Princess Tiana Costume SOLD OUT

The Princess Tiana costume from Disney's forthcoming The Princess and the Frog movie promises to be the hottest costume for Halloween this year. However, the better costume by Disguise (not to be confused with the cheap knock-off selling for $10 - $15) is sold out at the manufacturer and at DollsLikeMe.com. So, if you see it and you want it, better grab it quick. You will probably be able to find it at better costume stores in your community.

BTW, the costume is also a great idea for Princess Tiana birthday parties. Imagine your little princess all done up on her special day!!!

We'll have more soon. Most likely not in time for Halloween, though.

In other The Princess and the Frog news, we'll start shipping our Deluxe Party Packs on October 7. The shipping department is already overbooked for October 7 -8 - 9. So new orders for the Deluxe Party Pack won't ship until at least October 10. The $10 Instant Rebate for pre-orders of the Deluxe Party Packs ends September 30. So hurry. On October 1, the price goes back up to $94.95.

I'm Back! Muslim Doll, Amirah, Back by Popular Demand

Back by popular demand and just in time to celebrate Ramadan and forthcoming Eid al-Fitr is our Amirah Doll and Accessories set. This modestly dressed doll, who wears a traditional “hijab” (headpiece), is the latest in the Dolls Like Me family of products featuring children of color.

DLM president, Denise Gary Robinson has spent the last five years providing self-esteem-building, relevant toys that feature or include children of different colors and cultures. We're excited that our doll family now includes a package for Muslim girls.

The Amirah Doll and Accessories include an 18” Springfield doll (with rooted hair) who arrives in a travel case. Amirah is dressed in a hijab custom created for Dolls Like Me by Hijabi, floor-length denim skirt, long-sleeve white top, underpants, socks and dress shoes. Her accessories include a bathrobe and slipper set; a doll hair brush; pajamas; an additional top, panty and sock set; and an Eid gift card. Amirah can also wear clothing designed for American Girl™ and other 18” dress-up dolls sold at Dolls Like Me.

Amirah, who is available in four skin tones: tan, medium brown, dark brown and white, promises to provide hours of wholesome, classic fun for girls ages 3 - 10. The Amirah and Accessories package is currently on sale for $79.95 (Reg. $84.95), while supplies last. Dolls Like Me is also introducing children's Eid al-Fitr cards this year. The cards, available in the three styles below, are $1.59 each.

Special Note: Dolls Like Me would like to extend best wishes for a happy, peaceful Ramadan to our entire family of Muslim friends and customers... Ramadan Mubarak.

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Wow! New Multicultural OrigiNolls Promise to add Style and Grace to any Space

The manufacturer brought these fresh, funky cuties to our attention and we could not wait to tell you about them. Today we’re introducing OrigiNolls™ -- a unique global village of multi-ethnic, fashion theme resin dolls. The series of twelve 8-inch collection dolls are beautifully handcrafted, combining culture and fashion. Their solid, quality construction and fresh, funky wardrobes are a reflection of today's realities.

Available online, exclusively at Dollslikeme.com, these cute character dolls are composed of phthalate-free solid resin, with a look and style that every young woman (as well as the young at heart) can relate to.

Lynette Opoku, designer and brainchild behind OrigiNolls says, “Clearly there is not one kind of girl in the world, the OrigiNolls reflect just that.” OrigiNolls are sure to be one of the hottest collectible trends this fall, with an educational element and Website that helps build self-esteem by teaching young women to appreciate themselves and others, while encouraging them to dream, grow, aspire and imagine beyond their dreams. Lena and Miika are our favorites. You'll have to check them out online to decide which ones are your favorites.

These cute collection figures are priced for every collector and budget -- $14.95 each or $159 for a complete set of 12. All twelve OrigiNolls are available for pre-order at DollsLikeMe.com and will start shipping October 1, 2009.

Shown from left to right are Miika from the Caribbean, Gianna from South America and Lena from India. The collection also includes nine additional dolls representing other major regions of the world, including Japan, China, America, Spain, Africa and Europe. For more information or to pre-order the OrigiNolls collection, visit dollslikeme.com.

Win Spanish Bingo, Flashcards & "Spanish for Kids" Language Set

Subscribe to the Dolls Like Me Insider News for a chance to win one of three Spanish language sets valued at $33.95 each. Each giveaway set includes eeBoo’s award-winning Spanish Bingo and Flashcards along with Gallopade’s Spanish for Kids. Parents looking to introduce Spanish to children at home or who are looking for fun, meaningful ways to support in-school Spanish instruction, need look no further than the bilingual products at Dolls Like Me. We understand how important edutainment activities are for today’s busy families and our Spanish language products are just the thing to help jumpstart your child’s language learning. Hurry, contest ends midnight EST, September 15, 2009.

Coming Soon to Party Near You... The Princess and the Frog Partyware Featuring Disney's First Black Princess, Tiana

We're hyped about Disney's upcoming movie. We think an African American princess is way overdue (BTW, so is a Latina one!). We're thrilled that little girls will be able to envision themselves as Princess Tiana this fall as they sample cake, cookies and petits fours served on THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG party ware. (Take a sneak peek at the new The Princess and the Frog line, featuring Princess Tiana HERE).

We've ordered the complete range of The Princess and the Frog party ware, including goody bags, party favors, invitations, plates, cups, napkins, candles, streamers, blowouts and much more - sold individually, or as a money-saving party pack. Super-affordable, the individual items range in price from $1.99 - $5.99. A pack of eight 9" party plates (shown) is $3.79. (Take a sneak peek HERE.)

Also coming to Dolls Like Me this fall are Princess Tiana dress-up costumes and a complete line of The Princess and the Frog books.

Why not try one of our complete party packs that have all of the party supplies you will need for your child's party and much more?

Our range of multicultural boys and girls party themed packages is growing rapidly, and includes Uzuri's TREY, PENNY & PEPPER and PRINCESS AMIRA along with Nickelodeon’s GO DIEGO, GO and the upcoming NI HAO KAI-LAN.

Dolls Like Me is an online specialty toy store featuring a full line of better multicultural toys, books, baby gifts and party supplies. Join our mailing list for new product announcements and private "Insider ONLY" sales here.

Earth-Friendly, Bamboo-filled Multicultural Bye Bye Baby Bunting Infant Dolls

Babies love to touch. They love to see, feel and taste – it helps them feel secure (although nothing beats mommy). These multicultural, earth-friendly, Bye Bye Baby Bunting infant dolls are warm, cuddly and safe. Made in the USA by Imogen’s Garden, these sweet babies are composed of 100% cotton chenille and wool felt, and stuffed with naturally antibacterial bamboo*. They have safety eyes and a hand embroidered smile -- the perfect playmate for your wee-est ones (we do still highly recommend adult supervision for play dates). Did we mention they are hand-washable? Each doll is handmade from start to finish by the artist, so slight variations will occur making your doll uniquely yours. Bye Bye Baby Bunting is available as a boy or a girl, and in Asian, Black or Latino skin tones. Cost: $18.50 at dollslikeme.com.

*The bamboo story begins with its naturally antibacterial property, which is retained by the ultra-soft finished fibers. As the fastest growing plant on earth with the ability to absorb 2/3 more carbon dioxide and release 2/3 more oxygen than any other plant, bamboo is the clear leader among plant species for positive environmental impact. Bamboo is processed into luxurious fiber using pollution-free methods with little waste. It is truly a green product that lives up to and beyond expectations.

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Wow! New Multicultural OrigiNolls Promise to add Style and Grace to any Space
The manufacturer brought these fresh, funky cuties to our attention and we could not wait to tell you about them. Today we’re introducing OrigiNolls™ -- a unique global village of multi-ethnic, fashion theme resin dolls. The series of twelve 8-inch collection dolls are beautifully handcrafted, combining culture and fashion. Their solid, quality construction and fresh, funky wardrobes are a reflection of today's realities.
Available online, exclusively at Dollslikeme.com, these cute character dolls are composed of phthalate-free solid resin, with a look and style that every young woman (as well as the young at heart) can relate to.
Lynette Opoku, designer and brainchild behind OrigiNolls says, “Clearly there is not one kind of girl in the world, the OrigiNolls reflect just that.” OrigiNolls are sure to be one of the hottest collectible trends this fall, with an educational element and Website that helps build self-esteem by teaching young women to appreciate themselves and others, while encouraging them to dream, grow, aspire and imagine beyond their dreams. Lena and Miika are our favorites. You'll have to check them out online to decide which ones are your favorites.
These cute collection figures are priced for every collector and budget -- $14.95 each or $159 for a complete set of 12. All twelve OrigiNolls are available for pre-order at DollsLikeMe.com and will start shipping October 1, 2009.Shown from left to right are Miika from the Caribbean, Gianna from South America and Lena from India. The collection also includes nine additional dolls representing other major regions of the world, including Japan, China, America, Spain, Africa and Europe. For more information or to pre-order the OrigiNolls collection, visit dollslikeme.com.



Coming Soon to Party Near You... The Princess and the Frog Partyware Featuring Disney's First Black Princess, Tiana

We're hyped about Disney's upcoming movie. We think an African American princess is way overdue (BTW, so is a Latina one!). We're thrilled that little girls will be able to envision themselves as Princess Tiana this fall as they sample cake, cookies and petits fours served on THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG party ware. (Take a sneak peek at the new The Princess and the Frog line, featuring Princess Tiana HERE).We've ordered the complete range of The Princess and the Frog party ware, including goody bags, party favors, invitations, plates, cups, napkins, candles, streamers, blowouts and much more - sold individually, or as a money-saving party pack. Super-affordable, the individual items range in price from $1.99 - $5.99. A pack of eight 9" party plates (shown) is $3.79. (Take a sneak peek HERE.)Also coming to Dolls Like Me this fall are Princess Tiana dress-up costumes and a complete line of The Princess and the Frog books.


Why not try one of our complete party packs that have all of the party supplies you will need for your child's party and much more?


Our range of multicultural boys and girls party themed packages is growing rapidly, and includes Uzuri's TREY, PENNY & PEPPER and PRINCESS AMIRA along with Nickelodeon’s GO DIEGO, GO and the upcoming NI HAO KAI-LAN.



Dolls Like Me is an online specialty toy store featuring a full line of better multicultural toys, books, baby gifts and party supplies. Join our mailing list for new product announcements and private "Insider ONLY" sales here.


Earth-Friendly, Bamboo-filled Multicultural Bye Bye Baby Bunting Infant Dolls

Babies love to touch. They love to see, feel and taste – it helps them feel secure (although nothing beats mommy). These multicultural, earth-friendly, Bye Bye Baby Bunting infant dolls are warm, cuddly and safe. Made in the USA by Imogen’s Garden, these sweet babies are composed of 100% cotton chenille and wool felt, and stuffed with naturally antibacterial bamboo*. They have safety eyes and a hand embroidered smile -- the perfect playmate for your wee-est ones (we do still highly recommend adult supervision for play dates). Did we mention they are hand-washable? Each doll is handmade from start to finish by the artist, so slight variations will occur making your doll uniquely yours. Bye Bye Baby Bunting is available as a boy or a girl, and in Asian, Black or Latino skin tones. Cost: $18.50 at dollslikeme.com.*The bamboo story begins with its naturally antibacterial property, which is retained by the ultra-soft finished fibers. As the fastest growing plant on earth with the ability to absorb 2/3 more carbon dioxide and release 2/3 more oxygen than any other plant, bamboo is the clear leader among plant species for positive environmental impact. Bamboo is processed into luxurious fiber using pollution-free methods with little waste. It is truly a green product that lives up to and beyond expectations.

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Those Two Dolls Named Sasha and Malia

Malia and Sasha walk out onto the inauguration platform in J. Crew clothing and soon thereafter the Web site crashes; after his inaugural speech, President Obama bends over to Sasha looking for approval and she gives him the thumbs-up – a picture that can now be juxtaposed to that of little Caroline Kennedy’s; at the pre-inaugural concert on the mall, President-elect Obama concludes his remarks and walks back to his sitting family where he asks Malia “How did I do?” “Good!” she responds with certainty and a bright smile. All of these moments and many more represent unforgettable and iconic positive images.

The Obama Family is America’s new First Family. They represent a new image of the Black family that is now being seared into the hearts and minds of millions of people around the world; images that speak to the demonstrative love of a Black man for his wife and for his daughters and ultimately, their love for him. These are images that are counteractive to the ones that we as a nation are accustomed to digesting and accepting as our collective reality. These images give us a very different view of Black men, Black women and Black children.

Without doubt, the Obamas have become American icons. And with iconoclasm comes love, adulation and yes, in some cases, exploitation. DollsLikeMe.com is not exploitative.

With the exception of the Huxtables who helped to change the negative perception of the Black family, Black people have never enjoyed this kind of imagery; however, the Huxtables impact in no way equals that of the first African American First Family. To many African Americans, the Obama family is the same family that they grew up in. For others, they represent something that they never knew existed.

We at DollsLikeMe fully understand the importance of imagery and images – especially to the psyche of Black children. We also understand that for far too long Black children and children of color have not had enough tangible images that encourage and sustain self-esteem and self-love. This is why we support any positive images of these little girls.

In the 1940’s, noted psychologists Kenneth Clark and Mamie Phipps Clark were challenged with a salient fact: Black children felt inferior to their white counterparts. For the Clarks, finding ways to instill racial pride in these children became paramount, but first they needed to conduct a study that would support their premise that the psychological effects of racism and segregation negatively impacts on black children, their self-esteem and how they viewed the world from the vantage point of an inferior status.

To do this they used Black and White dolls and asked Black children to choose between the good and pretty dolls. A majority of the choices were always for the White dolls. The outcome of their 1950 study would become the basis for psychologists and social scientists to study the impact of racism and segregation on Black children for decades to come. Their findings would also play a pivotal role in the Brown vs. Board of Education’s Supreme Court’s legal ruling.

The Clark’s findings were as profound as they were prescient. Much has happened in the world since that time – the end of Jim Crow, the explosion of the Civil Rights Movement, the Voting Rights Act of 1964 and of course, the second wave of the Women’s Movement. And throughout all of these historic events, institutionalized racism has waged on and its tentacles have loomed unflinchingly in the shadows of America’s halls of justice, in our educational systems, in our social arenas, and in our doll choices.

For decades doll manufacturers have tended to produce mostly scantily-clad dolls, most often with long wavy hair, as their main line of dolls for young Black girls. Very few of these dolls have ever represented the beauty, brilliance and positivity of Black girls. And never has there been any doll that has been named for a real living Black girl who was a contemporary icon.

The CEO and Founder of DollsLikeMe is abundantly aware of the systemic impact of racism on generation after generation of Black children. For her, Shirley Temple and Caroline Kennedy were the iconic dolls when she was growing up in the 50’s and 60’s; dolls that time and time again, told her that her skin, her color and her race was inferior to others and that she did not matter.

DollsLikeMe was created to address this anomaly. It is a company that has consistently met the needs of parents of Black and Latino children as well as a growing number of parents that do not share the biology or nationality of their adoptive children, but are intuitive and savvy enough to understand that their daughters and sons require strong self-images that are crucial to their overall well-being.

DollsLikeMe, in addition to receiving an overwhelming positive response from parents wanting to purchase the Sasha and Malia dolls, has also received an extremely vitriolic and unwarranted backlash for deciding to carry the dolls in our store.

We are proud to say that we stand by our decision to sell the Ty Company’s dolls named Sasha and Malia. Not because it’s a good business decision that fits squarely into our mission, but because like Obama’s presidency, naming modestly dressed dolls after two sweet young Black girls, will have a psychological affect that is bigger than all of us. Our world now sits on the precipice of change. We are presently living in a time that we can now see the possibility that little Black girls are just as important as little White girls, and that they too can and deserve to be held in adulation, admiration and more importantly as 21st Century icons.