Living doll

Courtesy Random House Children’s Books

Author Kate Bernheimer’s first book for children, The Girl in the Castle Inside the Museum (Schwartz & Wade, $17) imagines a wistful resident of a toy mansion—a seemingly porcelain figure who longs for real, human companionship. Nicoletta Ceccoli’s haunting illustrations enrich the spare text and will enchant the kind of dreamy child who wonders what goes on in the dollhouse when she’s asleep. Ages 4 to 8.