2010 Best Vacation Children’s Products for 2010

Maru and Friends® is pleased to announce another great win in the Toy Industry! We have been named Dr. Toy’s Best Vacation Children’s Product. Maru and Friends® is honored to receive such great praise from one of the industry’s top reviewers.

Dr. Toy’s Best Products Programs provide a unique, original, copyrighted review of children’s products. One program, Dr. Toy’s 100 Best Children's Products, was featured in Early Childhood News (1992-93) Family Circle (1986) Parenting Magazine (1987) King Features Syndicate, and every year since 1994 on www.drtoy.com. Dr. Toy's Guide on the Internet is visited by over 80,000 visitors a day. Dr. Toy’s four annual programs include: Best Classic Toys, Best Vacation Products, 100 Best Children’s Products, and Smart Play Products of Excellence.

As a result of Dr. Toy’s combined efforts, the finest guide to current, play and learn Best Vacation Children’s Products has been compiled. This Guide includes diverse summertime toys and other products that meet Dr. Toy’s always high standards (safety, uniqueness, design, durability, cost effectiveness, value for vacation travel, at home or at destination, etc.). These are the varied products that offer the child “extra” benefits for optimal learning, play, creativity, physical activity, and, of course, are fun.

Other wins include a gold medal in the Book with Merchandise category by the Moonbeam Children's Book Awards; a Diamond Award of Excellence in the Play Dolls category from DOLLS magazine; and an honors award in the Toys for Ages 5 and Up from the National Parenting Publication Awards

Maru and Friends® is a celebration of childhood fun with a beautifully crafted ethnic play doll. Made with love, the collection of three dolls serve as a role model for many young girls growing up in today’s challenging world.

Our box of sunshine comes with a beautiful 21-inch vinyl doll, and her hard cover story book, Forever Friends, which chronicles the story of young Maru®, a Hispanic immigrant, who comes to America leaving behind her parents to live with estranged relatives. The illustrated chapter book brings Maru’s journey to life.

Our program encourages young girls from all cultures to enjoy the virtues of childhood fun, imagination and diversity while still focusing on the importance of reading. All of our dolls have unique child-like facial features representative of each of their cultures: Hispanic, Anglo-American and African American.

Dolls were sculpted by award winning American doll artist, Dianna Effner.

For more information on Maru and Friends® visit http://www.maruandfriends.com/