I'm just another working mom seeking a few moments of Zen and zinfandel between soccer practice and supper. My former beach bartender husband founded 
Miss C is on a kick where she announces that she is changing her name to something exotic. Kind of like moms picking their pretend stripper name, but G rated.
Overheard in my car just this week as Miss C and I were on our way to pick up Miss A from daycare and head to weekly soccer practice:
“Mommy, my name is not Miss C any more. It’s Island Princess Anastasia Ariel.”
“OK…you’re name is Barbie Island Princess Anastasia Ariel. Right?”
“No, no, not Barbie. I’m just a girl. It’s Island Princess Anastasia Ariel!” (Rolls eyes in the exaggerated whatever mom/as if/you’re so clueless gesture.)
The new Barbie Island Princess lineup has been launched just in time for Christmas wish lists. Miss C has already announced that she wants to dress up as this new Barbie for Halloween and is longing for every Barbie Island Princess toy she sees advertised on TV. And lo and behold what did my wandering eyes see at our school book fair family night but a Barbie Island Princess book on a table strategically positioned near the entrance of the library. This was no ordinary book, mind you, as it came with an enticing cheap detachable plastic purple hair comb. Every 5 and 6-year-old girl within a 30-mile radius of our elementary school was at book fair family night running willy nilly with the Barbie book in one hand, the comb in the other, and a crazed “I must have it” look in their eye. It was like Filene’s Basement for kids. Miss A, already a discriminating consumer, made a beeline toward the Dora and Diego books, which were, not surprisingly, placed on the lowest shelves.
My dreams of adding some literary masterpieces to the girls’ library, perhaps a Caldecott Medal winner or a childhood favorite, were dashed. I’ll be buying those classic gems when I don’t have two children in tow.
You slick marketing people have the little girls’ market pegged don’t you? Let me just hand you my wallet now, OK?
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Miss Peach is a princess for Halloween. Her cosutme came yesterday. I only gave ther the wand and tiara (she slept with them). I hid the dress, until Halloween (once she sees it, I will never get it off her). She spent all day yesterday in a wand trance. She doesn’t know who Barbie is yet (I plan to keep it that way as long as I can). Wish me luck;)
Nap Warden:
Good luck! I know Miss Peach will be an adorable princess. I think Miss A is going to be whatever mommy pulls together from our already existent dress up stash.
My Little Ponies are also tempting, too, as are Care Bears.
[...] posted something this morning and mentioned Caldecott Award Winner books.
Mimi and Miss C would have a ball playing island fairy princess ballerinas together. And Rosie and Miss A could dabble in Dora, Diego, and Blue’s Clues (if Miss A likes Blue—Rosie adores it.)
I use the Scholastic Book order forms as an opportunity to pick out favorite books. Mimi always wants those Barbie/Disney ones, but luckily she can’t write checks and fill out order forms yet. I do think my approach will be much less successful when it comes to real-life book fairs and the like, though.
The book fair marketing people are demons. I worked at the one at BD’s elementary school every year. The kids want the cheap toys and posters, not the books. But go ahead and buy those Caldecott books, anyway. They’ll actually get a lot more enjoyment out of them over the years.
I love how the new Barbie book is right by the door not hidden back in some corner. Smart product placement. Smart if you’re running the book fair. Annoying if you’re the parent.
[...] kindergarten and she absolutely loves it. She loves her teacher and her new friends. She even gave her coveted Barbie Island Princess classic tome of literature from the school book fair book to her teacher as a donation for the class bookshelf. If that’s not true love, I [...]