Popular Dolls

It's not diamonds  that are a little girl's best friend, but rather, her cherished doll.  Dolls act as companions and offer a girl a thousand ways to engage her imagination. Years down the road, many women will still harbor an interest in dolls, even long after outgrowing their playthings. This makes dolls an excellent hobby for the avid collector.

Popular dolls are certainly the most accessible type of doll. They are perfect to give as gifts to children and are an excellent starting point for beginning a collection because the lines and series are easily expandable with playsets, accessories, friends, and the like. For young girls, popular dolls are frequently shown in Saturday morning commercials, making them popular amongst the young masses. Of course, once one girl gets the doll, naturally, all her friends will also have to have it. Unlike porcelain,  vintage,  or fashion dolls,  which often cost more, popular dolls can be played with with reckless abandon without the fear of breaking or devaluing the doll. Lastly, popular dolls are inexpensive.

What are the popular dolls on the market these days? Is there one that is better than the rest? And how do you choose?

Amazing Allysen  She talks, eats, recognizes objects and interacts with them, and even portrays emotions. This electronic doll is modeled after Amazing Amanda,  the hit baby doll of 2005. Great for all young girls as long as they are comfortable with an "interactive doll". Keep in mind that batteries will need to be replaced frequently.	American Girl  This doll has quickly been revered as a classic since its release in 1986. What started as line of three dolls quickly grew into various series and an expansive selection of products. What is unique about American Girl dolls are the way they help teach a young girl about history through fictional storybooks, clothes, and accessories that represent each doll's respective time period.	Barbie She's one of the most famous fashion dolls around since she was first launched in the late 1950s. Since then she has captured the hearts of girls and women across the country through her many talents, jobs, and personas. Of course, she also has the boyfriend, friends and family, dream house, and convertible. There are so many models to choose from, there is a Barbie for everyone.	Bratz Bratz dolls have been around a mere five years but they have a large following of young girls interested in fashion, makeup, and boys. Best left for older girls, the Bratz have a uniquely racy wardrobe that perhaps even Barbie can't compete with. Along with their colorful clothes, they have a wide range of friends, accessories, DVDs, and CDs to round out the collection.	Cabbage Patch Dolls  Cabbage Patch Dolls were as popular in the 80s as Elmo  is in today's world. The catch with these adorable, soft-bodied play dolls is that each one is supposed to be unique and adoptable (each comes with a certificate of authenticity signed by Xavier Roberts, the creator). Nowadays, most of them are quite similar. Nonetheless, this is a great first doll to give a young child.

Disney Princess Dolls  These come in various sizes, but most are 10 inches or shorter. Some might have hard bodies and others soft depending on the maker. The unifying characteristic of these dolls is that they are modeled after the popular Disney Princess of the season. Ideal for a young girl not quite ready for Barbie.	Dora the Explorer  This 7 year-old "ethnic" doll has a popular TV show aimed at girls aged three and older. This spunky little Latina takes on a variety of shapes in doll form, sometimes ready to go snorkeling,  be a princess,  run in the rain,  or go to school,  amongst her other adventures.	Groovy Girls  These girls are totally groovy (as are the Groovy Guys ) and they have a wealth of accessories to acquire to make their lives just a little cooler. Made of soft, cuddly bodies, these are easy dolls to love and lug along. Plus they only cost $10 a piece. Also see the Groovy Girl Minis,  made with rubber bendable arms and legs.	Holly Hobbie  Holly Hobbie, as shown above, is the old version of Holly Hobbie, a plush rag doll. However, this holiday season you'll see a new version of the handy, crafty, low-key gal and friends. She'll be made of plastic, like most fashion dolls and will be slightly smaller. There will also be a DVD, Hollie Hobbie and Friends Surprise Party,  coming out this Christmas.

Only Hearts Club  These award winning dolls are soft, fully-posable, and dressed to look like a normal young girl in today's world. The main driving force behind these dolls is the personality exuded through their books. They preach friendship, staying true to yourself, and 'doing the right thing'. They are truly an excellent doll for young girls that teaches them about self-respect, responsibility, confidence, and maturity.	Polly Pocket  Polly Pocket, as her name suggests, is a small, pocket-sized doll made of plastic first introduced in the early 1980s. She and her friends, accessories, and playsets are all scaled to be portable and convenient. Ideal for bringing on road trips, to school, or on plane rides. Not recommended for young children because some parts can create a choking hazard.	Strawberry Shortcake  The sweet smelling doll made to compliment her TV show first came out in the late 1970s, but she has undergone two major makeovers since then, once in 1991 and another in 2002. This past year, she has undergone a relaunch in anticipation of her upcoming movies	Teen Trends Doll  These are large fashion dolls (17") that have highly detailed faces, great accessories, and stylized clothes. They are geared at tweens and make a great alternative to Barbie or Bratz. The large size also helps kids ease into full size fashion dolls.