If there's a ""universally recognized doll"" it's the sock monkey, made originally from durable everyday inexpensive socks. These ""red heeled"" socks were easy to turn into a monkey with a red mouth and a red ""behind"" using the instructions which came in a package of socks. The book includes a history of the company which developed and produced the socks. You are sure to enjoy the author's ""playing with dolls"" as a grown-up. She gives the monkeys personalities, sometimes names and most importantly, rescues sock monkeys which have been abandoned, turned into dog toys, and those not passed down to the next generation. Proceeds will be donated to Blood Cancer United.