The Corolle booth at Toy Fair is my husband’s favorite stop each year. Not because he likes to play with dolls, but because he likes French champagne (and really, who doesn’t?). It’s become an annual tradition for him to lounge at a table, happily sipping champagne while I (usually either pregnant or breastfeeding) circulate through [...]
Archive for the ‘Dolls & Make Believe’ Category
Shop & Roll
Friday, August 28th, 2009Zev steals a turn with the Melissa & Doug Deluxe Grocery Cart while his older sisters are otherwise engaged. We brought lots of merchandise with us to the Cape to photograph for this year’s holiday catalog, but this has been the most popular by far - even with our smallest toy tester.
The Circus is back in town
Thursday, August 21st, 2008This is my 14th summer with Sheri’s family in Cape Cod. There are a lot of indications of the time that has passed these many summers – we’re not teenagers anymore. We’re married, we have kids of our own. And Sheri’s littlest sister, just a baby that first summer, is 15 now.
In those early years, [...]
One heck of a cardboard box
Monday, February 25th, 2008Making environmentally friendly toys has become a priority for a lot of toymakers, but one is taking that to a whole new level. Cardboard Design has come out with a line of sturdy, foldable cardboard play environments that are beautifully done and incredibly kind to the planet. My favorite is probably the Lemonade stand, coming [...]
Imaginative Children
Wednesday, December 5th, 2007Playing make believe is one of those sacrosanct rituals of childhood. Kids can entertain themselves for hours, alone or with friends, lost in a world of pretend. Props can vary wildly, depending on what’s available. When I was little, my best friend and I could spend entire days in my basement with nothing but a [...]
Funny Faces
Tuesday, November 6th, 2007When the Ty Girlz first made their debut I mentioned that I’d felt conflicted about them. The racy outfits and Bratz-like faces were a bit off-putting to parents looking for wholesome toys. I guess I wasn’t alone.
Ty has now taken a step back and made some modifications to the Girlz. The newer releases have more [...]
Girls around the world
Thursday, August 2nd, 2007At Toy Fair in February, I mentioned a new line of dolls by a company called Karito Kids. I was struck by how beautiful they were, and I loved the charitable tie-in that gave kids the opportunity to use the Internet to help other kids across the world. Now, finally, these dolls are in stock. [...]
What’s with this fairy?
Monday, March 26th, 2007When the binky fairy came a few weeks ago, you may recall that she left my daughter a fairy doll. This doll has quickly become a beloved companion. Today, this same little girl turned 3. Yesterday, my mother-in-law brought her to Magic Beans to choose a birthday present, and don’t you know? She came home [...]
Speaking of fairies (and rockets, too)
Tuesday, March 13th, 2007One of my favorite new make believe toys is the Fancy Flutterpack from Cranium and its space-themed sibling, the Turbo Rocketpack. Both of these are designed to be worn on a child’s back, and both have a push button that sits on the shoulder strap. Push it and wings pop out of the pack. Pull [...]
Hyperinteractivity
Monday, February 12th, 2007Lately, it seems like everyone is talking about Webkinz. These stuffed virtual pets are all the rage among middle school kids all over the country (if you’ve never heard of them, read my previous entry about them here). So it’s not really a surprise that their success is spawning at least a handful of eager [...]
