I’m not super familiar with big fancy dollies, because although I have a houseful of girls, they are hard on toys, and we’re too broke to spend a ton of money buying them really cool, expensive toys. Besides, it seems like every other day, we hear about a toy recall due to choking hazards or lead paint. I’ve decided to be proactive and just let my kids play with construction debris and broken glass. Still, sometimes we luck out, and a company will just SEND us something FOR FREE, so that we can try it out and Mommy can write about it.
Recently, our family received this totally cool looking doll in the mail:
She’s ZOE LINDEN, one of the darling dolls available in the Karito Kids line. Each of these dolls hails from a different part of the world, and comes packaged with her own trendy little outfit and hardcover story book all about her life. This particular doll is from New York City (New York City! I just have to shout it out like in the old Pace Picante Sauce ads. I can’t help it.) Her book is all about saving her mom’s house from foreclosure. No, really.
After you buy one of these dolls, you can log onto their website, KaritoKids.com, and set up an account for your child. Then, you can register your doll and enter a special code to earn World Change Coins. These can be converted into donations to help kids around the world. So, there you go. You’re not spending a small fortune on a doll, you’re giving money to charity.
My own kids were very excited to meet our new buddy Zoe, as you can see here:
Once we cracked her open, they were much more enthusiastic. My oldest daughter decided that Zoe sort of looked like her. Well, dressed like her, anyway. She gave thumbs up to the fingerless gloves and Converse AllStar knockoffs, although she did say if it were HER doll, she’d draw little stars on the shoes to make them look more like the real thing:
If only we could change the colors in her outfit from bright and cheerful to dark purple and black, she’d be downright emo. I personally like this doll because she looks so much like my little Nikki. She’s got nearly the same blonde hairstyle, curly with bangs. If we rubbed Spaghetti-Oh’s into the doll’s hair and let it get really tangly, she’d look JUST like Nikki. She does have a super cute face – check out the freckles and eyelashes:
Now this is where the difficulty comes into play. One doll. Four children. Even our little boy loves dolls like this, particularly those that look REAL. We’re trying really hard to be fair with the sharing and turn-taking, but it’s not easy, man. Here are my little Karito Lovers:
I knew the girls would flip out over this doll. She’s BIG. She’s cool looking. She’s a nice size for incorporating into play scenes. I actually found this doll sitting on the bottom step in Time Out yesterday. I’m not sure what she did, but I’m sure she’s regretting it now. I wasn’t prepared for how much my son would love this doll, though. One of the really cool things about having a son with autism is that gender stereotypes go right out the window. He doesn’t really care if it’s a “boy” toy or a “girl” toy, he just thinks it’s fun and he wants to participate too. It pains my husband greatly to see his son running around in a Cinderella dress, but I love it. And it doesn’t bother me one bit to see him loving a dolly. And you know, my husband didn’t mind it nearly as much when he realized our son didn’t want to play with the doll as much as he wanted to MAKE OUT WITH IT.
Besides wanting to kiss it and love it, Pablo really loves to gently and lovingly stroke the doll’s face, pointing out her eyes, nose, mouth, ears, lips, etc. to us. It’s actually quite precious and touching to see.
A few things about Karito Kids dolls. They’re what I would tactfully call AN INVESTMENT. If you have a kid who is really rough on their toys, this may not be a good choice for you. The dolls are well made, but again, I’m not the type of parent who can plunk down a Benjamin for a DOLL and think nothing of it. But hey – I’m not representative of all parents! You might not be up to your armpits in small children like me. Back in the day when Kayley was an only child, her dad and I both worked, and Christmastime at our house was INSANE. I totally would have bought this doll for her back in that life. She is such a mellow kid, though – the clothes would be completely intact years later, I guarantee you. Here in THIS life, though, we’ve already lost the shoes for poor Zoe. Also, within about 5 minutes of removing this doll from the box, a button or something came off of her outfit. I didn’t see it, I just heard about it from my husband, so I thought I’d mention it. I wouldn’t say it’s a choking hazard, because this doll is rated for children age 6 and up. But – for a doll of this quality, I would expect the buttons to stay on the clothes, y’know?
Bottom line: This is a cool doll. My kids adore it. It might be a perfect fit for your kids and your household. I hope what I’ve written here helps you make that decision. Would you like to win your very own Karito Kids doll? I’m giving one away, valued at $99.00. Woohoo! Just leave a comment here for a chance to win. I’ll randomly draw one winner on September 30th. Be sure to check out the contest rules linked in the menu bar at the top of the page. Good luck to ya!
(Psst…like winning stuff? I’m still giving away kids’ music all month long! Enter those giveaways too!)
LaLaGirl is the mother of a teenager and two young sets of twins. She's happily married, loves living in Colorado, and writes almost daily about married life, raising multiples, and parenting a child with autism.
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These are cute dolls!!
This looks like something my daughter would enjoy…thanks for the chance to win!
My daughter would love this. Thanks for the great giveaway!
My Zoey would love this doll, too! Thanks for the giveaway.
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My daughter would love this!
my daughter would love this doll
This doll is adorable! I know my daughter would love it if I won it!
Nice giveaway!
My daughter would love this! Thanks for the great giveaway.
Great prize, enter me please.
Your description of your household had me really laughing out loud. My son and DI: have four (2 boys 2 girls) ages 8, 5, 4, and a 2 1/2 yr old terror child and their house resembles yours. I would love to win this for the girls.
Thanks for the laughs and the contest.
the doll is adorable
My 7 year old daughter would absolutely love this doll! She has 2 brothers so she is always looking for another “female” friend to play with and add to her entourage! This would truly make her day and she would be so surprised!
please count grandpa in
Hrm, I’m hoping there’s a baby girl in my future that would love one…………..
I collect dolls and this one is very cool
I’d love to win this for my daughter! Thanks!!
I have not heard for these dolls. Very Cute!
I would love to win this for my granddaughter
Please enter me. My little girl would absolutely love one of these beautiful dollies.
Great dolls! My daughter would be thrilled.
I would love to win this for my grandaughter. These dolls look very well made and i love the idea of them being from different parts of the world.
great looking dolls, these would be great for kids to play with
I would love to win this for my daughter.
How Adorable ! My daughter would so love to have one of these. She is the Perfect little mama. So it would definitely be well loved.
Thank you so much for offering this wonderful giveaway.
I would LOVE to win !!
Please enter me.. my daughter would love this
I’d love to win this doll to give to my 5 year old granddaughter! Her 19 month old sister has taken over all of her big sister’s baby dolls!
New Doll to me- Looks like a winner! Thanks for the chance to win!
I’d love to win this doll for my daughter. She’s almost 2 and VERY into dolls lately!
Thanks for the awesome contest!
would love to win this for my granddaughter, she loves dolls
As you say, Girls will flip over this doll.
I would love to win this beautiful doll for my granddaughter.
I’d like to win for my grandson. Boys should be able to play with dolls too.
My niece would love this doll! Thanks for the contest!
My daughter would LOVE this! She’s seen a couple of the nice big dolls and really wanted one but we can’t afford one. I’m sure she would share it with her sister too. Thank you!!
Thats a really cute doll!
Thanks for the chance to win this – I know she would find a great home with us!
Cute doll! Thanks for the giveaway.
Oh what a great gift for ANY little girl! My little niece would LOVE this! Thank you so much for the chance to win such a great prize
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Great contest
How Neat!
I’d love this doll for my daughter! Thanks!
I got a walking doll when I was little. I still adore her! I would give this doll to my great niece. I’m sure she would appreciate this doll as much as I did mine when I was little. Every little girl should receive a special doll like this.
I would love to win one for my niece. angel_2417@yahoo.com
PLEASE COUNT ME IN ON THIS AWESOME GIVEAWAY
I first saw a Karito doll dragged around by a little 3 year old whose mom says she takes it EVERYWHERE. I think it’s great that the doll industry is combining diversity, realism, and charity all into one toy made to last.
I would love to win one of these dolls! They are really cute!
What a beautiful doll, great giveaway.
Great looking doll with an even greater message!!!! Count me in!!!
What an awesome doll, my child would love it, thank you.