The background This is the story of a rag doll called Efra by her very young owner. The original was made for Alan, then six months old, by his mother who showed very little thought as to practicalities. The pristine white towelling material she chose kept getting dirty so it was washed frequently. Between the washing and the rough games Efra played with Alan she lost her hair, her features and the very towelliness that made her so appealing. So it came to pass that one year before Christmas when Alan was going to get plenty of new toys the said mother thought a good idea to ask him if he minded sending Efra on holiday to France, where the family had just been. Alan agreed without hesitation and all was well for months, while his mother kept observing him for any signs of distress that would show he was missing the doll. As he did not, one day during her thorough Spring Cleaning as she sorted out cupboards she found the doll and she decided it was safe to put Efra in the dustbin. Unfortunately it was clear that Alan missed Efra after all because when getting ready to go on holiday to France as they did every year Alan lit up and said ‘Goody! We’ll meet Efra and bring her back!’ His mother still has not recovered from the appalling feelings of guilt that descended on her at that moment.
Here they are going for a walk with Grandpa round the kitchen.
First edition December 2004 Second edition October 2008 Third ( eBook ) edition December 2015
This book was written, illustrated, designed and published by the children’s Granny and it is not for sale under any circumstances.