Baby Dolls    Play Dolls    Fashion Dolls    Collectibles    Doll Excursions

Baby Dolls

Little Mommy™ Twin Dolls (Mattel) Ages 3 and up.  Dolls $19.99   
Our testers two girls aged 4 & 5 just loved these dolls and the doctor set.  They had fun being "mommies,"  taking care of their babies, dressing them, pretending to feed them and general nurturing.  They provided hours of great pretend play.  

Emma & Paul Drink and Bath Baby Dolls  - (Corolle) Ages 3+, $41.99 each   
Our reviewers enjoyed these baby dolls and loved their vanilla scent. The accessories really worked for feeding the baby water in the bottle and either sitting her on the potty or using the diaper. The diaper was a little too big for the baby's body, but our reviewers made it work. Our mom-tester liked the fact that "the Paul doll is anatomically correct."  She also commented, "It's really nice that there's a good doll out there for boys, because when they have a new sibling they want to help take care of their baby too!"  They make a great first doll or sibling gift!

Bebe Cheri Emilie  - (Corolle) Age 3 +, $70.00    
If you want to splurge on a beautiful baby doll for your granddaughter then this is the way to go.  This 20" soft body doll has blue eyes, comes in a gorgeous 3-piece outfit with scarf, socks, and a hat.  She is cuddly soft vanilla scented and her eyes open and shut.  Our 5-year-old tester who loves baby dolls just thought she was great.  She particularly liked the larger size.

Bebe Do  - (Corolle) Age 3 +, $49.99    
According to our grandmother (and granddaughter) reviewers, they like the doll a lot!  The grandmother writes, "I like the size, the weight, the smell, the eyes that open and close, the long eyelashes and her cute little face!  She looks quite real, with great facial, hand and foot details.  She even has long life lines on her hands.  The clothes are easy to remove and put back on.  My granddaughter just loves her.  She recently lost her baby doll that she had for over three years, which she carried everywhere, so this replacement passed the test.  She even fits in all of her previous dolls clothes!"  A great gift for any grandchild!

Play Dolls

Cabbage Patch Baby (PlayAlong Toys) Ages 3-6, $29.99  
Cabbage Patch Baby dolls are back! Our almost 4-year-old tester was given this doll to review by her grandmother and she loved it.  Her grandmother commented, "Cabbage Patch Baby is just one more appealing doll in the series of Cabbage Patch Kids. This doll is definitely a winner for a range of ages!"  Our tester has played and played with this and it's definitely a perfect gift for a little girl (or boy)! 

Groovy Girls (by Manhattan Toy Co)  Ages 3 -12, $9.99     
These dolls are certainly tried and true.  Every year we give them to reviewers and every year the results are the same - kids and parents love them.  They are soft and cuddly, fresh and funky.  They don't cost too much and cover full gamut of backgrounds.  Our little testers love these dolls and their fun accessories.  This year the tested Natalya and Kenna and the kids just loved them.  One lucky tester got a Groovy Girl Trendy Traveler to carry home her goodies in.  It's a great bag that holds a bunch of girls, accessories and more!

ESO ES! MAYA (Scholastic) Age 3 + $19.99    
Our reviewer was a 3 year old girl. She enjoyed exploring this doll's accessories. She was able to independently put Maya's shoes on and take them off. She needed assistance with Maya's outfits and her hair accessories. It seems as though children need adult supervision and assistance to manipulate the smaller pieces that go with this doll.

Elizabeth Doll, Book & Accessories  (American Girl) Age 8 +, $100.00  
"Wow!  This doll is beautiful," commented our 8 1/2-year-old tester.  She has read several of the American Girl books and is familiar with many of the dolls, but was thrilled to receive this one with the book.  Elizabeth comes dressed in a coral pink taffeta gown and she has a white shift, stockings and shoes.  She has long blond hair that can be styled.  She's 18" tall and has a soft body with poseable arms and legs.  She even has earrings and a fan.  To really make your granddaughter's eyes light up, pick up Elizabeth's Holiday Gown ($28) which has a dress of flowers and ribbons, a headband and slippers.  This is a great doll that is a great start to an American Girl Collection.   

Felicity Doll, Book & Accessories (American Girl) Age 8 +, $100.00  
With a new movie coming out on the WB on November 29th, this will surely be one of the American Girl dolls that your granddaughter is clamoring for.  The move, "Felicity" is about Felicity Merriman a ten-year-old growing up in Williamsburg, Virginia, just before the American Revolution.  She longs for freedom and is a feisty girl who'd more interested in adventures. 

Felicity comes dressed in a pretty lavender dress with shift, stockings, and black shoes.  She's 18" tall and has a soft body with poseable arms and legs.   Our 9-year-old tester who's quickly becoming a fan of the American Girl dolls really loved Felicity and can't wait to see the movie.  She just loved the Holiday Ball Gown ($28) of blue taffeta that comes with a pearl necklace that she was given to review as well.   

If you want a great experience consider taking your granddaughter (or daughter) to American Girl Place -- it's well worth it.  Read the review.  

Fashion Dolls

Bratz Rock Angelz (MGAE) Ages 5 and up, $19.99  The girls with the passion for fashion have re-invented themselves again.  They're outfits our cool, their hair is long, they even have their own CD and DVD!  Our 8 and 9-year-old testers just loved these dolls -- so did the 6-year-olds that got their hands on one to review.  They loved the clothes, the accessories and the glitzy style.  They are fun to get, and according to our testers, fun to collect!  Check out the cool Bratz Rock Angelz Concert Stage which is a great accessory.  According to our 8-year-old reviewer, "if your granddaughter likes Bratz she'll love this!"  "This awesome set comes with tons of accessories, an exclusive ROXXI doll, real strobe lights and speakers.  I just love Bratz!"  It also includes the necessary items like Guitar, Microphone, and exclusive CD.  If you want to have even more fun just plug in your stereo and play your own music! 

Barbie and the Magic of Pegasus (Mattel)  Ages 3 -6, $19.99
Barbie as Princess Annika comes from the original fairytale Barbie and The Magic of Pegasus. Her gown changes with a twist from princess pretty to princess glamorous.  She even has her own light up wand.  Girls who loved Barbie in Rapunzel, the Nutcracker and Swan Lake will love this doll.  Our 4-year-old tester thought she was just beautiful and of course loved the wand!  Wand requires 3 LR44 button cell batteries (included).

Collectibles

Barbie Collector Holiday 2005 Doll Designed by Bob Mackie  (Mattel)  Ages 6-12 , $37.99
Every year Barbie celebrates the season with a Holiday doll.  This year the designer is Bob Mackie.  Barbie comes in a gorgeous burgundy gown with tulle, organza and satin.  She has beautiful jewelry to complement the outfit.  For those girls who collect, they'll be happy to note that Barbie's head has returned to the normal size and she looks just as beautiful as ever!  This is the first Holiday Barbie that Bob Mackie has created.

Doll Excursions

American Girl Place in New York City.  If you are thinking about getting your granddaughter one of these dolls and live near either New York or Chicago I hear a trip to the American Girl Place is a must! A "Day at American Girl Place"  includes a meal in the Cafe, a live musical show, a CD of The American Girls Revue original cast recording, $130 spending money, Souvenir doll T-shirt and comes in a pretty red envelope.  It costs $250.00 for one adult and one child, but what an experience!  Read our review.

Madame Alexander Doll Factory: Growing up there was a doll I always wanted.  It was a Madame Alexander doll called Elise.  She was the most beautiful prima ballerina.  Anyway, after months of begging my parents got her for me for my birthday.  Well, about 25 years later my daughter and I took my doll to the Madame Alexander Doll Hospital to be restored.  I received her back and she sits proudly in my daughters room. You can read all about our Madame Alexander Doll Factory visit right here.