June 2009 Notable Toys — Dolls

Designed to help children stop sucking their thumbs, this puppet and storybook includes stickers and weekly calendar to chart successes. Ballerina Sue can be worn at bedtime and throughout the day. There's also a Fireman Fred version.

This sweet-faced baby doll comes packaged with 15 play accessories themed around a young girl's pajama party. An extra sleeper set, stuffed animal, sleeping bag, bib and coordinated feeding set make this take-along set a good complement for nights away from home. The set is packaged, with baby, in a reusable tote bag. 
— “Small World, All About Baby,” Angel Stahl, owner of Angel's Toy Barn told TDmonthly when asked in May 2009 about the best-selling doll line in her Greensburg, Pa., store.

The Only Hearts Club line of fashion and role-play dolls is filled with detail and realism aimed at encouraging young girls to follow their hearts and make good choices. Hannah Faith is 9” tall with a soft body, detailed vinyl face and long black hair. On the Only Hearts Club website, Hannah is described as a little shy, but talented at her hobbies of figure skating and gymnastics.
— Three out of 43 retailers told TDmonthly in May 2009 that Only Hearts Club dolls are a top-selling doll line in their stores.

Gotz's Jessica is a young lady ready for an adventure. She's 18” tall, with detailed vinyl arms, legs and head, and a flexible soft body for cuddling and posing. The Precious Day Collection is machine-washable, featuring rooted hair that will stand up to brushing, styling, washing and all other TLC that girls give their favorite dolls. Gotz Precious Day Girls are sized to the same scale as the American Girl dolls, making the clothing, shoes and other accessories in a child's collection interchangeable. Jessica has long blonde hair, blue eyes that close, and a layered skirt that coordinates with her printed pink and white top.   
— “In the Gotz, it's the toddler and older-looking girls that do better,” John Naisbitt, owner of Thinker Things in Del Mar, Calif., said in spring 2009 of what makes Gotz one of his top-selling doll lines.
— Five of 43 retailers told TDmonthly in May 2009 that Gotz is a top-selling line in their stores. 

Boldly striking the balance between sweet and funky, Fleur strikes out in Groovy style. This 13” soft fabric fashion and play doll arrives dressed in a short pink jacket, chunky striped skirt and leopard print leggings tied together with satin shoes to match her jacket. She has soft plush skin, a tumble of bouncy yarn hair, and a bright-eyed stitched expression.
— “Groovy Girls are our best sellers in the doll category,” said Kim Emigh, VP of e-commerce at Growing Tree Toys in State College, Pa., in spring 2009.
— “Groovy Girls do well for us,” said Jason Curtis, owner of Funtopia in Middleton, Calif., in response to a May 2009 survey on best-selling dolls.
— Twenty-eight percent of 43 retailers surveyed told TDmonthly in May 2009 that Groovy Girls are a top seller in their stores.

This 12” doll with sleeping eyes is suitable for 18 months and up. She has a cuddly beanbag-body, allowing her to be in a little girl's embrace, or to be posed to sit up for more engaging pretend play. Calin dolls are machine washable, making care of this favorite plaything easy and confident. 
— “Corolle is our top selling doll,” said Theresa Oppenheim, owner of Toy World in Wayanta, Minn., in response to a May 2009 survey of best selling dolls. 
— “Corolle is outstanding and that's what we stay with,” Jane Beck, owner of B J Beck's Toys in Cedarburg, Wis., told TDmonthly in spring 2009.
— “Those are the best dolls on the market,” Lori Hershman said of Corolle in her Hamden, Conn., toy store, Evan's Toy Shoppe. Hershman was among 26 of 43 storeowners who named Corolle as their best-selling doll line in May 2009.

Hair extensions that snap into place give girls a chance to be creative with their babies. Like all Cabbage Patch Kids, each baby comes with a birth certificate and adoption papers. Additional Hair Play Accessory Packs are sold separately. Launch date: Fall 2009.

The first thing anybody wants to know about a new baby is if it's a girl or a boy. These dolls, wrapped in a leaf, recreate this suspense when a little girl brings the doll home and unwraps the leaf to discover if the diaper is pink or blue. Launch date: Fall 2009.

Taking a break from celebrity, Miley goes back to the farm, and is reunited with this beautiful horse in the Hannah Montana movie. The doll comes with fashions directly from the movie. Girls may be inspired to recreate movie scenes or script their own fun.

“The Juku Couture line gives young girls a creative outlet for self-expression through fashion based on the mismatched trend,” said Jennifer Caveza, VP of marketing for JAKKS Pacific. Each girl has her own story and personality: Audrina is preppy; Jun is a girly girl; Hayley is athletic and a naturalist; and Kana is a romantic punk girl. Each features multiple points of articulation and tradable clothes.

Coinciding with the release of the “Snow White Platinum Edition” DVD, Snow White comes with her woodland friends. Placing the bluebird in her hand will make it whistle. Placed in her hand again, the two of them sing together. A third time, Snow White sings “Someday My Prince Will Come” while her sleeves light up. Launch date: July 2009.

Expanding the world of Baby In My Pocket is a series of playsets, including Playtime Preschool and Naptime Nursery (pictured). Gentle pastels and miniature toys and rattles complete the scene. Each set comes with more than 20 accessories, three poseable Babies and photo stickers.

Three different babies come in each set of this collectible toy line. The triple packs also come with photo stickers so girls can keep track of all the babies they've cared for.

Music is one element that made the movie. The dolls come with a microphone that plays a signature song from the movie. Gabriella, Troy and Sharpay lend their voices to the songs, or kids can take turns with the characters, back and forth, like a karaoke night. If the microphone is close to the doll's mouth, the characters' voices start singing in perfect timing with the song.

The charismatic teens from the movie series — Gabriella, Troy, Sharpay, Ryan, Taylor, Chad and Kelsi — are captured as fashion dolls from a key scene in “High School Musical 3.” The poseable dolls are dressed in their formal graduation attire, complete with cap and gown, and even class rings for the girls.

A 3” scented Strawberry Shortcake can hang out in this two-story cafe that comes with furniture, play food, a spinning smoothie machine and even a bird friend to ride. No batteries are needed. Launch date: Fall 2009.

This fashionable friend has tons of beauty options. Girls can comb her hair, or style it with included clips, barrettes and hair extensions. An applicator, after it’s been chilled in the freezer, can be used to trigger the color-change feature of the doll, giving it eye shadow, lipstick and a little berry on her cheek. Stickers complete the scene. The 11” doll has the classic strawberry scent and requires no batteries. Launch date: Fall 2009.

Shaped like a giant gumball machine, this house has two levels of fun. Sweetie Belle, from the Newborn Cuties line, can have her friends over for a snack in the first floor kitchen, take the musical elevator up, and check out the view over the giant lollipop balcony. It comes with Sweetie Belle, and a house full of accessories like a kitchen set shaped like candies. Launch date: Fall 2009.

Kids can feed, groom and dress their pets in a new playset that promises hours of activities. There's a spinning playpen, salon and more than 30 accessories. The center has storage space for pets and can be carried so girls can take their collections anywhere. Launch date: Fall 2009.

Barbie Millicent Roberts, after half a century of different careers and pursuits, is returning to her roots. This new version of the original teenage fashion doll wears a two-piece bathing suit and a cell phone. Her face and the tone of her skin, lips, eyes and hair have been painstakingly updated while keeping the iconic look. Mattel estimates that a Barbie doll is sold somewhere in the world every 3 seconds.

This Asian-American doll is part of the Friends Forever Girls series of dolls and books that focus on friendship, character and community. She comes with "The First Day of Forever" book. Launch date: September 2009.

This 18" vinyl doll represents a character in the Friends Forever Girls series of dolls and books centered on friendship, community and character. She comes with a purse accessory, a Butterfly Promises bookmark, and "The First Day of Forever" book.

This soft, huggable and sweet-smelling redhead just might become a “berry” best friends. A case includes eight individually packaged dolls. "She might be tiny, but Strawberry Shortcake has a huge heart! Her friends love to gather at her Berry Café, where they can always count on Strawberry Shortcake for a helping hand and some berry delicious treats — no wonder she’s everyone’s best friend in Berry Bitty City!" Jenna Banks, director of sales for EE Distribution, told TDmonthly. Launch date: July 2009.

The company's longtime sweetheart, the Press 'n Dress Doll & Outfit Collection, is available in an embroiderable carry case for personalization. Developed from the concept of paper dolls, each interchangeable cloth outfit has secure Velcro® backing so kids can just “press to dress.” The product is tested and certified safe for all ages, and is designed to develop role playing and social skills. "Press ‘n Dress is absolutely perfect for the little girls who have not yet developed the small motor skills to dress and undress a traditional doll," May Grant, director of communications for Pockets of Learning, told TDmonthly. Press 'n Dress has received the following awards: Dr. Toy Best Vacation Toy in 2000; National Parenting Publications (NAPPA) Honors Award Winner in 2002; and a TDmonthly Top Toy award in 2008. Launch date: June 2009.