favorite scene? Describe the scene and illustrate it on Drawing and Writing Paper.
- Hitty has an encounter with Mr. Dickens. Take a side trip!
- Learn more about Maine.
- Where did Hitty learn about the man swallowed by the big fish? Read the story.
Additional Resources
Hitty, Her First Hundred Years
Paperback version for those interested.
Newbery Winners
Newbery winners reviewed or mentioned here.
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