One of a charming series of 11-inch cuddly bears that comes with its own suitcase for toting about. The Pirate Bear comes beige or light honey brown plush with velvety snout and paws and wears a red neckerchief and eye patch. He comes in a brown carrying case that makes him an easy take-along travel companion for away from home adventures. You can also find Hanes, a golden brown bear without any costume in a case, or Edgar, with a shaggy look and a blue bow tie with a brown suitcase.  These are classic bears from a company usually known for their collector line, but these are truly designed for play.

The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab.

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2010. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

This blue-eyed beauty is a loveable 14" soft doll, dressed up in a white and pink dress with pink ribbon sash. She has hot pink Mary Jane shoes and a pink pocketbook. The Miss Corolle dolls have plenty of long hair for styling and sleepy eyes that open and close. She is hand washable. They say 3 & up. We think she'll be enjoyed more by older girls.

The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab.

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2010. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

This gorgeous 22" African doll from Kenya is fashioned to look like an eleven year old girl and is dressed for sport in a pink, orange and purple soccer outfit. She is one of a collection of multicultural dolls that comes packaged with a book. This purchase is not about the book. You’ll find better books on our book list. This is all about the doll. Her body is soft, but her arms and legs, like her head, are hard vinyl and beautifully molded. This collection has a presence online, as well with games, extra outfits, and a charity that encourages kids to donate money to those more needy. These are definitely dolls for older girls who have a more worldly view and are open to learning about other countries and the dreams of girls from far away. Unlike old-fashioned foreign doll collections, these were designed to be played with…not just displayed. They were also designed to encourage girls to think beyond the confines of their home base. Also in the collection is Pita from Mexico, Ling from China, Zoe from New York City, Piper from Australia. 

The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab.

Age: Early School Years, Later School Years. Award Year: 2010. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

This gorgeous 22" brunette doll from Italy is fashioned to look like an eleven year old girl and is dressed in a knit orange and olive green outfit with leaopard dot trim and matching shoes. Gia is into fashion design. She is one of a collection of multicultural dolls that comes packaged with a book. This purchase is not about the book. You'll find better books on our book list. This is all about the doll. Her body is soft, but her arms and legs like her head are hard and beautifully molded. This collection has a presence online, as well with games, extra outfits, and a charity that encourages kids to donate money to those more needy. These are definitely dolls for older girls who have a more worldly view and are open to learning about other countries and the dreams of girls from far away. Unlike old fashioned foreign doll collections, these were designed to be played with…not just displayed. They were also designed to encourage girls to think beyond the confines of their home base. Also in the collection is Pita from Mexico, Lulu from Kenya, Zoe from New York City, Piper from Australia. 8 & up. The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab.

Age: Early School Years, Later School Years. Award Year: 2010. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Calista is from an affordable collection of 18" multicultural dolls that budget minded shoppers will appreciate. Calist's photo here does not do her justice. She is full of life and really cute. Calista appeared too late for our list last year, so we will treat her as new, although this year's entries are Yuko, an Asian beauty and Gianna a pretty doll with brunette hair. Calista, is an African American beauty who happens to wear glasses. The Best Friend Club Dolls do not have soft bodies and their joints are a little weird, but mostly covered with jeans and such. They come packaged with extra sports clothing and a book/journal that gives the reader background on the doll as well as space to write about themselves. There are plenty of accessories sold separately and an online site where there are games. 6 & up.

The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab.

Age: Early School Years. Award Year: 2010. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

An affordable collection of 18" multicultural dolls that budget minded shoppers will appreciate. These appeared too late for our list last year, so we will treat them as all new, although this year's entries are Yuko, an Asian beauty and Gianna a pretty doll with brunette hair. The Best Friends Club collection also includes blondes, brunettes and another of our favorites, Calista, an African American beauty who happens to wear glasses. These do not have soft bodies and their joints are a little weird, but mostly covered with jeans and such. They come packaged with extra sports clothing and a book/journal that gives the reader background on the doll as well as space to write about themselves. There are plenty of accessories sold separately and an online site where there are games. 6 & up.

The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab.

Age: Early School Years, Later School Years. Award Year: 2010.

An amazing new collection of 18" dolls has just entered the scene and they are good news for consumers. Just look at the price! They do look a lot like the higher priced dolls. This collection of lovely dolls is available with blonde, brunette and black wavy hair. They come in several skin tones and fashionable clothes. There are three dolls in the collection: Ava, Gabriella, and Rachel. The dolls have soft torsos, sleeping eyes, jointed bodies, but solid legs and arms and each comes dressed in a school day kind of outfit plus two pairs of shoes. Ava is wearing pink clogs and Gabriella is wearing pink platform sandals, both come with a pair of gold Mary Janes. We did not see Rachel in person. Best of all, you can buy matching dresses for child and doll and they are not only special, they will not break the bank. There are also matching sports clothes, costumes, outerwear, and sleepwear. Dress sizes range from 2T to 16 depending on the style you choose and they are priced from $34 & up. Many of the dresses are perfect for holiday parties. They say 3 & up, but this is really a doll for slightly older girls.

 The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab.

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2010.

Instead of a premade doll, this year's American Girl is one you custom designed online. You and your child decide if her hair is blonde, brunette, curly, straight. You decide her skin tone and if she has freckles or wears glasses. You and your child can go online and custom-choose all the variables and then outfit her, too. Of course, you need a wardrobe budget and if price is not a limiting factor you can order up matching clothes for child and doll, not to mention all the furniture and accessories. There's even a manicure set and chair for a pedicure with a footrest - honest! Unlike the historic dolls this comes without a book as her story is one created entirely by the child she belongs to. Instead of a book, the company has created a website with games, quizzes, and activities that girls can enter via "Innerstar University" with an access code that comes with the doll. The games are designed for very young users. We have to confess that what has always set the American Girl apart from so many others was the quality of the dolls themselves, the book connection as well as the links to history. Their stories made history come alive with books by well know writers and the period clothes and crafts were a part of the package. This stripped down design-your-own-doll will surely have appeal to many, as will the website, but we hope that American Girl will not change its long standing mission.  

Age: Early School Years, Later School Years. Award Year: 2010.

Each year there is a boy doll in the Groovy Doll collection and this year is no exception. Knight Keanan has short blond yarn hair. He wears a purple royal satiny cape and a golden shield on his chest. His sword and boots are made of shiny silvery fabric. He looks ready for Camelot.

The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab.

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2010. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

This adorable fabric covered Moses Basket will fit up to 15" dolls. It is soft and lightweight. The padded carrying handles make it easy to tote. If comes with a blanket and pillow. It’s yellow on the base and trimmed with green, white and yellow print. This new product is being introduced along with the new Stella Boy baby, but the handles of the basket have pink ribbons that you might want to remove. Although we could not spot any small parts, this is marked 3 & up.

The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab.

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2010. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.