November 2011 Notable Toys — Dolls

The Barbie Hairtastic Salon is all about the fun of coloring and washing. Add colored streaks in pink, purple or blue to Barbie's hair to get her ready for a night on the town. Swivel her over to the washing station to wash all the color out using real foaming shampoo and water. Repeat for tons of coloring fun. Also choose from 3 color pens to add streaks into Barbie's hair and then shampoo and wash her hair out with real bubbles and water by turning the knob and pushing down. It includes a doll, Hairtastic Color and Wash Salon station with mirror and swivel chair, towel, smock, brush, 3 color pens and Barbie hair ties. Shampoo is not included.
— As of 11/16/2011 this product had 2.6 out of 5 stars from 5 reviews on Amazon.com. Cons: The dolls doesn't bend into the sink easily; the tubes have kinks which prevents the water from coming through properly; the markers stain humans but don't show up on the dolls hair.

A full, tulle skirt and delicate flowers sweetly accent this dancing doll's ensemble. She shows off her grace while holding a favorite teddy  bear. An ideal recital gift. Includes doll stand. Launch date: July 2011.

Giddy-up! With all of Raggedy Ann's charm, this darling rides off to her next imaginative adventure. Designed by award-winning designer and artist Linda Rick. Licensed by Precious Moments and Simon & Schuster. The full-vinyl doll is 9 inches tall and sits on a wooden rocking horse. Launch date: July 2011.

The Cassie brings plenty of charm to a doll's neighborhood. The second floor has two dormers with gable windows, while the first floor features a transom-lit door and three-over-four windows for well-lit living spaces. An open back makes designing and decorating easy. This superior-quality dollhouse comes as natural, unpainted wood, and is ready to be assembled, shingled and decorated by its owner. Shingles and paint not included in kit. 1:12 scale. Dimensions: 18" x 20.5" x 24" Assembled
— In an October 2011 survey, Robert Lightburn from Cville's Hobbies, Games and Toys in Charlottesville, Va., told TDmonthly that "Collectible doll houses, like Melissa and Doug's House that Jack Built," are their best selling keepsake items.

Kids can play and explore with their mini lalaloopsy dolls in this Mini Lalaloopsy Treehouse Playset as they climb, swing, and pretend in their very own treehouse. This fun hangout includes lots of fun activities, 2 exclusive Lalaloopsy Dolls, 2 Pets, and lots of accessories.
— As of 10/18/2011 this product had 3 out of 5 stars from 11 reviews on ToysRUs.com. Pros: Cute; collectible; lots of details. Cons: Poorly made; expensive.

The Mattel Barbie Sisters Go Camping! Camper has everything Barbie needs for her camping trips in one foldable and portable camper. With enough room to sleep all four sisters, the pink-tastic design of the camper with cool graphic touches is sure to please all. Kitchen accessories, such as food pieces and dishes, are included to enhance imaginative play, along with a bathroom complete with a toilet and shower. Don’t forget to bring Barbie’s cute puppy along for the ride, and use the pet bed for when it’s time to rest. The camper even comes with a Jacuzzi for Barbie and her sisters to relax in. This totally foldable and portable design makes it easy to carry anywhere, so Barbie’s adventures can continue anyplace.

Frankie, Clawdeen and Draculaura have all been getting ready together to "cut up" the dance floor and boogie the night away at the Dawn of the Dance at Monster High. This three-pack is the only place you can find Draculaura in her Dawn of the Dance outfit.

The girls from Monster High are fabulously freaky and ready to cheer in their fearleading uniforms. The three Draculaura, Cleo de Nile and Goulia Yelps dolls come with a set of pom poms and a Skullete megaphone and they're ready to get the high school crowd up on their feet and out of their seats. Draculaura and Cleo are dressed in cheer uniforms and ready to rock the crowd and Ghoulia is there to "represent" as the ultimate Monster High fan.
— As of 10/18/2011 this product had 4.8 out of 5 stars from 5 reviews on ToysRUs.com. Pros: Great attention to detail; lots of accessories.

These Lalaloopsy have silly hair that bends every which way. Now kids can style their Lalaloopsy doll's hair and their pet's tail too. Includes fun hair styling brush, 4 clips and 6 hair beads. Pet has matching bendable tail.
— As of 10/10/2011 this product had 4.8 out of 5 stars from 4 reviews on ToysRUs.com.

Ambre is the perfect fashionable doll to delight fans of Miss Corolle! Dressed in a bright red coat with pink skirt, coordinating striped scarf, trendy boots, and an unbelievably soft fuzzy hat, she is ready for the chilly weather of the season! Ambre's bright blue eyes and long, rooted hair make her the perfect new friend for girls ages 3 and up. Launch date: January 2010.

This adorable soft-bodied baby doll comes complete with its own feeding bottle and soft bunny. Thanks to the mini picture book that is also included, little girls can learn how to take care of Bebe Do Mode just like a real mommy. Dressed in a bright new outfit for the new year, this classic 14" Corolle doll will be treasured for years to come. Launch date: January 2004.
Awards: 2011 Oppenheim Platinum Ableplay
― In a May 2012 survey about dolls, 5 out of 11 retailers said Corolle was their best selling brand.

The first Corolle doll ever made, Bebe Cheri is relaunched every year with a new outfit to celebrate. At 20 inches tall, Bebe Cheri is sized like a real 3 month old baby. This year (2011), she comes dressed in an adorably bright flowered jumper. She can even wear real baby clothes (size 3 months), making her a treasured heirloom to be passed down for generations. Launch date: 1980.

Soft and light, this adorable snuggly will delight the very young.  It jingles softly when shaken and has lots of "handles" for tiny fingers to grasp. 9.5 inches tall. Machine washable. Available in 2 more colors: Elf Sky (blue) and Elf Apricot (peach). Launch date: January 2011.

There is a new ghoul at Monster High, Spectra Vondergeist who is making a scary good impression. Spectra Vondergeist is the daughter of Ghosts, and she can float through the walls with an uncanny ability to overhear school gossip. Spectra would be lost without best friend and sidekick, Rhuen, a Ghost Ferret that’s always getting to mischief. Spectra Vondergeist doll is fully articulated so she can be posed in many different ways and includes pet Ghost Ferret Rhuen, doll stand, brush, diary and accessory.
— As of 9/9/2011 this product was ranked number 8 on Amazon.com's list of Hot New Releases in Toys & Games, and had 4.3 out of 5 stars from 11 customer reviews. Pros: Translucent limbs are unique and ghostly; chain jewelery and accessories are neat. Cons: One reviewer wrote that the doll's leg broke hours after purchase; this doll is thinner than the other dolls in the Monster High line and might promote an unhealthy body image; the ferret figure cannot stand on its own.

Lil' Cutesies are play dolls that are dressed in the cutest outfits. Cutesies encourage creative play. Each doll is sold separately, or they can be purchased in sets of three. Launch date: January 2011.
Awards: 2011 DOTY (Doll of the Year) Industry Choice Play Doll

A classic tale revisited to amaze, captivate and amuse. All 3 heroes can be found in just 1 creation. In a flash, Little Red Riding Hood transforms into Granny or the Big Bad Wolf. The path through the woods taken by our adventurous heroine is shown on her dress. Launch date: June 2011.
Awards: 2011 Seal of Excellence Award Creative Child Magazine; Tillywig Toy award - Best family fun 2011.

This young helper with delicate yellow wings is a real addition to the elf wedding. Harp Elf is a talented musician and will gently strum the  harp resting on her knees to create beautiful music for the bride and groom’s first dance. She will play late into the night providing the perfect atmosphere for a Bayala celebration. Launch date: May 2011.
— Erika Evers, owner of Dancing Bear Toys Limited in Hendersonville, N.C., told TDmonthly in a Summer 2011 survey that she sells 5 Schleich figures each day. She sites the figures' "museum-quality resin," and the store's large display, as reasons for their popularity.

When he was 14 years old, Peter Parker was bitten by a spider that had been irradiated in a nuclear experiment. Something in the spider's venom changed him, over night, from the nerdy kid he'd been to something else entirely. Given incredible strength, speed and stamina, he reveled in his power. The tragic death of his uncle threw Peter's good fortune into fierce perspective, giving him direction. From that day on, he vowed to battle evil wherever he could find it as The Amazing Spider-Man. Detailed with defined "muscles", pose this Spider-Man action figure in a battle-ready pose with his "spinning" web accessory aimed at the enemy! Fully articulated, he's ready to make a stand in your collection. Action figure comes with a "spinning" web accessory and a S.H.I.E.L.D. file with a secret code.
— Mike DiAndrea, manager of Hardware Toys in Paoli, Pa., told TDmonthly in a Summer 2011 survey that he sells 6 Spider-Man action figures from Hasbro each month, and that they're his best-selling action figure.
— In a Summer 2012 survey Elmer Carranza, manager of Doodlehopper 4 Kids in Springfield, Va., told TDmonthly that they sell a dozen Spider-Man figures each month.

Holland’s renowned artist, Charles Stephan, Korea’s ball-jointed dollmakers, Elfdoll, and China’s collectible culture kings, Toy2R; have produced a collaboration of international implications with the Alice Cherry Blossom Qees. The Qee figure was retooled to create a brand new head that is incredibly faithful to the original Alice Cherry Blossom. The 2.5-inch Charles Stephan’s Alice Cherry Blossom Qee series assortment includes these 5 characters: Alice Cherry Blossom, Gothic Hoody Alice, Ballerina Alice, School Angel Alice, and School Angel Billie. Assortment is window boxed for ease of choosing the Qee. Launch date: January 2010.