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Baby Dolls

Bebe Do My Real Baby (Corolle Dolls)
Our tester reports, "If you are going to buy your daughter a baby doll, this is the one to buy! She comes tucked in her very own moses basket, with a little book and bottle. She is just precious. She looks like a real baby and is a perfect size for your child to hold. The only complaint from my 3 year old was that the bottle didn't fit in her mouth, but she soon moved on and it hasn't bothered her since." Age 3+, $74.99

The Bailey Doll (Lee Middleton Doll)
Our testers at a Montessori School had this to say, "this baby doll is a little girl's dream of how every baby doll should look and feel. Her adorable face with those smiling eyes and realistic lashes is very appealing and her soft cuddly body is an invitation for many hugs. The thumb fits into the mouth which gives her that realistic baby look and her pink fleece sleeper makes her a very soothing sleeping companion."

My First Nursery Baby (Lee Middleton Doll) $25.00
"My 18 month daughter absolutely LOVES this doll" reports the mother of our 19 month old tester.  "She has played with it every day since it was given to her." The doll comes with a bottle, bib and blanket. "My daughter loves to feed the baby, walk her in a baby stroller, and put her down for a nap. I am also hoping the doll will be useful when we have another child in a few weeks." Ages 18 months+

Play Dolls

Fisher Price Little Mommy Toddler Doll & Activity Center (Mattel)
"The interaction with the doll was great for my 3 year old," reports our mom-tester.  "She loved the fact that the doll called her mommy, and loved feeding her the carton of milk. She also enjoyed the activity center, which has a play yard, school house and bathroom all in a foldable unit. The school comes complete with a dry erase board and marker. My advice is to take the marker away unless you trust your little one with a 'real' marker. My daughter colored the whole play system, not just the dry erase board! The best part about this toy is that weeks after receiving it to test it's still played with.  Sometimes my girls play with just the activity center, sometimes just the doll.  It's a really nice grandparent gift" Ages 3+ Prices: Doll: $37.89,  Activity Center: $49.99

Snap-N-Style Dolls (Fisher-Price) $11.99
These dolls have been tested by a 4-year old group and a 3-year-old group. Both groups seem to get equal enjoyment out of changing her appearance with the snap-on clothes. The older group read the box and allowed that we needed to buy the bed-time, rainy-time and birthday party outfits!! It appears that this is a wonderful creative play activity for all pre-school age groups. Ages 3+

Rock Around the Clock Groovy Girls (by Manhattan Toy Co)  Ages 3 -12, $30.00     
How cute are these two Groovy Girl collectible dolls.  The set which includes Suzy Q and Bobby is a 50's inspired bobby socks set.  Our three year old reviewers thought they were just great!   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.  The latest batch of themed Groovy Girls are just perfect for girls who want dolls, and moms who want their girls to have dolls with soft bodies, soft clothing with colorful and fun accessories. Safari Kari, pictured right, has an adorable little monkey for her friend.  She retails for $15.00.

Emily Doll & Book  (American Girl) Age 8 +, $87.00  
Our tester, a 9-year-old fan of American Girl Dolls was just thrilled to review the new Emily Doll.  She's a fan of the historical dolls, already owing Kaya.  Our tester had watched the movies and read some of the books, and really liked the fact that Emily, who is Molly's English friend has come to the US to escape the bombing of London during WWII.  Our testers great grandmother lives in England and was in London during the time of the bombings so this was something she could really relate to. 

Emily comes with the "Brave Emily Book" and is wearing a beautiful cherry blossom blue floral dress with matching head band.  "She has shorter auburn hair like mine and has a very pretty face" commented our reviewer.  "I think she's a great gift for any girl!"  Also check out our visits to American Girl Place and the Doll Hair Salon Spectacular.

Fashion Dolls

Bratz Forever Diamondz (MGAE), $29.99 
Every year Bratz seems to come out with something new and cool and what is more enticing to little girls than Diamonds?  Well the Bratz Forever Diamondz dolls do not disappoint!  Our 9 and 10-year-old reviewers love their "hot fashion outfits" with sparkling "diamonds".  In addition, each doll comes with a real diamond necklace that the girls can wear to. They loved their own "bling bling" as well as the key chain that ever doll comes with on the box.  Our 10-year-old commented, "the Bratz doll was very fun to play with. Her hair was fun to brush with the star shaped brush. I loved the fashionable clothes and the creative places they put the diamonds, like the belt and her diamond studded jeans. It would be fun to collect all the Bratz Diamonds Dolls. I give this five stars."  Our moms thought that they would make great gifts for girls and collectors alike!   Ages 6+

Barbie & The Twelve Dancing Princesses (Mattel)
Barbie's Princess Genevieve is complete with a beautiful dance ensemble and bendable arms so she can dance gracefully with the help of your child. Our mom-tester reports, "This Barbie, and her 11 friends, are the Barbie's to buy this season. My daughters were very excited to get this, and want to get a few of her friends so they can have a "dance school." I am so happy to see them pretend play that I will be sure to add a few dancing princesses to the holiday shopping list!"  The doll is based on the new Barbie DVD movie "Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses." Ages 3+, Dolls priced at $24.99 each; horse and carriage priced at $32.99

Little Mermaid Shimmering Lights Ariel  (Mattel) $19.99
This doll talks, and her mermaid tail lights up when you press a button on her back. She has beautiful red hair with shimmering gold highlights. My three year old daughter enjoys her, and since she has just seen the Little Mermaid on DVD is even more thrilled to play with her. She likes to hear her talk, and watch her tail turn multiple colors when activated,   Age 3+
 

Barbie Fairytopia Mermaidia Elina (Mattel) $16.99, Ages 3+
This is the doll of all dolls! As if being a fairy or a mermaid isn't enough, this Barbie is BOTH!  Our mom-tester said,  "my two girls love this Barbie and knew exactly how to store her wings in the slip on mermaid tail. She is decorated from head to tail in water sensitive markings that appear when she gets wet. The wing span of fairy Barbie is great, it is large and when the girls fly her through the house she looks very enchanting. I can see the attachment they have to this doll, and understand it. This doll is pretty and colorful and lives in the sky and underwater - it allows the girls to play and create many different adventures all with one toy. The kids LOVE this one!"