Worried about being the last doll left all alone on the shelf, Sarita is finally purchased by a man who mysteriously declares, You are perfect . You will be the last doll for my godchild, Teresa, on her birthday. And so the pretty doll, dressed in her white lace gown trimmed with pearls, is taken to a quinceanera , the traditional fifteenth birthday celebration for Latinas marking their entry into womanhood, and given to Teresa, who is dressed in a wedding gown similar to that of the doll. Colored with lots of Barbie-doll pink and with perfectly posed illustrations, this frothy confection will probably delight the hearts of doll-loving girls and make non-Latinas long for their own quinceanera coming-out parties.

Gr 1-4-Sarita, a beautiful costume doll in a fancy white dress, fears she will never be purchased. When she is bought, however, it is by a fierce, mustachioed man who tells her that she will be la ltima mu-eca, the last doll, for his goddaughter, Teresa. Sarita is confused, but all becomes clear when she is taken to Teresa's quincea-era celebration. Pedestrian prose, both in the English and the workmanlike Spanish translation, walks readers through the lavish celebration. Its purpose is clearly spelled out, and the pretty, commercial, full-color acrylic illustrations featuring girls who resemble Barbie and Skipper not only clarify the text but also have a certain slick appeal. Despite the rather formulaic text and illustrations, The Last Doll does meet a need. This is a high-interest bilingual presentation of an important Hispanic rite of passage that will serve as an introduction to dryer but more informative books, such as Mary Lankford's Quincea-era (Millbrook, 1994).-Ann Welton, Terminal Park Elementary School, Auburn, WA Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.