Lee Slater

This book tells the story of how Ruth, a child of Jewish immigrants from Poland, became the person behind one of the best-selling toys of all time -- the Barbie doll.

After watching the recent Barbie movie and seeing how they included Barbie's inventor in a minor role, I became intrigued about this woman and learning more about her. It made sense to start with a biography designed for children as those usually hit the high points and can be read quickly.

This particular title is almost more biography of the Barbie doll than it is of Ruth Handler, but it did provide a brief overview of her life. It also had lots of little fun facts, like Barbie's full name and fictional hometown. In addition, photographs are included of Barbie dolls over the years alongside photographs of Ruth and her family over time.… (meer)