As its story begins, Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy are adventuring in the deep woods, a world of "fairies and everything," a place where every creature--whether doll, animal, or elf--helps all others on principal and enjoys bringing delight to anyone encountered. Gruelle immediately pulls the reader into Raggedy Ann's and Raggedy Andy's lovely and colorful fantasy world, which, in mood, is the kind of environment that many parents in the days before television attempted to provide for their very young children. The idea in those not-so-distant times was to help children see the world as a warm, fantastic, and cooperative place bursting with potential, where envy, selfishness, bad manners, and aggression are plainly wrong and readily disarmed by love, understanding, and tenderness.

Raggedy Ann carries a magic Wishing Pebble, which she constantly uses to bring happiness and material satisfaction to needy or less fortunate others. Raggedy Ann and Andy set a good example by being thoughtful, attentive sweethearts to one another, but everyone they meet--whether owl, rabbit, bee, or bear--or fairy, elf, or gnome--comes in for their kindly attention, politeness, and appreciation. Raggedy Ann and Andy are curious and enthusiastic, and only capable of seeing the good and the positive potential in the world around them.

Thus, in every way 'Raggedy Ann in the Deep Deep Woods' promotes solid Christian values of charity, kindliness, and faith in the decent hearts and intentions of others. Every child deserves to be exposed to this world at least briefly. Gruelle's remarkable, lollypop-colored illustrations of the anthropomorphic fairyland, which nonetheless represent the book's reality principle, are perfectly fused with the text and add enormously to the book's power. 'Raggedy Ann in the Deep Deep Woods' is an all-audiences volume which will thrill children, parents, educators, and those cynical individuals who have lost their way in the world and their faith in themselves.