Audiobook · read by volunteers
Raggedy Ann Stories (version 2)
Johnny Gruelle (1880–1938)
Read by Zachary Brewster-Geisz, Mary Anderson, Beecher, Nichole Karl, Lucy Burgoyne (1950-2014), Sarah Jennings · 13 chapters · 1 h 49
About the book
A rag doll with a smile painted on her face is not a thing to be afraid of, and yet in the nursery something marvellous is going on after the lights go out. Raggedy Ann comes alive, and she and her friends among the toys have adventures of their own. In these gentle tales she learns a lesson, deals with the washing, and takes part in a kite flight, always cheerful and always kind. Johnny Gruelle is said to have created the character for his daughter Marcella, whose own rag doll gave him the idea, and the warmth of that origin is easy to hear. The language is simple, the humour soft, and the world of the playroom is described with affection. Thirteen short recordings, a little under two hours, and a bedtime companion for children and for grown-ups who remember their own toys.
Introduction
Johnny Gruelle (1880-1938) was an American cartoonist and illustrator. According to the story that has long been told about the character’s origin, he gave his daughter Marcella a rag doll on which he drew a smiling face, and the doll became the basis for Raggedy Ann. Raggedy Ann Stories appeared in 1918, and it is often described as the beginning of the character’s long career in books and toys.
The stories are short and self-contained, which makes the book ideal for reading aloud. Each tells of a small adventure in the nursery: a lesson learned, a day of washing, a kite. They are written in a plain, friendly voice, with the toys speaking and acting much as children do, and they teach kindness without lecturing.
This is a second version of the book in the LibriVox catalogue. It begins with a preface and a dedication and then continues with the tales one by one. There are thirteen files in all, lasting a little under two hours. The reading was shared among LibriVox volunteers.
It is a good book to put on at bedtime, on a car journey, or whenever a quiet half hour is needed. The stories have remained in print for over a century because they are small, warm and sincere. The tales are brief enough to enjoy one at a time, and they make a gentle bridge between the waking day and sleep. Children who know the doll from picture books or toy shops may be pleased to meet her in her original stories, and parents may enjoy hearing the simple humour once again.
Public domain
Johnny Gruelle died in 1938: the work is in the public domain in Switzerland, more than 70 years after the author’s death.
The LibriVox volunteers dedicated this recording to the public domain.
Sources : LibriVox page · Files at the Internet Archive · Original text