The Welcome Dolls

Every child who moves to Brindlewood gets a Welcome Doll.

It's supposed to be a gift. A tradition. A wooden friend to make you feel at home.

But Ellie Brooks doesn't trust hers. When her little brother Milo starts acting perfect-sitting still, spilling nothing, smiling the same way every time-she knows something is wrong.

Because Milo was never perfect.

And the doll is always watching.

In the woods behind town, an ancient tree stump called The Mother Tree has been waiting. It remembers being cut down to build Brindlewood. It remembers losing its children. Now it wants to keep the town's children safe-by making them still.

Still. Quiet. Perfect.

With the help of Jonah Finch, whose sister disappeared two years ago, Ellie must break the spell before Milo becomes the newest doll in the Mother Tree's collection.

Can one girl, an ugly key, and a promise made with care save the children of Brindlewood?

The Welcome Dolls is a cozy-spooky adventure about friendship, family, and what happens when being kept safe starts feeling like disappearing. Perfect for fans of Coraline, Small Spaces, and Goosebumps.

Just remember to wipe your feet.

The moss is sleeping.

But the Mother Tree is still listening.