About the Bookstore Browse Aisles Search Desk Shopping Basket Book Trade Terms Just Released! Return Policy Help Here is the full reference card for this book... If you'd rather place an order by talking to one of our cheerful order desk clerks, please call 1-888-232-4444 (USA and Canada only) or 250-383-6864. From Europe, ring our UK order desk clerk at local rate number 0845 230 9601 (UK only) or 44 (0)1865 722 113. Amy's Birthday Doll by Kenneth James Newbrook 101 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #03-2268; ISBN 1-4120-1890-0; US$14.50, C$16.65, EUR12.00, £8.50 Ken and Spot travel back in time with a doll than can talk, Spot also talks, making for a great adventure, when they turn up at his great, great grandfather's wedding. Read more! about the book      about the author      sample excerpts or Table of Contents      catalogue info About the Book The story takes Ken and his dog Spot on an adventurous journey back in time to the year 1867, to deliver a doll to a little girl who lost it while on a day out with her dad. Ken realises he is in the same year and town where his great grandfather was married to Mary Riles. The doll and Ken's dog can both talk, and they all somehow end up taking a big part in his great grandfather's wedding. The reader is kept guessing as to what will happen next. About the Author I am 61 years of age and have been writing children's books for several years. My last one was entitled "Roman Smugglers". I have seven grandchildren who were the reason I started writing stories; I used to give them one of my stories to read and they would ask for more to give to their friends. I live in the North East of England and used to travel the world as a Sandblaster. I now no longer travel away from home but work on my local river, The River Tyne.

Sample Excerpts or Table of Contents

It was a nice warm night, just as well as we had no tent or shelter of any sort.

'Ken why don't I go into Doveridge Village and see if I can pick up any information.'

'That's a good idea Spot, try and find out what year we have arrived in, it must be summer as the fields we have passed are full of crops ready to be harvested.'

'Right then Ken. I will not be very long.'

'Just be very careful Spot; do not take any silly risks and keep out of sight if you see anybody.'

'You always say that, but don't you worry Ken, I will play it safe.'

'Good luck.'

He trotted off toward the village; I could still see one or two lights on in the houses from the oil lamps.

Ruth popped her head out of my jumper.

'So far so good up to now Ruth.'

'I am dying to see my Liz again Ken.'

'I hope we can reunite you with her, it will be a big surprise to her, getting back her favourite doll.'

'I am a very special doll you know Ken.'

'Oh how's that?'

'Look at my face and you will see.'

'You have a lovely face Ruth.'

'But I am different Ken, take a good look.'

'Well I don't know much about dolls, a doll is a doll to me Ruth. How are you different.'

' My face, look it is made of china, not like other dolls, they are made of cloth or wood.'

'Yes it is Ruth I never took any notice before, yes your very beautiful.'

'And it's not just any old china Ken, but a special kind of china.'

'Why is it so special? You will have to tell me Ruth.'

'The factory where Liz worked had received an order from the Empress of Russia, for a Nine hundred and eighty-piece dinner service. It was the first ever Cream China to be made, it was a new invention of the Wedgwood factory, it was a cream glaze Finnish.'

'Yes I can see that now Ruth, it is as I have just said very beautiful.'

'As I was saying there was some china clay left over, from the Empress of Russia's dinner service order. One of the boys who worked in the clay pit took the spare piece of clay that was left over and asked one of the men to make me with it. It was a new idea, and I was the first and only doll made with that cream Finnish glaze from the dinner service.'

'Phew you are very special Ruth, in fact I might not take you back to Liz, you must be worth a lot of money. I think I will keep you.'

'Ooohhhooh.'

'Don't start crying Ruth, I am only kidding, I will get you back to Liz.'

Spot came running through the woods to where I was sitting against a tree.

'That didn't take long Spot. What that you have in your mouth? Lets have a look, ah it's a poster.'

'What dose it says then?

'I opened it up and read out to Spot what was on it.'

(Doveridge farmers ploughing competition *9th June 1861 all welcome to take part, Two Gold Sovereigns for the winner.)

'1861 that's eleven years later than from when you left Ruth, how old was Liz can you remember?'

'She was fourteen when she lost me.'

'That makes her twenty five now, all grown up into a young woman, she could be married or anything by now.'

'Oohh she won't want me now, ooohhoo.'

'There you go again, don't cry Ruth that won't help things.'

'But she won't want me now, not if she is all big, and grown up.'

'She might love you and want you more than ever now.'

'She will?

'Some girls like to keep the things they had when they were children.'

'Not dolls Ken.'

'Yes, dolls Spot.'

Spot gave me one of his funny looks.

'Take no notice of him Ruth. Liz would love to have you back. When she gets to hold you in her arms again after all this time, you will bring back memories of the lovely times you both shared together when she was growing up. And you being made out of that special china clay with the glaze Finnish you will be, as I said very valuable to Liz, you are like royalty.'

'Do you think so Ken?

'Yes you are a very special Doll.'

'How is she like Royalty Ken?

'Because she is related to the Empress of Russia's dinner service.'

'What service Ken?

'I will explain to you later Spot, now let us get some sleep, we still have a long way to go, before we reach Stoke- on-Trent, I mean Fenton.'

I woke up to a beautiful summer morning, the sun was shining in a clear blue sky, and it was only 5 oclock.

'I could do with a nice cup of tea and something to eat, what would you like Spot.'

Spot didn't answer. I sat up and looked around for him.'

He was nowhere to be seen. What could he be up to now?

If he had heard something while we were sleeping, it was a wonder he hadn't woken me up.

'Did you see where Spot went to Ruth.'

'He went over that way about five minutes ago.'

I started to walk in the direction Ruth told me Spot had run off in.

I heard what sounded like running water. It couldn't be the river Trent where the watermill was. That was in the other direction.

I pushed through some thick bushes and stepped into a clearing, it brought me out onto the bank of a small river, Spot appeared from nowhere.

'You all right Ken?

'What you doing Spot? Why did you leave without waking me up?

'I could smell smoke Ken, so I though I would investigate to see where the smoke was coming from. And if it had been travellers, they might of given us something to eat for our breakfast.'

'Spot don't ever do that again.

I know you thought you were helping by getting something to eat for us, but you heard what that farmer we met yesterday said about being careful of strangers around these parts.'

'Sorry Ken.'

'Come on lets get ourselves back on the road to Doveridge, we still have a long way to go.

Where was the smoke from then, did you find out.'

'Yes Ken, two men were sitting beside a fire having breakfast, I didn't like the look of them, they were scruffy, one of them was looking into a sack and laughing about something, that's why I was coming back to you, creepy they were.'

'You see Spot, that is why we have to be careful of strangers.'

'You are right Ken.'

'We will have to make up for lost time so we won't stop in Doveridge as we had planned. We still have a long way to go, so it's best if we will push on.'

Going through the village of Doveridge we came upon a small crowd of people outside the village church, as we walked by them someone shouted to me.

'You there hold on a minute.'

I looked over to see who had shouted.

'Hold it right their sir.'

It was a policeman calling out to me.

'You want me officer.'

'Yes sir. I would like to ask you a few questions.'

'What about.'

'What is your name, and where have you come from May I ask.'

I told him my name, and explained I was on my way to Fenton from Burton.

'Have you been in the village long Ken.'

'No sir, my dog and me are just passing through, as I said on our way to Fenton, has there been some sort of trouble officer.'

'Not trouble, but a robbery from the church, someone's been in the church and stole all the silver, have you seen anyone else on your travels lately.'

'We did see two men early on this morning.'

'Where?

'Down by the river. They looked a funny pair if you ask me.'

'How do you mean, funny?

'Well they were having something to eat beside a camp fire, they were scruffy looking and had a sack with them, they were laughing as though something they had in the sack was funny.'

'Can you show us whereabouts it was you saw these two men.'

'Yes sir.'

We backtracked with the policeman and the rest of the crowd. We went through the woods and took them to where we saw the two Ken.'

'Is this the spot here.'

'Yes Sir and they were sitting right here.'

'Looks like he is telling the truth Jake.' said the policeman to one of the men, pointing to the remains of a fire, he bent down and put his hand over the ashes. 'They are still warm.'

'Yes officer as I told you this is where they had their breakfast, right here; they could be anywhere by now.'

'We must find them Ken, even if it is to eliminate them from our equerries'

'Spot see if you can pick up their trail.'

Spot started to sniff around where the two men had been sitting.

One of the men asked.

'Can that dog understand you.'

'Ssshhh.' I said. 'He is trying to pick up their scent.'

Spot zig zagged a few times around us then went along the riverbank.

'I think Spot has picked up their trail officer.'

The man called Jake said. By god he has, come on lets follow him.'

We all trailed behind Spot as he ran ahead of us with his nose close to the ground. Spot started to bark.

I looked up ahead of us.

'There they are constable.'

The two men were sitting on the riverbank with their backs to us.

'Fan out men.' said the policeman 'Don; t let them get away till we see what they have to say.'

We approached quietly.

They were still facing the river talking, when the policeman said 'Good morning.'

They turned around, with a look of surprise.

The policeman asked them to stand up.

'Are these the two men you saw this morning Ken?

'Yes officer.'

'What's all this about? Asked one of the men.

'Where is the sack? You were carrying this morning.' the policeman asked.

'Sack. We have no sack, can you see one.'

'You had a black sack with you this morning, we saw you with it.'

I said, 'He's off his head officer; we have no sack, do we look like poachers.'

'What are we supposed to have done anyway? Asked the other man.

'There has been a robbery. The church was robbed in Doveridge this morning or last night, all the silver was taken.'

'Do we look like criminals? We were on our way to look for work in the next village.'

As the policeman was talking to the two suspects, Spot started to bark.

'What's you're dog barking at over there.'

'Let us have a look he might have found something.'

Spot was tugging at the sack hidden in the bushes. ' 'It's the black sack I told you these two men had with them this morning.'

The policeman told Jake and the men with him.

'Keep a hold of those two until I see what's in that sack.'

The men were grabbed and started to plead their innocence.

Catalogue Information