This collection of classic stories celebrates the relationship between child and treasured toy. This anthology includes tales of Rag Bag, by Ruth Ainsworth; the doll which saved Vasilissa from the fearsome witch Baba Yaga, as retold by Naomi Lewis; the adventures of Hans Anderson's Steadfast Tin soldier; and the enchanted rocking horse Rollande, as told in the title story by Laurence Housman. There's also an excerpt of The Memoirs of a London Doll by Mrs. Fairstar (Richard Henry 'Hengrist; Horne) and the story The Town in the Library by E. 'Edith' Nesbit.

The stories in this anthology were originally collected in "The Silent Playmate: A Collection of Doll Stories" edited by Naomi Lewis. This book adds many paintings by Angela Barrett.