Cornhusk, Silk, and Wishbones: A Book of Dolls from Around the World

Dolls whether made with hollow heads to sneak goods across enemy lines during the Civil War or honored by faithful Balinese to please the goddess Dewi Sri--serve as cultural and historical ambassadors in Cornhusk, Silk, and Wishbones: A Book of Dolls from Around the World by Michelle Markel. Illustrated with photos, the A-Z entries run from Akuaba dolls (carried by Ashanti women who need help conceiving) to a Zulu doll (handed by a girl to the boy she hopes to marry). The concept is sound; the design, with its small typeface and staid color accents, looks institutional.