My daughter will be turning 11 in November. While she’s pretty much grown out of the playing with baby dolls stage, she does still like dolls. The dolls she likes now are ones that tend to have a story about them or are from a different time period or area of the world. I love that she still wants to play with dolls but loves learning about them as well.
When we were asked to review one of the A Girl For All Time dolls, I was pretty sure she would enjoy checking one out. There are three dolls in the new line of historically inspired, collectible dolls for girls. Each one is a 16″ doll and is based on 500 years of the fictional Marchmont Family and will take girls on a history lesson using imaginative play, books and accessories. Matilda, and the book featuring her called Matilda’s Secret, is from a glittering world of intrigue, intense friendship and mortal danger in the court of Henry VIII. Amelia, along with her book Amelia’s Inheritance, tells the story of 13-year-old orphan Amelia growing up in Victorian London. Clementine and her story Clementine’s Journey, is about a girl that survives the evacuation of London in 1939 as a 12-year-old.
Not only are these dolls beautiful and educational at the same time, they have also been recognized with some wonderful awards. Oppenheim Toy Portfolio awarded A Girl for All Time its rare Platinum prize for its first two dolls and novels. Matilda was awarded a 2012 Preferred Choice title from Creative Child magazine. In the UK, Toy Talk Awards named them Best Doll of 2011 and 2012. Britain’s Mum’s Choice crowned them as a Top 5 Toys For Girls. These dolls have also been nominated ‘PlayDoll of the Year 2013’ by Dolls Magazine (winner will be announced in December 2013). In London, they have had a hard time keeping these beautiful dolls on their shelves. At the famous Harrod’s luxury department store, the dolls sold out after only 10 days on the shelves. Here in the US, FAO Schwarz and a handful of New York boutiques have started selling these wonderful dolls with with authentic dress such as a velvet cloak or masked ball gown of Tudor England. The beautiful dolls are $134.99 and storybooks and accessories start at just $9.99.
Ashlyn was very excited to take her Matilda doll out of the box. She couldn’t wait for me to take all the pictures I needed to so she could start playing with her. Matilda is very well made & has terrific details, not only to her face & hair but also to the wonderful clothing that she is wearing. When my daughter has gotten a new doll in the past, I always like to check the arms and legs to see if the doll is going to last. Matilda’s joints felt very sturdy & would likely stand up to lots of play.
We also received Matilda’s Keepsakes & Secrets book. In this great book, you will learn how to make tasty Tudor treats, fashion & hair tricks or how to make your own family tree. There are so many fun activities to do in this book and it’s also very pretty, with it’s ribbon on the side to keep the book closed and all the beautiful pictures inside.
Ashlyn loves reading and usually has a book in hand whenever we leave the house. She was really interested in reading Matilda’s Secret, which is written from Matilda’s point of view as she is writing in her diary.
Matilda
Norfolk 1540
Nothing exciting will ever happen to me.
Thirteen-year-old Matilda Marchmont lives a dull life in the country – riding her horse, mixing her family’s medicines, imagining herself to be a witch and writing in her secret diary. She longs for the glamour and the thrills of life at court, led by her ultra-fashionable young cousin Katherine Howard.
And then one night something DOES happen. She is to be sent to court too, as lady-in-waiting and spy, to help further Katherine’s marriage chances with King Henry VIII himself.
Matilda is drawn into a glittering world of intrigue, intense friendship and mortal danger which takes her from Hampton Court Palace to the Bloody Tower itself.
We were very pleased with the quality of Matilda and her books. My daughter has already asked if I could buy her some new clothes for her new doll (we both really like the masked ballgown outfit.)
You can head on over the A Girl For All Time to learn about where the idea for the dolls came from, where you can buy the dolls and so much more! Be sure to Like A Girl For All Time on Facebook, where they show patterns, homemade clothes, give tea party tips and more.
Oh she’s so pretty! A must have for any doll collector.
I think so too, Kathy!
As a child I used to have a beautiful collection of dolls my grandmother had bought me through the years. Alas we had a fire and all was lost but the memories still linger even after all these years.
Oh no Maria 🙁 That’s sad! So glad you can still remember them though!
I love old dolls and such.These dolls are so cute and I can’t wait to get my hands on one.Thanks for the review.
You are welcome, Sherry! I love dolls with a story behind them like these 🙂
These are so beautiful, and I love how they tie in to history – a great learning experience. The finishes on the doll are gorgeous as well. I may get one for my niece for Christmas.
So glad you like them, md! They really are beautiful!
I want one for each of my daughters! These are wonderful. A doll, a book, and history to go along with it. This is a fascinating way to get kids involved in books!
Very true, Amanda! So much more fun when you have the doll right there to see & then to tie it into history is great!
My daughter is also getting to the age where she wants to play with bigger dolls. The doll you found is absolutely precious; it’s amazing how much attention to detail was paid to her clothing. I’m in the market for some dolls and toy clothing for her, and hopefully I can find something that she will love!