As I contemplate holiday shopping, I’ve been checking out some products I’ve reviewed in past blogs and discovering new resources as well. More and more, it is possible to find gifts representing children of all ethnicities—including multiracial—and abilities.
First, the bad news. Jambo Kids, which I reviewed last year, was a line of six dolls who each had an adoption story. Two were from the U.S. and one each was from China, Guatemala, Russia and Liberia. I can still reach the website, but the links to actually purchase products seem to not be functional. I have a message in to the proprietors to ask if they are still in business. Meanwhile, the site has some fun bios of the characters and some printable coloring pages of various ethnicities which are actually quite good.
Precious Baby Dolls is launched by a woman who placed a child for adoption (the “Kimberly Caryn” doll bears the name she would have chosen for her child) and then later adopted a doll from Guatemala. There is a Caucasian doll, a Guatemalan doll, and a Russian doll. This year there is a Chinese doll available. The website says that African-American twin baby dolls are being developed. It does not mention “Mariam Asabi”, which the site last year said was under development.
My last blog, on the website Dolls Like Me , focused on some of the many non-doll items they carry. The site has many baby dolls, toddler and preschool-age dolls, school-age dolls; many quite realistic-looking.
The popular Karito Kids line donates donates 3% of profits to charity. Purchasers can use the website to choose a charity. The website also has children’s activities. These are 21-inch posable dolls. The makers say most clothes designed for 18-inch dolls will fit them. New this year are soft-bodied twelve-inch representations of the same characters. Designed for travel, they come with a story about global trips undertaken by the characters: Piper from Australia travels to Ireland, Gia from Italy travels to France and Greece, Lula from Kenya travels to Egypt, Pita from Mexico travels to Brazil, Ling from China travels to Russia, and Zoe from the USA travels to Canada and England. I especially like this because it helps prevent kids from getting the stereotype that only Americans are world travelers.