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he brightest Web sites and noisiest, most chaotic
store aisles tend to be those that lead to gifts for
the most appreciative recipients: the kids. Among
the barrage of toys, books and music on hand this year
are some innovative, new Judaic choices, available online
and at area shops.

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Tne newest addition to the Gall Girl doll collection is Reyna — who is Chinese and Jew-
ish, created as modern Jewish role models, Gall Girls are dressed modestly in trendy
shirts and skirts and come packaged with a birth certificate listing both a Hebrew and
English name. Each doll comes with a 12-piece wooden Shabbat play set and matching
Magen David jewelry for both the Gall Girl and her "mom."

Reyna, like her "sisters" — who are available with blonde, bru-
nette or red hair and brown or blue eyes — is a poseable,
soft-bodied, 18-inch-tall doll created for children ages
4-11. She is dressed in a soft, blue brocade dress, with
matching blue shoes.

"I'm hoping someone will buy Reyna for my daughter
for Chanukah," said jewish,corn store manager Laurie
Freeman of Farmington Hills, about 4-year-old Amanda
who was adopted from China. "It's hard today when
you have dolls that dress sexy and are for 4-8-year-olds!
Gall Girls celebrate Shabbat and dress respectfully. It really
ensures that the kids will play with them in a way much differ-
ent than a Barbie or Bratz doll."

Gall Girls also include a limited edition Miriam's Journey doll based on the life of a 10-
year-old child who immigrated to America from Russia in 1914. And, said the dolls'
creator, Aliza Stern, "There are many more dolls on the horizon. We're working on a more
Sephardi-looking doll with darker skin and darker hair."

Reyna and other Gall Girl dolls, books and accessories are available at jewish,com and
Borenstein's Book Store, 25242 Greenfield Rd., Oak Park. (248) 9673920.

„II\J GIFT GUIDE NOVEMBER 200f3

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