Block | rattle:Raggedy Ann Cube and Rattle

Comic strip artist and graphic illustrator Johnny Gruelle created "Raggedy Ann Stories" for P. F. Volland in 1918. Tradition holds that Gruelle developed the stories from tales he made up to entertain his young daughter, Marcella. Two years after the Ann stories first appeared, Gruelle produced tales of the character's brother, Andy. Gruelle wrote and illustrated 25 books in all of Ann and Andy along with other characters including Beloved Belindy, Camel with the Wrinkled Knees, Quacky Doodles, and Danny Doodles. The Raggedy Ann stories have remained popular with successive generations of American children, evidenced by the fact that the Raggedy Ann cloth doll has remained in continual production since Volland issued its first dolls in 1918.