Your daughter burst in the door from school today clamoring for the newest American Girl doll – on top of her existing wish list including a small army of Bratz and the new Barbie with immense, glittering pink butterfly wings. You were hoping for something that would look more at home in the old-fashioned Tudor dollhouse you spent an arm and a leg on for Christmas. Your husband just wants something that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg, period.
DFWChild to the rescue! We got our hands on the hottest dolls out today — along with a few you may not have heard of. Then we turned them loose in a room full of doll-crazed first- through third-graders and their watchful parents. Which dolls are the hotties and which are the notties? Read on for the skinny.
American Girl
Mia – Girl of the Year 2008
Apparent Age 9-11 years old
Size 18 inches tall
Schtik
Targeted at girls age 8 and up, the Girl of the Year is available only during 2008. Mia’s book focuses on healthy competition and the pressure to perform. Other American Girl dolls include Historical Characters, representing girls from different eras and including books that bring the period alive; Just Like You dolls, letting girls match their dolls’ hair, skin and eye color to their own; and Bitty Baby, a newborn doll with a soft body.
Also Available Matching clothes for girls and their dolls – even pajamas. DVDs, magazines and books (for older readers ages 8+) feature dolls from several different lines. The usual doll furniture, doll clothes and accessories, including a wheelchair.
Kids Said
Paris: She’s so big that it’s easier to get her clothes on and off than the little dolls. Her ice skates are real!
Play Test
While these dolls are targeted to older girls, the younger set found Mia captivating. They marveled at her leather-and-metal ice skates (not a more typical plastic, one-piece bootie). The intermediate-level books were over the heads of our young testers, who were relatively uninterested in Mia’s background story or the history behind other dolls available. The youngest testers didn’t care about Mia’s large size in relation to their other dolls, but older play testers isolated her from the smaller dolls.
Parents Said
Amy: The girls seem to like her, and I would consider buying this for a girl who’s still in the throes of doll playing. But for my older girl, who only plays with them when they’re brand new or if a friend comes over and wants to play with them, no. If you have an older girl who gets into the Little House on the Prairie books, that’s a perfect time to get into it.
Brian: Isn’t this the one that comes with crutches? That’s a great touch.
Charge It! $90 (doll and paperback book)
Where to Buy Her American Girl Boutique and Bistro, Galleria Dallas. Call 888/777-0010 or find online at americangirl.com
Hottie or Nottie? Hottie, for older girls and hardcore doll fans
Barbie Magic Wings Mariposa
Willa
Apparent Age Young adult
Size 11 inches
Schtik Barbie Mariposa is a new story set in the world of butterfly fairies (similar to, but distinct from, the Fairytopia line). Mariposa boasts sparkling, hot pink 20-inch wings that fold down, only to pop up again when a button is pressed. A turnkey on the back of Willa’s small, hard wings causes a pink plastic butterfly on her wrist to spiral up and down her arm.
Also Available If your girls enjoyed the Fairytopia movies, they’ll love the Barbie Mariposa DVD.
Kids Said
Brooklyn: Ooohhh, I like her big wings! She’s the best because she’s so sparkly. They make her so pretty.
Kristen: The parts come off all the time. We pull their heads off and change all sorts of stuff.
Play Test
These sparkling creations are like honey to the bee for young girls – but once the novelty of snapping Mariposa’s wings open in a friend or parent’s face had worn off, our testers were ready to move on. None of them cared about Willa’s moving wrist butterfly. And once the doll’s wings and other moving parts begin popping off, the testers abandoned them.
Parents Said
Susan: We have those, and they’re very pretty with the wings … but the girls don’t play with them that much.
Dean: The parts pop off, and the girls don’t know how to fix them. Then they lose all interest, and the doll never gets played with again. The classic Barbies that don’t have special wings and parts are much more fun to play with.
Charge It! $19.98 Mariposa; $12.99 Willa
Where to Buy Her Your best bet for Barbie is still your neighborhood shop around the corner, Target. Also, try KB Toys, Frisco. 214/705-8460. Toys R Us, Dallas. 214/363-3192. barbie.everythinggirl.com/butterfly
Hottie or Nottie? Nottie, unless they especially love fairies and butterflies
Bratz Fashion Designer
Apparent Age Young adult
Size 10 inches
Schtik This typical Bratz fashionista comes with an activity set for designing and creating your own paper doll clothes. Includes how-to sketchbook, colored pencils, stencils and scissors, metallic paper “fabric,” glitter glue, beads.
Also Available A styling head allows girls to experiment with makeup and hairstyles.
Kids Said
Kerry: I want her sooo much! I like her because she has makeup.
Amanda: Her makeup is fancier than the other dolls’.
Play Test While play testers enjoyed the art activity, they didn’t model their creations on or play interactively with the dolls.
Parents Said
Susan: We’re not into those because we’re not into looking sassy.
Dean: I don’t want to give her any excuse to act like that when she gets older.
Brian: I like this one the best.
Amy: The fashion idea is not unique; I’ve seen that before. I’d be hard-pressed to buy this in the store.
Susan: I would never buy this. There are too many little parts to lose.
Charge It! $19.99
Where to Buy Her KB Toys, Frisco. 214/705-8460. Macy’s, Dallas. 214/295-1300. Toys R Us, Dallas. 214/363-3192. bratz.com
Hottie or Nottie? Nottie
Fulla and Fulla Walking Doll
Apparent Age 18
Size 12 inches
Schtik Designed by a company in the United Arab Emirates for girls in Middle Eastern and Asian cultures, Fulla boasts darker skin and eyes and modest clothing and proportions. The Fulla Walking Doll has a stiff plastic skirt that supports her during battery-powered locomotion.
Also Available Clothing, jewelry, furniture — and a plastic doctor’s set that our testers found as fascinating and fun as parents found cheesy and cheap.
Kids Said
Lauren: I like that she’s from a different culture. That makes her interesting to me.
Kerry: The walking doll is so pretty.
Playtest
The walking doll’s stiff, bulky supporting skirt dissuaded testers from using her for free play. Play testers gave their seal of approval to Fulla’s slick pink jacket and Fulla walker’s fluttery pink gown. They were delighted to discover an undershirt and knickers painted onto Fulla’s body.
Parents Said
Dean: She looks pretty hip, but she’s not at all hoochie.
Susan: She has a really nice look to her. I would buy this.
Charge It! $15.99 Fulla; $49.99 Walking Doll
Where to Buy her Fulla dolls are currently available online on Ebay or other resale shops.
Hottie or Nottie? A surprising Hottie
Only Hearts Club
Apparent Age 9
Size 9 inches
Schtik Small and soft (flexible, fabric-covered wire limbs), these dolls look and dress like real little girls.
Also Available Each doll comes with its own miniature plush pet. Also available are clothes, horses, miniature storybooks, princess and theme dolls.
Kids Said
Lauren: Look, Mom, I dress more like this one than this one.
Kristen: Their little pets are so sweet.
Playtest
When the sparkle and glamour of the others dolls had waned, these were the dolls our play testers settled down to play with. The older girls relished analyzing which doll looked like which of their friends and which most closely resembled one another.
Parents Said
Amy: I really, really like this doll.
Dean: I like these dolls because they look like real people. The girls seem to love them.
Susan: She’s got her little Webkin, just like you girls. These are precious!
Amy: These would be great for a trip. It’s something small and light that’s easy to pack.
Charge It! $16
Where to Buy Her Enchanged Cottage, Richardson. 972/234-5500. Victoria’s Doll House, Plano. 972/578-7062. onlyheartsclub.com
Hottie or Nottie? The runaway Hottie
Thanks to play testers Amanda, Brooklyn, Kerry, Kristen, Lauren and Paris and parents Amy, Brian, Dean and Susan.
