The Maru doll continues receiving recognition from leading consumer authorities on children's toys. This time, the beautiful 21-inch designer doll has been chosen as winner of the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award 2009.
The Oppenheim Toy Portfolio was founded in 1989 as the only independent consumer review of children's media. Oppenheim's reviews consider, along with educational and play value, safety, age appropriateness, amongst other important factors. The award winners are selected by a noted expert in child development, children's literature, and education, and further tested by the most objective panel of judges-kids.
Maru also just won The 2008 Greatest Products iParenting Award. The iParenting Award program recognizes the best products in the children's media and juvenile product industries.
The Maru doll is based on the life of a young girl who journeys to the United States. Living in an unfamiliar place, learning a new language and making new friends are all events recounted through the eyes of an 8-year-old girl in "Maru and Friends", a storybook that comes with the doll. Tanya and Jamie, Maru's newest friends, help the young girl through her journey while celebrating the ethnic and cultural diversity characterized by today's youth. The dolls, designed by world renowned collectable artist Diana Effner, have unique child-like facial features that are representative of their ethnic culture.
Maru and Friends(TM) dolls are available for purchase at
