"Dolls hold a power that time doesn"t diminish," says author and doll artist Carolyn Michael. In Enchanted Companions: Stories of Dolls in Our Lives, she proves her point with a captivating collection of men"s and women"s memories of their dolls.More than 40 black-and-white photographs pulled from albums around the world enrich these heartwarming, funny, and sometimes heartbreaking stories. The writers span generations and cultures. From a nine-year-old child to a 92-year-old grandmother, each has a special doll story to tell:o Sisters tell stories of their brother, George, an outspoken, self-assured ventriloquist doll who insists he"s no dummy.o During her confinement at an internment camp of Japanese Americans during World War II, a woman teaches herself and others to make dolls.oA young girl, given a doll to ease the pain of leaving her mother and Korean homeland for a new life in America, grows up celebrating the doll"s birthday, which is the anniversary of her adoption.o A man recalls the fun adventures he had playing with his brother"s original G.I. Joe, and the shame he felt when he broke it. Enchanted Companions reminds us that, more than mere playthings, dolls are cherished companions, keepers of secrets, and sparks for the imagination.