callout { font-family: verdana; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1. 3em; } td. think { height: 125px; background: #9DC4D8 url(http://images. amazon. com/images/G/01/electronics/detail-page/callout-bg. png) repeat-x; border-left: 1px solid #999999; border-right: 1px solid #999999; border-bottom: 1px dotted #000000; padding-left: 20px; padding-right: 20px; padding-bottom: 10px; width: 250px; } td. glance { height: 100%; background: #9DC4D8; border-left: 1px solid #999999; border-right: 1px solid #999999; padding-top: 10px; padding-left: 20px; padding-right: 20px; padding-bottom: 10px; width: 250px; } Baby Born is ready to go for a swim. Just pose her head and arms in the correct position, put her in the water, and she knows what to do. This doll is recommended for children age three and older. It's Fun to Watch Her in the Water Baby Born has sensors on her tummy that cause her to automatically start swimming the minute she hits the water, so there's no switch to worry about and no need to wind anything up. Just insert three AAA batteries (not included) in her back, and Baby Born is ready to swim. Your little girl will have fun taking the doll into the bathtub or pool with her. After Baby Born's swim or bath, dry her off, slide her feet into flip-flops, and cover her up with her mermaid skirt. If it's sunny, her headband and sunglasses will protect her sensitive eyes. Baby Born automatically starts swimming when she touches water. View larger. What We Think Fun Factor: Durability: (what this means) The Good: Doll actually swims, easy to operate The Bad: Loud motor In a Nutshell: Easy for a child to use, fun to play with At a Glance Ages: 3 and older Requires: 3 AAA batteries She Is a Strong Swimmer The doll is constructed of hard plastic with fully posable limbs and a head that turns 360 degrees. Embedded on the front of the doll are two very small sensors that, as soon as they touch water, cause the arms and legs to move. Baby Born is a vigorous swimmer; she moves her arms in full circles while kicking her legs. The design of this toy is excellent: The doll keeps her face out of the water and remains afloat as if she's actually swimming. Her clothing is bright and cheerful, and her pink nylon bathing suit dries quickly after removal. A matching sequined mermaid skirt (it covers her feet in a split fishtail) matches the bathing suit and gives her an outfit to wear when she's not in the water. Her accessories include flip-flops, sunglasses, and a headband. A small problem with the doll's sunglasses is that they fall off easily and don't fit properly across her nose. She Swims Fast, but Not Far For ideal balance, the manufacturer recommends holding the doll underwater until all the air bubbles disappear through the holes in her back. However, the doll's performance was excellent even without removing the excess air. In the event your three-year-old forgets the air-removal step, the doll should swim fine and evenly, without becoming unbalanced or listing to one side. For optimum results, it's best to have enough water in the tub (or pool) so the doll's legs can kick freely without coming into contact with a hard surface. Touching the bottom of the tub can cause her to swim crookedly. This, however, is not an issue with adequate water levels. Though the doll's form is excellent and she really does resemble a swimmer, she doesn't actually travel-a positive thing in general because it's the doll's activity that will appeal to your child, not the number of laps Baby Born completes. One minor quirk is that the motor powering this doll is very loud. What's in the Box Doll, bathing suit, mermaid skirt, flip-flops, sunglasses, headband, starfish.

3em; } td. think { height: 125px; background: #9DC4D8 url(http://images. amazon. com/images/G/01/electronics/detail-page/callout-bg. png) repeat-x; border-left: 1px solid #999999; border-right: 1px solid #999999; border-bottom: 1px dotted #000000; padding-left: 20px; padding-right: 20px; padding-bottom: 10px; width: 250px; } td. glance { height: 100%; background: #9DC4D8; border-left: 1px solid #999999; border-right: 1px solid #999999; padding-top: 10px; padding-left: 20px; padding-right: 20px; padding-bottom: 10px; width: 250px; } img. withlink {border:1px black solid;} Holiday Barbie wears a silvery snowflake gown. View larger. Chandelier earrings complement Barbie's glittering eyes. What We Think Fun Factor: Durability: (what this means) The Good: Elegant, shimmery, snowflake-themed gown is both festive and stylish The Bad: Shoes not as elegant as the dress In a Nutshell: Fans and collectors of Holiday Barbies will be proud to add this Barbie to their collection At a Glance Ages: 6 and up Barbie Shines for the Holiday Season This is essentially the same, sturdy Barbie we all know and love, but she's beautifully decked out for the holidays. The only assembly required is putting her stand together. Though Barbie's gown looks delicate, with it's gauzy, snowflake-embroidered bodice and silver skirt, the material is tough and durable. Her long, dangly earrings, however, could see some damage during over-enthusiastic play with small hands. But they're removable, so you can take them out if you think your girl might lose or break them. Living in a Winter Wonderland The holiday Barbies are all about wintry elegance and style, and the 2008 doll is no exception. Barbie's sophisticated holiday hairdo cascades down her back in a mass of curls tied slightly to the side. The sheer bodice of her gown-the same one she wears in the "Barbie in a Christmas Carol" DVD- is embroidered with shimmery snowflakes that match the silver of the tiered, pleated skirt. A gauzy sash wraps around her waist and floats down the front of the gown. White slingback heels complete Holiday Barbie's breathtaking ensemble. For those who like to keep Barbie in her packaging, the 2008 design doesn't disappoint: a red foil background is decorated with ornaments and 3-D snowflakes suspended in midair. Little Touches Make Barbie Fabulous We love the little touches on this Holiday Barbie, like the painted red nails that match her lipstick, the ultra-thick lashes, and the drop earrings that dangle down past her shoulders. We also like the snowflakes that shimmer lightly on her dress as if they've just fallen from the sky. Her right arm is cocked permanently at the elbow so it looks like she's waving. You can also turn this arm so her hand is on her hip. We could imagine however, that little girls might wish to bend the elbow into a normal position from time to time. And while Barbie's holiday gown manages to be both stunning and durable, her shoes are functional white plastic that don't really live up to the rest of the outfit (plus they're hard to put on). Fortunately, the shoes are hidden by the long dress. Overall, we think Barbie collectors and little girls alike will be thrilled to add this cooly fabulous 2008 Holiday Barbie to their collection. What's in the Box 2008 Holiday Barbie with gown, earrings, shoes, and display stand.

Around Barbie’s trim waist is a black belt with a crystal-accented buckle-reminiscent of something Mr. Claus might wear. The gown is removable-thanks to a Velcro back panel-so Barbie can wear something else after the holiday parties have turned into New Year resolutions. Barbie’s hair is in a half upsweep, with fat curls caressing her slender shoulders. Adorning her long blond locks is a complementary white fur headband. For accessories, Barbie wears a gold necklace with a snowflake pendant that has a small crystal twinkling in its center, matching snowflake earrings, long white gloves, and red shoes. Formal colors coat her lips and eyes, accentuating her perfect smile and flawlessly arched eyebrows. Whether the 2007 Holiday Barbie is your collection’s first or latest, it’s sure to be treasured for many years to come. Happy holidays! The special edition Barbie features an elegant gown made of soft velvet. View larger. Barbie is wearing a gold necklace with matching earrings. View larger.

Another special feature is the Good Deeds Garden. Every time a child does a real-world good deed, she can take a sticker (included in the Parent Guide) and decorate the back of the Mrs. Goodbee dollhouse. Some stickers hide secret codes that unlock special games on CaringCorners. com, so she'll have hours of fun with online activities as well! Visit www. CaringCorners. com to play interactive learning games designed to encourage children to display positive social behaviors. Requires 3 "AA" batteries, included. Measures 24"L x 9"W x 16"H. The colorful Mrs. Goodbee Talking Dollhouse from Caring Corners is sure to inspire lots of imaginative and cooperative play. Little girls will love the fun songs and sound effects, as well as the online good deeds garden they can gain access to. Small parts make this dollhouse inappropriate for children under three. caption { font-family: Verdana, Helvetica neue, Arial, serif; font-size: 10px; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; } ul. indent { list-style: inside disc; text-indent: -15px; } table. callout { font-family: verdana; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1. 3em; } td. think { height: 125px; background: #9DC4D8 url(http://images. amazon. com/images/G/01/electronics/detail-page/callout-bg. png) repeat-x; border-left: 1px solid #999999; border-right: 1px solid #999999; border-bottom: 1px dotted #000000; padding-left: 20px; padding-right: 20px; padding-bottom: 10px; width: 250px; } td. glance { height: 100%; background: #9DC4D8; border-left: 1px solid #999999; border-right: 1px solid #999999; padding-top: 10px; padding-left: 20px; padding-right: 20px; padding-bottom: 10px; width: 250px; } The dollhouse has a fold-out design that features a total of 12 rooms. View larger. Sound effects make the dollhouse interactive and engaging for children. View larger. What We Think Fun Factor: Durability: (what this means) The Good: Bright colors, fun songs, and lots of rooms to play in The Bad: Plastic construction; not many accessories included In a Nutshell: This dollhouse will inspire lots of imaginative play At a Glance Ages: 3 to 6 years Requires: 3 AA batteries (included) Meet Mrs. Goodbee With only a few plastic parts to snap in place, and with the three AA batteries already installed, the Mrs. Goodbee Talking Dollhouse is ready to go moments after it comes out of the box. Depending on how old your child is, you may need to apply the decorative decals yourself. There's 66 of them, including family photos for the walls, a shopping list to hang on the fridge, and dishes for inside the dishwasher. When your little girl is ready to play, she simply turns the unit on and rings the doorbell, which will cause the dollhouse to come to life. Mrs. Goodbee's eyes snap open, her lips light up, and she sings a welcoming song. As your child plays, eight audio activation points throughout the house keep the experience interactive. In the bathroom, Mrs. Goodbee offers comments like, "Flush, wash, wonderful! Good job. " When the fridge is opened, she may say "Brrrrrrrr" in response to the rush of cold air. Explore the Good Deeds Garden Online There's another whole world waiting online at www. caringcorners. com, where little girls can use the secret code that comes with their dollhouse to unlock the good deeds garden. The dollhouse offers children several games and tasks to choose from. Children can try their hand at feeding hungry fish or picking out the differences between two similar pictures. This feature is not simply designed with fun in mind; it's also designed to promote responsibility. Every time a child does a real-world good deed, she can take a sticker from the Parent Guide and use it to decorate the back of the dollhouse. Secret codes that unlock additional games are hidden under the stickers, making this a fun and engaging process, and one that encourages positive social behaviors. Fun Details and Additional Friends Even beyond the great sound effects, the Mrs. Goodbee house is full of thoughtful details that keep playtime interesting. Windows in the bedroom move up and down to reveal different scenes for daytime and nighttime. A lever by the oven reveals muffins, a pie, or a turkey cooking. With its unique fold-out design and six rooms on each side, there's plenty of room for multiple children to play at the same time. And when it's time to clean up, simply fold the house up with your child's dolls inside to save space. With all the use this dollhouse is sure to get, we are concerned that its construction may not hold up over time. The hinges and platforms seem sturdy, but they are made out of fairly thin plastic. Additionally, there aren't a lot of accessories that come with the dollhouse. This may not be an issue if your child already has dolls that will fit in this dollhouse, or if you invest in one or more of the fun accessory packs, such as Table Manners, A Book at Bedtime, or the Pet Playground. What's in the Box Interactive dollhouse, chimney, window, steps, swing, chair, dog, baby, girl, card key, three AA batteries, and three sheets of label stickers.

indent { list-style: inside disc; text-indent: -15px; } table. callout { font-family: verdana; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1. 3em; } td. think { height: 125px; background: #9DC4D8 url(http://images. amazon. com/images/G/01/electronics/detail-page/callout-bg. png) repeat-x; border-left: 1px solid #999999; border-right: 1px solid #999999; border-bottom: 1px dotted #000000; padding-left: 20px; padding-right: 20px; padding-bottom: 10px; width: 250px; } td. glance { height: 100%; background: #9DC4D8; border-left: 1px solid #999999; border-right: 1px solid #999999; padding-top: 10px; padding-left: 20px; padding-right: 20px; padding-bottom: 10px; width: 250px; } Recipe cards help you make the most of all the aromatherapy ingredients. View larger. The included spoon is perfect for measuring and mixing. View larger. What We Think Fun Factor: Durability: (what this means) The Good: A variety of fun bath and beauty products to make The Bad: Fountain can get messy In a Nutshell: A great way to encourage creativity At a Glance Ages: 8 and older Requires: 2 AA batteries Create a Personalized Scent The perfect accessory for sleep overs and rainy weekends, this Spa Factory set requires minimal set up. Simply use a Philips head screwdriver to insert two AA batteries (not included) in the fountain base and start mixing the ingredients. Fill the translucent flower and petals with water to see the fountain in action. Later on, its continuous motion will make sure perfumes are mixed well. Kids can follow the recipes on colorful cardboard cards to make fun concoctions, including herbal bouquet perfume, berry chocolate chip bath fizzies, or carnival candy lip gloss. There's hints for mixing up a calming clay facial mask, and if the included recipes aren't adventurous enough for your children, they can invent their own. Each kit comes with two fragrance oil packets and two flavor oil packets, so little girls may be mixing popular scents like lavender and jasmine with the fresh aroma of pink grapefruit. An adult may want to help out, especially at first, so the strongly scented oils don't overpower creations or end up in sensitive eyes. Bond with Friends and Develop Unique Gifts Included along with all the supplies for making unique bath and beauty products are containers to store them in. A pair of perfume gift bottles, and tubs for lip gloss or bath fizzies make this set perfect for sharing with friends and neighbors or packaging up your favorite scented creation to give as a gift. You'll be inspired by the way this set encourages cooperative play rather than competition. While there are ingredients for plenty of different creations, there isn't necessarily enough of some of the ingredients, like the lip gloss base, to make starting over easy when too much scent has been added. Girls should use the included pipette and add oils a single drop at a time to avoid shortages, and it's important for them to think through what they really want to make before they start creating. Adding new elements is likely to make mixing in the fountain even more fun, and girls will become increasingly adventurous as they make one cool mixture after another, so the specific scents that come with each set don't need to become a limiting factor. The fountain's pieces are all made of durable plastic, so it should enjoy a lengthy life as long as budding beauty product designers take some care with it and don't loose any of its parts. What's in the Box Fountain, 4 essential oil bottles, 2 fragrance oil packets, 2 flavor oil packets, perfume base, lip gloss base, fizz activator packet, citrus blend packet, oat blend packet, 4 recipe cards, 2 perfume bottles, 2 lip gloss jars, 2 bath body jars, spoon whisk, pipette, mini funnel, and sticker labels.

caption { font-family: Verdana, Helvetica neue, Arial, serif; font-size: 10px; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; } ul. indent { list-style: inside disc; text-indent: -15px; } table. callout { font-family: verdana; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1. 3em; } td. think { height: 125px; background: #9DC4D8 url(http://images. amazon. com/images/G/01/electronics/detail-page/callout-bg. png) repeat-x; border-left: 1px solid #999999; border-right: 1px solid #999999; border-bottom: 1px dotted #000000; padding-left: 20px; padding-right: 20px; padding-bottom: 10px; width: 250px; } td. glance { height: 100%; background: #9DC4D8; border-left: 1px solid #999999; border-right: 1px solid #999999; padding-top: 10px; padding-left: 20px; padding-right: 20px; padding-bottom: 10px; width: 250px; } img. withlink {border:1px black solid;} "Princess Liana" Barbie has beautiful blonde hair topped with a tiara. View larger. Her dress flips from plain to fancy with the turn of a knob. What We Think Fun Factor: Durability: (what this means) The Good: Sparkly dress, jeweled tiara, and light-up pendant turn this Barbie into a true princess The Bad: Barbie's dress can't be removed In a Nutshell: Little princesses everywhere will love playing with her At a Glance Ages: 3 and up Sparkly yet Sturdy Your little girl can play with this Barbie right out of the box. Parents might need to show younger kids how to flip Barbie's dress over with the turn of a knob (the instructions tell you how). You might also need to point out the tiny button that makes Barbie sing a song from "Barbie and the Diamond Castle," but once they know where it is, even little ones will be able to find it quickly. The stiff material of Barbie's purple, pink, and orange sparkly dress will stand up well to lots of play. Her matching purple, high-heeled shoes, on the other hand, could get easily lost or swallowed. Parents should help with the delicate operation of cutting Barbie's tiara free from the plastic that binds it to Barbie's head. Afterall, every princess likes to take off her crown once in a while! A Barbie with Bling This Barbie has a lot of bling - from the dress that makes a "bringg" sound when it flips from "plain" to "fancy," to the pendant that lights up during this same operation. Barbie's fancy dress, with a sparkling pink bodice and layers of shimmering orange gauze over pink "silk," will dazzle every girl. Plus, it looks just like the dress that Princess Liana wears in the movie. Your child will also love being able to remove Barbie's purple tiara with its orange jewel and the purple shoes that perfectly match her dress. If your child has the "Princess Alexa" doll (also based on a character from the movie), the two dolls can sing a special duet together while holding hands. And, of course, how could you forget Barbie's hair? Long, silky, and lustrous, girls will love brushing it with the heart-shaped gold brush that's included. A Princess from Head to Toe We appreciated the whole princess-like package - the tiara, the sparkly dress, the light-up pendant. Everyone child dreams of being royalty and we think think this singing Barbie will hit just the right note with your own would-be princesses. It would be nice if you could remove her princess dress for those days when Barbie wants a more casual look, but that isn't the case here. We like the hairstyle that Princess Liana sports (with two sections of hair knotted together at the nape of her neck), but we worry that younger girls might accidentally muss it with inadvertent brushing and end up with a bad-hair day for Barbie. These minor criticisms aside, we think this Barbie will be a hit with little girls even if they haven't seen the movie "Barbie and the Diamond Castle. " If they have seen it, they'll love their Princess Liana Barbie even more! What's in the Box Singing"Princess Liana" Barbie with two-in-one dress and light-up pendant, shoes, tiara, and hairbrush.

Available November 28, 2007. Little girls who love to play house can have their very own place with the Playskool Dream Town Rose Petal Cottage. And with its economical price and lightweight, compact build, parents are sure to be happy. Designed for children ages 3 and up, the Rose Petal Cottage lets kids take imaginative play to a whole new level. caption { font-family: Verdana, Helvetica neue, Arial, serif; font-size: 10px; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; } ul. indent { list-style: inside disc; text-indent: -15px; } table. callout { font-family: verdana; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1. 3em; } td. think { height: 125px; background: #9DC4D8 url(http://images. amazon. com/images/G/01/electronics/detail-page/callout-bg. png) repeat-x; border-left: 1px solid #999999; border-right: 1px solid #999999; border-bottom: 1px dotted #000000; padding-left: 20px; padding-right: 20px; padding-bottom: 10px; width: 250px; } td. glance { height: 100%; background: #9DC4D8; border-left: 1px solid #999999; border-right: 1px solid #999999; padding-top: 10px; padding-left: 20px; padding-right: 20px; padding-bottom: 10px; width: 250px; } img. withlink {border:1px black solid;} What We Think Fun Factor: Durability: (what this means) The Good: Lovely toy cottage will delight little girls' imaginations, makes a cost-effective choice The Bad: Lightweight construction is very convenient, but it makes for easy tip-over In a Nutshell: Playhouse provides an ideal environment for fun, imaginative play At a Glance Ages: 3 years and up Requires: adult assembly The cottage's two rooms nest for easy storage. View Larger. Greeting visitors at the front door is always fun. View larger. Charming Playhouse Features Delightfully Pretty Touches The Cottage consists of two open halves, each measuring approximately 37-by-18-by-42 inches (LxDxH), with the collapsible chimney adding about eight inches to the height. It's constructed with two lightweight plastic and metal frames, snugly fitted with a nylon exterior that meets the flammability requirements of CPAI-84. The included toy stove has plastic and fiberboard construction. All of the components require adult assembly. It took us about 1-1/2 hours to complete the job, and although no tools are required, you'll need a little bit of muscle to push the metal posts into the plastic connector pieces to construct the frames. After completing the frames, you next slide the nylon exterior on, which, as we discovered, requires a extra dose of patience. Since it's a tight fit, be careful! The fabric can snag and tear on the metal frame if you pull too hard or too quickly. Yes, it takes some time and effort to assemble - but it's well worth it. The Rose Petal Cottage is completely charming. Its cheerily printed exterior sports pretty pastel colors and old-fashioned roses, shutters and shingled-roof details, and a pink, vented chimney. Lace edges the roof and real curtains adorn the mesh-covered windows. The blue, Dutch-style door has a working mail slot, and it secures with two magnetic clasps. We were delighted with the Cottage's many configuration possibilities: set the two sides apart from each other in any position that's convenient for your home, and your child can play in an "open" space. Push them together in a closed, "one-room" configuration, and your child can enter and exit through the door. Vents in the chimney and the mesh-covered windows ensure good air circulation. She will love having a private place to play and imagine. Two small children can fit easily inside, with room for other toys. And when your child is finished playing, you can slide one side into the other for space-saving storage. Powered by Imagination These days it's not easy to find toys that don't blink and beep, which is why we find the Rose Petal Cottage so refreshing. It simply provides beautiful props to fuel your child's creativity without limiting her, leaving play completely up to her imagination - no batteries required. The Cottage benefits parents, too: it's less expensive than other child-size houses on the market, plus it stores compactly and, with its lightweight build, is a cinch to move around. However, because of its tent-like build, leaning against the back from the inside will cause it to wobble and even tip completely over if your child is not careful. We suggest making sure the house is set against a wall or sturdy backing during play. The Cottage comes with a stove, and additional toy appliances, furniture, and other accessories are available separate purchase should your child desire to furnish her cottage further. What's in the Box Components for assembling the Rose Petal Cottage: 2 fabric cottage covers, 30 connectors, and 38 frame tubes; unassembled toy stove. caption { font-family: Verdana, Helvetica neue, Arial, serif; font-size: 10px; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; } ul. indent { list-style: inside disc; text-indent: -15px; } The Dream Town Rose Petal Cottage gives your little girl a house of her own to live in, take care of and decorate. At just over four feet in height, this cottage offers more than enough playing space to little homeowners while still fitting comfortably within the confines of your living room. The Rose Petal Cottage opens up into a two-sided play arena, essentially giving your child not one but two rooms to explore. Recommended for ages three and up, this cottage will give your little girl's imagination a place to roam free. With the Petal Cottage your little girl can have a house of her own. View larger. View Side - Back The cottage can be easily stored away. The Perfect Playhouse Easy for an adult to assemble, the Rose Petal Cottage offers plenty of space to accommodate even the biggest imaginations. It measures 42 inches high by 37 inches wide by 18 inches deep, and will comfortably house your little girl and her friends along with several toys. The cottage has been built with only the softest and safest materials, ensuring your child's safety. For added fun, the cottage comes with a durable fiberboard stove - the perfect accessory for when it's time to prepare pretend meals. The stove has knobs that really turn and an oven door that opens. Charming Design The Rose Petal Cottage has been designed with the sensibilities of young girls in mind. It has a charming and quaint appearance, and is constructed with fabric walls to help children feel right at home. It comes complete with several draped windows, a Dutch door that opens and closes, and a delightful pink chimney. The cottage is colored in a warm mix of pastel blue, pink, viridian, and yellow - a palette that will be certain to appeal to any little girl. It even has several colored flower and ivy decals to give the cottage a welcoming, rustic feel. In addition, both of the cottage's "rooms" are totally unique and look different from one another, giving your child's imagination even more space to explore. What's in the Box Two fabric cottage covers, 38 poles, 28 connector pieces, Rose Petal Stove, and assembly instructions.