Today I’ll share some truly unique websites for ordering multicultural gifts, such as dolls of different ethnicities and disabilities, art supplies, books, puppets, videos, ornaments and more.
I realize some of you organized folks are done shopping, but I’d still like to share what I’ve come across and suggest that you bookmark these sites for next year or for your next birthday or “Gotcha Day” celebration.
Started by an adoptive mother of girls from Vietnam, Mandy’s Moon features ornaments that you can customize with a message and with faces (up to four) with nine choices of skin and hair color. It also features Korean and Vietnamese treetop angels. The site carries a wide variety of Asian dolls, both boy and girl dolls. They have soft dolls for the very young and realistic-looking baby, toddler and older girl dolls. There are First Communion dolls who are Latina, Asian, African-American. There are Precious Moments dolls from around the world and musical dolls. They carry a line of “Children of the World” T-shirts, mugs, stationery, etc. that shows a group of children in different costumes. I was impressed to see not only 30+countries represented, but with there being several dolls of different ethnicities wearing “USA” T-shirts. The site also carries Vietnamese handicrafts and will personalize “I’m big brother/sister” shirts with faces of children with the hair and skin colors of your children.
Asia for Kids is one of the most wonderful sites for books for both adults and children, covering many countries such as Cambodia, the Philippines, the Middle East, Korean, Japan, China, Vietnam, and more. It has language learning resources and software designed for kids, as well as a specific section of adoption books. In addition to books they carry Chinese and Korean stamps (both boy and girl), sumi painting brush sets, abaci, Angels of the World ornaments. The Dr. Yue-Sai doll is a great role model of a doll (about the size of Barbie) who comes with a doctor’s coat and stethoscope as well as office furniture depicting both Western and Eastern medicine.
Culture for Kids is similar to Asia for Kids but has Russia and other countries as well as Asia rice paper and brushes, Chinese knotting cord. Doll clothes: Vietnamese, Korean for American Girl Dolls and Language Littles.
Stay tuned in the next day or two for two more blogs covering books and gifts for children of different cultures and ethnicities.
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