Play Library » dolls

Enter To Win! Adorable Kinders Doll

Linette Gerlach — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 04:15:14 +0000

The other day I wrote a review for the Adorable Kinders doll, today I have one to give away to a lucky Play Library reader! Woot!

The lucky winner will get to pick their choice of dolls from the 26 Adorable Kinders dolls at the Adorable Kinders website. These dolls are sooo cute! You’ve got to go take a look for yourself. I love the one they sent me.

So how can you win your choice of one of the Adorable Kinders Dolls? Here are the rules:

To be entered to win hop over to the Adorable Kinders website and check out the dolls. Then come back here and leave a comment letting us know your favorite Adorable Kinders Doll.
You can get bonus entries by posting about the contest on your own blog, tweeting about the giveaway (tweet it to @Linetteg), but you need to leave an additional comment to let us know which bonus entries you did to get credit for them.
The contest is open to US residents only.
The contest will end at midnight EST on December 16th.
The winner will be selected from a random draw at the end of the contest, and will be notified by email, they winner will also be posted here at Play Library after the contest ends.

Good luck!

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A New Rag Doll~ Adorable Kinders

Linette Gerlach — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 05:34:59 +0000

Granza Inc. sent me one of their new Adorable Kinders rag dolls to take a look at, and I have to say I’m in love. I got to check out Mari, she’s my favorite, but it was hard to choose. All of the dolls are sooooo adorable!

The dolls bring back fond memories of the soft and cuddly rag dolls I used to have when I was a kid. They’re totally cuddly, with embroidered features.

Adorable Kinders are a line of 26 multicultural 18″ rag dolls (one doll for each letter of the alphabet) that come in wonderfully detailed, removable clothing. Each doll also comes with an internet key-code to access the Adorable Kinders eSchool online.

If you have a little girl on your Christmas list this year, these dolls would make a wonderful gift. You can find more information about these dolls at the Adorable Kinders website.

Stay tuned! I have a giveaway coming up in the next few days where one lucky Play Library reader can win their choice of any of the 26 Adorable Kinders dolls.

Images Adorable Kinders

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Six New Our Generation Dolls

Linette Gerlach — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:12:09 +0000

Battat recently unveiled 6 new Our Generation Dolls just in time for the 2009 holiday season. I loved dolls with fun accessories when I was growing up. Especially the dolls that transported you to another world. These dolls do just that for a new generation of little girls today.

Children can read the story about their favorite doll, then transport themselves into the dolls world to help her solve a mystery, or just have fun. Then they can make up their own doll adventure to go on. It can be a wonderful exercise of the imagination.

Here’s the scoop on the 6 latest Our Generation Dolls:

Lily Anna a Horseback Riding Doll featuring “The Adventures of Shelby Stables” book, would have been my favorite growing up, I was way into horses, and had anything horse related stashed in my room. This beautiful doll comes complete with everything a girl needs to help Lily Anna ride her way to solving a mystery at the ranch. Lily Anna’s set includes equestrian accessories, lemonade stand goodies, doll snacks, and an adorable red dress.

Eva is a Detective Doll featuring “The Mystery of the Vanishing Coin” book. Girls can practice their super sleuth skills and help Eva and Detective Choo solve the mystery of the Vanishing Coin. In addition to the doll and storybook, girls will find a monogrammed backpack, tote, mug, pen, pad and Eva’s camera and case!

Hally a Back-to-School Doll features “One Smart Cookie” book – Hally’s excited to get back to school. But during her traditional family dinner on the eve of the first day, a fortune cookie reveals a mysterious message that will causes Hally to question how she will survive the fourth grade! Hally comes complete with all the back-to-school necessities, including two outfits, a water bottle, backpack and report card!

Sydney Lee a Ballet Doll features “Stars in Your Eyes” book. As a “prima ballerina,” Sydney Lee helps young girls follow their hearts to their dreams. Sydney teaches girls what true star power means. In addition to the Sydney Lee doll and book, the set comes with all the ballet “must-haves!”

Mary Lyn a Music Recital Doll features “The Note in the Piano” book. Mary Lyn will take readers on the treasure hunt of a lifetime! When Mary Lyn’s grandfather passes away, she and her friend discover a mysterious note he has left behind. This prompts them to embark on an adventure she’ll never forget! Mary Lyn comes complete with a song book, violin, harmonica, music sheets and playing cards to bring the musical mystery home!

Katelyn, a Figure Skating Doll features the “Blizzard on Moose Mountain” book. Katelyn is every young skater’s dream doll! Katelyn’s story is one of friendship, hard work and being strong enough to be herself, no matter what others think. Katelyn comes with a skating costume and all the essentials, as well as flowers, a water bottle, medals, and a toy MP3 player.

Image: Battat

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Baby Alive Better Now Baby

Linette Gerlach — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 10:00:55 +0000

The latest Baby Alive isn’t feeling well, and she needs her mommy to make it all better. Your little girl can play “Dr. Mom,” and use her mothering skills to nurse Baby Alive Better Now Baby back to health.

The Baby Alive Better Now Baby set includes an aspirator to clear her nose, a sippy cup to make sure she gets plenty of fluids. Your child can check Baby Alive’s temperature with her teddy bear thermometer. Give her medicine with her magic spoon, and don’t forget to change her diaper!

When Baby Alive is feeling better the teddy bear on her thermometer changes from a frown to a smile.

The best part is, Baby Alive Better Now Baby requires no batteries to go from sick to well again. She’s available at most major retailers and at HasbroToyShop.com.

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Barbie over Bratz

Kerri Aldrich — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 21:14:51 +0000

And in the battle of Barbie versus Bratz, it’s Barbie by a nose!!!! Or, more realistically, a really long leg.

Here are the results:

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I wonder if the results would be the same if we were comparing Bratz to the new My Scene line of Barbies (like the one pictured above), which are described as “fun ‘n flirty dolls”. They do look creepily like the Bratz dolls, I think. I’ll stick to traditional Barbie, or maybe none at all. Strawberry Shortcake is looking better and better! How long can I keep her cool in our house?

Thanks to each of you who participated in our poll! Please share your input for our next poll about spending amounts for kids’ birthday gifts. It’s in the sidebar at the right, or you can vote by clicking here. Thank you!

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Results of the Toy Ethnicity Poll

Kerri Aldrich — Tue, 15 Aug 2006 20:19:28 +0000

Here are the results of our latest poll which asked the question, “Do you buy dolls/toys of different races/ethnicities?”

Yes: 50% (10)
No: 10% (2)
Haven’t yet but it’s a good idea: 20% (4)
Never thought about it: 20% (4)
Total Votes : 20

I was in the “Haven’t yet, but it’s a good idea” category. Of course, I don’t buy most of the toys my kids receive! Maybe I’ll have to keep that in mind when people are asking what to get them.

Don’t forget to vote in the new poll in the right sidebar!

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What Race is Your Babydoll?

Kerri Aldrich — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 13:27:26 +0000

I don’t think I’ve told you my age yet. No, no I haven’t. Good. But I can admit that I was one of those crazy kids hoping against hope for a Cabbage Patch Kid that frenzied Christmas in the mid-80’s. Yes, I am that young.

I remember seeing them in the store in about October of that year. This was before most people even knew what they were. I told my mom, “This doll is so cute!” She said something to the effect of it being the ugliest doll she’d ever seen and why would anyone pay $14 for it? I think by the time of the frenzy, the base price itself had jumped $20 to around $35.

What does this have to do with ethnicity, you ask? Good question. Well, I remember in the heart of all the madness, there was definitely a prejudice occurring in the consumption of the dolls. Women (mostly) were fighting, screaming, pushing, and cussing other women for the dolls. For the white dolls. Now, I don’t remember any Hispanic or Asian Cabbage Patch kids back then, but I do remember rows and rows of black dolls lining the shelves, waiting for an owner. At least this is what was happening on the shelves of the stores near our home.

Now, I am not a white woman. I am not a black woman. I am a tan woman; I was a tan girl. (Hispanic, both maternal grandparents born in Mexico.) And yet, it made me so sad to see those dolls sitting up there ignored. Partly because I wanted one, and would have been thankful for any color Cabbage Patch Kid. And partly because, even then, I wondered how it would hurt little girls and boys that were black to see the dolls that were supposed to be representing them and their families being ignored and considered unacceptable. It still bothers me.

Which is why it puzzles me that I don’t go out of my way to buy dolls of an array of different nationalities and races for my own kids. It may just be that I don’t buy that many toys for my kids (they have plenty of grandparents and aunties to fill that need), but it doesn’t occur me to think about it.

If the voices that are heard are correct, and we’re a generation that is concerned with racial equality and good relations between races, we’ve got to make it happen through our children. And we all know how big an influence dolls, games, toys, and movies are to our kids. Why not start there?

I’ve often wondered why my mom didn’t buy my sister and me the black Cabbage Patch Kids. The town we lived in had no black people at the time. None. And not just out of coincidence. I think I would have gotten quite a few names called at me if I were seen with a black doll. Maybe she was trying to protect us. Or maybe, like me, she just didn’t think about it.

What about you? Do you go out of your way to have a United Nations feel to your toy box? Do you purposely only buy toys for your kids that bear resemblance to them? Do you not think about it? Please vote in our poll in the right sidebar!

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Google Fight: Bratz vs Barbie Dolls

Lei — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 12:09:07 +0000

Does Barbie still rule or do newcomers like the Bratz dolls have a chance at ascending the throne? A Google Fight’s been staged, click the image below to find out who emerges the victor – Barbie or the Bratz.

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Barbie’s Lifespan

Kerri Aldrich — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 21:23:01 +0000

Business Week Online has published an article questioning the longevity of Barbie as an American toy icon:

Sales for the iconic Barbie fell 1% worldwide, the 11th consecutive quarter of decline for the franchise. Indeed, it’s a worrying sign that kids like Katayan are starting to eschew Barbie for other, more interactive toys.

It is a question raised as the girls of the next generation have so many playtime options available to them. Are dolls and dress up being completely replaced by on-line games and other hi-tech toys?

I don’t think so. Yes, my five year old daughter has more hi-tech distractions available to her than the Pac-Man and Frogger of my youth. However, no computer game is a replacement for her desire to dress and undress her Barbies, adding and combining new accessories, and wrangling her two year old brother in to help her. There is just too much enjoyment from seeing and feeling the fabrics, playing with the hair, and crawling around on the floor trying to find those blasted teeny shoes (oh, sorry, that last one isn’t fun, and it’s usually not the kids doing it).

I think that Barbie is far too ingrained in our culture to be departing anytime soon, if ever. Just last night, I was scrapbooking with a few friends, and the topic of the Barbie Dream House was brought up. We realized that, of the six of us there, 3-4 still had our original Barbie Dream House (some still in our parent’s basement). One grandma had even taken the step of buying all of the original furniture on ebay and sending it to her daughter and granddaughters’ house. (Oh great, now I’ve given my mom ideas. Where am I going to put that thing?!) The nostalgia factor alone gives Barbie plenty of persistence in the toy world, until she’ll be begging to retire and collect her benefits.

Besides, as Barbie continues to forge her way into higher tech avenues, in such ways as the Barbie computer games, electronic Barbie toys, and the Barbie website, she guarantees to stake her claim on the affections of little girls everywhere.

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Language Little Dolls

Lei — Sat, 10 Dec 2005 10:42:45 +0000

This is Anna, a Russian-speaking doll made by Language Littles. She and her multicultural, multilingual sisters come highly recommended by Dr. Sophy, an expert on the health and mental health of children. They can all speak both English and Russian, German, Chinese, Japanese, or Spanish.

Dr. Sophy also gives the following tips on his blog for dealing with the consumer monster this holiday season:

Self Awareness: Be clear about your motivations to purchase.
Know: Messages that come from your gift-giving.
Communicate: To your child the reasons and messages discovered above, and allow them to share their feelings.
Resolve: For children their confusion and disappointment that may arise from your decisions.
Re-direct: Your child as to the origins of the season and allow them to find ways to give back and re-align their expectations.

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