Remember what it was like to play pretend? If you’ve forgotten, read The Mennyms by Sylvia Waugh. The Mennyms are rag dolls who live on a quiet street somewhere in England. They’re like any family, except they live a life of pretend. The rag doll Mrs. Quigley stays in the hall closet until it’s time for her weekly visit. When Mother Vinetta prepares tea, and the family just pretends to nibble at cookies. Then one day, a letter from Australia arrives. The new landlord is coming for a visit, wanting to meet the family who have rented the family house for 40 years. By reading The Mennyms, I remember what it is like to be human, and even better, what it is like to play pretend.