Wheat Doll — Alison Randall

Mary Ann lives with her family in the rugged Utah territory. Mary Ann has a busy life, and a special friend to share it with: her beloved homemade doll, Betty.
Betty's wheat-filled body sits straight and tall. Her embroidered eyes never blink. Still, Mary Ann knows that Betty is always paying attention. But one afternoon, a sudden, fierce storm forces Mary Ann and her family into their cabin before the young girl can retrieve her doll from the garden. By the time the wild wind and rain subside, Betty is gone. Mary Ann is heartbroken, but one day when winter turns to spring, Mary Ann spies a familiar shape growing into a patch of slender grass near the bottom of a hill.
Author Alison L. Randall's moving tale of steadfast love and hope is complemented by Bill Farnsworth's evocative illustrations. An afterword provides more information about 19th century rural life and the real-life inspiration for Mary Ann.