It started out as a joke around here, but now we are actually watching EXTRA. What will Mario have to say next? We realize he knows everyone. It’s amazing. Who needs CNN when you have breaking news from Mario?
EXTRA TV vs. CNN
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Pick of the Day: Les Deglingos
The weather is a little zany here in nyc…windy, oddly warm, sun, then no sun…in any case it made me think of the really playful collection of Les Deglingos. Everyone that comes into our office reaches for them…they have a folk art feel–but are edgy all at the same time. The mixture of textures are fun for little fingers to explore. Read our full review.
Pick of the Day: Creativity for Kids Felt Fashions Messenger Bag
If you have a school aged girl on your list this holiday season, take a look at Creativity for Kids’ Felt Fashions Messenger Bag. Here’s an easy to do craft project that girls will enjoy both doing and using! The felt pieces are fun to design with – and easy enough for 7 and up- for a full review and shopping info visit toyportfolio.com.
Doll Wars…the Naked Truth
There’s so much written about Barbie’s body…and the impact it has on girls. I thought it would be useful to compare her body (from the Barbie and the Three Musketeers theme) to that of the new Liv dolls (Spinmaster) and the Moxie Girlz (MGA Entertainment).
First we took a look at their feet.
From left to right: Moxie, Liv and Barbie
As you can see Moxie has pretty big flat feet. Good for standing on but pretty clumsy looking. Liv also has flat feet and can actually stand in her sneakers (our testers loved this aspect). Liv also has articulated toes–a very nice touch. Barbie has….Barbie feet–she can’t stand in her bare feet–but then again she gets to wear purple boots. I acknowledge my obsession with these particular boots.
Dolls sans Clothing
If you’ve every played with these fashion dolls and little kids, you know they usually end up without their clothes. In part, kids are curious about what’s underneath –and because preschoolers now play with these dolls–they don’t have the fine-motor skills to put the clothes back on. In fact, the dolls often end up without heads. I didn’t feel the need to do that here, but it happens.
From left to right: Barbie, Moxie Girlz, Liv
Size: You’ll note that Moxie (in the middle) is far smaller than either Barbie or Liv.
Age: Moxie Girlz clearly looks more like a middle schooler -rather than an older teen. She is, as they named her much more girl like.
Limberness: Liv is the most limber– she has arms and legs that are jointed at the elbows and the knees. Her head, hands, hips and feet also move. Barbie has one arm permanently at an angle. Only her arms, legs and head move (but not at the knees or elbows). Barbie’s feet are in a frozen in a “yes, you may try the glass slipper pose”). Moxie Girlz– has both arms in a permanent straight position–they only move from her arm pits. Her legs from the hip — and you can move her head and big feet.
From Behind
From left to right: Moxie Girlz, Barbie, Liv
Realistic…not really unless you model for J.Crew. Our testers liked the underwear on the Moxie Girlz. Looking at this now–Barbie looks a little hippy…amazing.
Liv’s Head
Just so there are no surprise, Liv’s hair piece comes off and you’re left with a doll that has sculpted short hair. We were a little taken aback by it, but our testers loved putting the hair on and off–she has a hole at the crown of her head.
Spinmaster's Liv Doll
Doll Wars…Barbie, Liv, Moxie Girlz and Princess Tiana Go Head to Head
I’ve spent a lot of time this season defending Barbie and her friends. Odd since I would never be caught dead playing with a Barbie as a kid. But with my professional toy reviewer hat on…I dug really deep…so here are the results of our testing this season.
Our Favorites:
Disney's Princess Tiana
1. Princess & The Frog Princess Tiana– As the first African-American Disney Princess she is notable just by her existence, but we really like the Just One Kiss Doll…and the silliness of her gown lighting up. Watch our video.
Liv Dolls from Spinmaster
2. Liv Dolls– Spinmaster’s new line of fashion dolls. At first I was a little freaked out by their heads (you can take off their wigs and replace with new ones!). Underneath they have painted heads-very short. Think Annie Lenox–and then a little post chemo therapy. Yes, it’s a little odd–but let me tell you the girls that played with these dolls loved the hairplay action of popping new hair on. That’s right– the dolls’ have a hole in the top of their heads so the wigs really stay on. They look like teenagers -something our early school year girls loved! They don’t look like street walkers (a la Bratz). Read our full review.
3. Moxie Girlz Best Friends– New from MGA, the makers of Bratz. Hats off to the toned down new collect of Moxie Girlz. They look somewhat related to the originals–think of the sixth grader who wants to look like the 11th grader but can’t pull it off exactly.
Moxie Girlz Best Friends from MGA Entertainment
They are sweeter looking–but they still wear a little fishnet (worked into their shirts instead of on their legs). Our testers enjoyed this collection as well. They come with ridiculously fun and silly big wigs that you strap on to the dolls head. Our testers preferred the snap in feature of the Liv dolls on this point. Read our full review.
4. Barbies of Note. We’re always big on Barbies that take an active role beyond going to the mall. This year we have given awards to
Barbie and The Three Musketeers Doll
Personally, I love the Three Musketters because of her wickedly great purple boots…but our testers really loved playing vet and TV Chef!
Barbie and the Three Musketeers (Mattel)
ELMO…feeling a little left out
In seasons past, ELMO is the toy we get all the calls for -someone in desperate need for the latest version of the original Tickle Me Elmo Doll. We have particular fondness for the original – Joanne brought Elmo on the TODAY Show – Bryant Gumbel loved it–and played with it for the entire show.
This season, ELMO is being completely ignored. A smaller, perhaps cuter critter has grabbed the imagination of children and media outlets everywhere -even though ELMO tells jokes this year as well as any Borscht Belt comedian. Oh and yes, he’s still throwing kisses…it could break your heart. Watch our video. 
Princess & the Frog: Princess Tiana Just One Kiss Doll
Disney's Princess Tiana
Last week I talked about this doll as one of the top five hottest toys in toyland on the TODAY Show. But because I only had two minutes to discuss five toys, I didn’t have time to demonstrate why this particular Princess Doll is so much fun. Watch our toyportfolio.com video and you’ll see the interactive/light up features of this talking doll.
Right after my segment, I got an email from Disney–reminding me that there were less expensive Princess Tiana dolls…so true. You can get your Princess fix for under $16. The Just One Kiss doll retails for $24.99–and I already see lots of price gauging. There are plainer Princess Dolls–but we have not personally seen or tested them–I do see some complaints on line about the quality of the least expensive version–but we can’t confirm. We’re thrilled that Disney is featuring the first African-American Princess. If you’d also like a book, we’d recommend Princess and the Royal Ball by Natasha A. Tarpley/illustrated by James Finch)–a full review is on our site.
Heavily Promoted: Fisher-Price's Trio Building Set
I got to catch a lot of tv this holiday weekend–and started to see the waves of toy tv commercials. Some reminded me of toys that did not win awards from us…and that we needed to post more reviews!!
When we first saw TRIO at toy fair we were all excited. We love open-ended building sets and really get psyched when a large toy company gets behind a new system–making the access to it more affordable. Unfortunately TRIO did not fare well with our testers. The product is marked for kids 3 and up – so we enlisted one of our hard core DUPLO builders–thinking this would be the most likely audience. He had the same trouble we did manipulating the pieces. Unlike DUPLO, it’s hard to pull the pieces apart. We then tried them with a four year old builder–and had the same reaction. We hope the folks at Fisher-Price work on the “pull” factor. The pieces are pleasing–but too frustrating for the intended audience. Our recommendation is to stick with a basic DUPLO bucket at this age.
Uptick in sale of real Hamsters?
How many parents will opt for the real thing when they can find the fake Zhu Zhu Hamsters?
Remember if you bring them home…Hamsters are known for eating their young. One parent had to explain to their kids why there were 14 little hamsters when they went to sleep and only four when they woke up!
Are you ready for CyberMonday?
Wondering what will be the most sought after toys for CyberMonday. Given all the media hype around the Zhu Zhu Hamsters, we’ll start making some recommendations for some equally cool novelty toys that my just do the trick.