Miss Happiness and Miss Flower is a stirring tale by Rumer Godden. It is the story of Nona Fell and her new family receiving two Japanese dolls from her Aunt Lucy Dickinson. Nona feels the sorrow and loneliness that the dolls are feeling, and decides to build them a new house, but this house becomes a home for not only the dolls, but also Nona. This story is very touching and sweet, and is a simple and classic tale for young students to enjoy. The story can be quite dramatic, but after a while, it transforms into a heart-warming classic tale. It is a touching and moving story of bravery and courage. Nona shows us how strong a wish can be, and shows that even a dolls wish is powerful thing. Rumer Godden is a talented author who moves all readers, and makes them feel part of the story. Reading this book not only gives you a taste of Japanese culture, but also warms the heart. I really recommend this book.

For such a short book, there is a surprising amount of atmosphere and characterization.
I found myself getting very personally invested in this story, like NOOO BELINDA DON'T BREAK THE HOUSE!!! (Spoiler: the house is okay)
Also I felt this horrible sinking feeling when Nona wished she could be a boy. :-(
Girls can be leaders too, Nona!

Super cute fairytale-like story!

Book 2 of Booktubeathon 2017 - read a book completely outside

so sweet and good lessons, too

A fantastic childrens book - one of my favourites to give as a gift

We read this aloud as part of our Japan study. (A reread as I read this to my big girls years ago.) Such a great book.

This is Rumer Godden at her best. The story is like beautiful music--cute, lyrical, and deeply moving. If you like Britain, or Japan, you'll like it. But if you love books about real people and real kids and real emotions, you'll love it.
Plus, it's got a lot of interesting detail about building a Japanese doll house.

What a cute little book, filled with vivid descriptions of the two beautiful dolls, Miss. Happiness and Miss. Flower, and their owner, Nona. One of my friends had recommended this book, and it was on my reading list for months. When I decided to finally give-it a try, I was ecstatic to be reading such an excellent piece of literary work. The story focuses on Nona, who has just moved to England from India, and is living with her aunt's family. Nona is homesick, and has decided that she just can't live in England any longer. In the nick of time, the two dolls, Miss. Happiness and Miss. Flower, arrive from the United States via a relative. So begins the story of how Nona develops a home that the dolls will love, inspired by a typical Japanese home, complete with sliding doors, tatami mats, and a firebox. I absolutely adored the enthusiasm that Nona displayed when researching and developing the home for her dolls. The conversations between the two dolls regarding their situation was real, with my heart breaking as I read about how the dolls often felt left-out, unable to display their true feelings since they were never able to be heard. When Nona encountered Belinda's jealousy throughout the book, I often became enraged, wanting Belinda to be accepting of Nona's desire to build a Japanese home. In the end, everything worked-out as it was meant to, and I was pleased to see how Nona made Miss. Happiness and Miss. Flower feel connected to the family through her hard work. Will definitely be reading the sequel to this book, which is about Little Plum!

This was one of the read-aloud books we read when my children were much younger. We loved this one!

I've not read this book since I was a child. It made a big impression on me when I was little, and I was surprised at how much I'd remembered.
I remembered really wanting some Japanese dolls like these in the story, and wanting a Japanese dolls house to put them in, complete with sliding screens.
I can also remember getting a roll top pencil case, just like in the book and feeling so pleased with myself.
What a lovely little visit to memory lane.

Still a truly beautiful book, if a little dated now. I remember when I first read it I so wanted to be Nona and build a Japanese house.

This book was my first comfort read. I have constantly re-read this since I was little. I highly recommend it for 6-9 year olds.