Thursday, September 15, 2011

Review & Giveaway: Hearts for Hearts Girls


My little girl is 3 1/2. She likes everything pink, and "fancy", and princess-y. I think that's pretty normal. She may always be a girly girl. That's fine with me.

I'm trying to be careful about making sure she knows that she's more than just cute though, that she can be things, and do things.

In my opinion, many of the toys aimed at little girls are pretty superficial, and many of the dolls look too "grown up." Where are the dolls that look like little girls, and center around something other than shopping, makeup, or pop culture?

When I was contacted by My Blog Spark about reviewing a doll from the Hearts for Hearts Girls doll line, I jumped at the chance.


These dolls look like real little girls, each of a different nationality. Each doll comes with a story booklet detailing her background, where she came from, and what altruistic thing she's been doing to help her community.

Here are the bios of the dolls, as per the information I received:

Meet the six Hearts For Hearts Girls:
  • Meet Consuelo from Mexico City. Colorful and warm, Consuelo provides aid to hungry children who are homeless and live on the streets near her parents´ bakery.
  • Meet Lilian of Belarus. Determined Lilian provides aid to girls whose parents must find work in the big city and are forced to leave their children with orphanages.
  • Meet Dell from the heart of Kentucky´s Appalachian Mountains. Dell creates music and knitwear to share with others in need of warm clothing.
  • Meet Rahel of Ethiopia. Rahel, who dreams of becoming a doctor so that she can make a real difference for people in her region, journeys with her family into the wilderness of Ethiopia to help bring back aid to her community.
  • Meet Tipi from Laos. Based on a real girl who shares her art and storytelling with others through dancing, drawing, and puppetry, Tipi leads her school in a mural contest in hopes of winning much-needed books for her class.
  • Meet Nahji who hails from Assam, India. Brave Nahji breaks tradition to bring courage and education to the girls who work in the tea fields of India.

There's an online component as well. Girls can unlock games and activities on the website, read their doll's diary to find out more about her, and more.

Finally, each time a doll is purchased, a donation is made to World Vision.

There are additional outfits to buy, and they are inspired by actual events, and traditional dress in the girl's country.

My thoughts:

This is the kind of toy I can get behind. Aesthetically, they're setting a realistic message, and I like that there is a possibility of finding a doll that looks similar to your daughter. I think the back stories are a neat idea, and as a homeschooling family, I can't help but suggest that they might open up an interest in other cultures.

I like the focus on what the girls are doing in their community. I think it sends a positive message to girls, that they can make a difference, in their families, their communities, and the world.

The dolls are reasonably priced at around $30, which is always a plus, and I think they'd make a great gift for the upcoming holiday season.

We received Consuelo, the Mexican doll. My daughter fell in love with her immediately, kept saying how pretty she was. V and I have nothing but positive things to say about her.


My Blog Spark has offered to host a giveaway here at Cheerios Underfoot. One lucky commenter will receive a prize package containing:

  • One Hearts For Hearts Girl, accompanied by a friendship bracelet, story booklet, donation for girls in need through partner World Vision and a special product code your daughter can use to unlock a free membership to the Hearts For Hearts Girls website, which provides access to the "myHeart" page and an array of games and activities.
  • An outfit that is authentic to one of the Hearts for Hearts Girls´ culture, in which your daughter can also dress her doll


For your first, mandatory entry, go check out the Hearts for Hearts Girls dolls, and leave a comment telling me which doll you think your daughter, (or niece, or little sister, or granddaughter,) would love to have, and why.

For additional, optional entries, you may do any or all of the following. (Please leave a comment for each.)
"Like" the Hearts for Hearts Girls FB page.
Follow my blog.
Follow me on Twitter.
Tweet/Facebook/or Blog about the giveaway. (Once per day.)

This giveaway will end at 10 pm central time on 9/22/11. Don't forget to leave a way to be contacted if you are the lucky winner!

Disclosure: The Hearts For Hearts Girls doll, and information have been provided by Playmates Toys through MyBlogSpark." 

61 comments:

  1. I think she'd love to have any of them, but I'd vote for Consuelo from Mexico. derekannette at gmail dot com

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  2. Sprite would love all of them but since she loves the mountains and hiking them she would really love Dell

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  3. I think my daughter would love Lilian because she has such pretty long hair

    felecia@twinoaksfl.org

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  4. gfc follower

    felecia@twinoaksfl.org

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  5. My niece would like the Nahji doll. She is so beautiful and the Indian culture is so very interesting.

    aecopley at gmail dot com

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  6. I like the Hearts For Hearts facebook page.

    aecopley at gmail dot com

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  7. Following you on twitter as xWRITE_ONx

    aecopley at gmail dot com

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  8. My daughter would love the Lilian from Belarus doll because it looks just like her. Unfortunately for us, our family is not "ethnic"--that would be so cool. I LOVE that these dolls help World Vision.

    clowens9144 at yahoo dot com

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  9. I like Hearts for Hearts Girls on FB.
    clowens9144 at yahoo dot com

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  10. I follow via GFC
    clowens9144 at yahoo dot com

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  11. I follow via Twitter.
    clowens9144 at yahoo dot com

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  12. I tweeted the giveaway.
    http://twitter.com/#!/leigh_owens/status/114487035468853248

    clowens9144 at yahoo dot com

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  13. What a great giveaway! I think my dd would like any of them but Tipi looks nice. :)

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  14. I like these dolls.I like the idea behind them doing for their communities vs just fashion shows.

    My daughters and granddaughters probably wouldn't be picky about which doll they'd like most. "I" like Dell because I've always wanted to go see that part of our country :)

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  15. My daughter liked Dell best, but she loved the clothes on Consuelo :0)
    bmorr07@gmail.com

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  16. I liked hearts for hearts dolls on FB
    bmorr07@gmail.com

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  17. Im following you on twitter :0)

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  18. I tweeted about your giveaway :0)

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  19. Following your blog via GFC :0)

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  20. My daughter said definitely Consuelo from Mexico since we live so close to Mexico. ;)

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  21. My daughter would love Consuelo from Mexico City because our family is Latin.

    mami2jcn at gmail dot com

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  22. I follow your blog in GFC.


    mami2jcn at gmail dot com

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  23. I follow you on Twitter (@mami2jcn)


    mami2jcn at gmail dot com

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  24. tweet:


    http://twitter.com/#!/mami2jcn/status/115197564432818176

    mami2jcn at gmail dot com

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  25. We like Lilian from Belarus
    Digicats {at} Sbcglobal {dot} Net

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  26. I like the Hearts for Hearts Girls on Facebook (Carolsue Anderson)
    Digicats {at} Sbcglobal {dot} Net

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  27. I am a public follower of yours on Google Friends Connect (Carolsue)
    Digicats {at} Sbcglobal {dot} Net

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  28. I follow you on Twitter as MsCarolsueA
    Digicats {at} Sbcglobal {dot} Net

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  29. I like Hearts for Hearts on FB (Mary Happymommy)

    mami2jcn at gmail dot com

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  30. tweeted 9/18:

    http://twitter.com/#!/mami2jcn/status/115418746566352896

    mami2jcn at gmail dot com

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  31. My Daughters likes Dell because she plays music and knits.

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  32. I already follow on twitter mommiejennM

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  33. tweeted 9/19:

    http://twitter.com/#!/mami2jcn/status/115787004553338881

    mami2jcn at gmail dot com

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  34. tweeted 9/20:

    http://twitter.com/#!/mami2jcn/status/116147164970889217

    mami2jcn at gmail dot com

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  35. It's hard to choose but I think mine would like Lilian.

    SeekingHim at gmail dot com

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  36. I liked the HFHG FB page

    SeekingHim at gmail dot com

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  37. I follow your blog via GFC

    SeekingHim at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  38. I follow you on Twitter

    SeekingHim at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  39. I tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/SarahJoBailey/status/116500527977734145

    SeekingHim at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete