When I was in Chicago last summer, I got my first glimpse into the world of that other doll company that’s so wildy successful in the US. I never understood the appeal – but then again it’s hard for a Canadian girl to like a brand of dolls that has nothing to do with her own heritage, environment and well…country!
This summer, I was introduced to Maplelea Girls dolls and now I understand that doll-love a little bit more.
I’m thrilled that there’s dolls out there specifically for Canadian girls, but am surprised it took me this long to hear about them! No more of that! If you haven’t heard of Maplelea Girls before, allow me to introduce you.
Maplelea Girls consist of 6 distinct dolls representing 6 areas of our beautiful country and culture within. Jenna, Taryn, Brianne, Léonie (lay-oh-nee), Saila (sigh-lah) and Alexi are 10 year old girls and hail from Nova Scotia, Alberta, Manitoba, Quebec, Nunavut and Ontario respectively. There’s no Maplelea Girls doll from Saskatchewan yet but I’ll forgive them for now. 😉
After looking at each of the dolls and reading more about them, I didn’t choose the dolls from either of my neighbors in Alberta or Manitoba but instead picked Alexi from Toronto. She arrived in a beautiful sturdy box (which is now her bed, by the way) and also came with her own journal with room for answering questions and writing your own thoughts. My daughter is too young to fully appreciate the journal (Maplelea is best for girls 6-12 and my daughter is almost 5) but oh how I loved journals like this one when I was little. I love that there’s room to answer questions, giving little girls time to ponder the answers before writing them out.
Nevaeh has been carrying Alexi around every day since she got her – into the back yard, down to the toy room, and of course into her bed to sleep.
She’s also very interested in the catalogue we received with our doll which showcases the many outfits and accessories you can get for your doll to truly make her your own. I think we’ll have to consider a few items for Alexi this holiday season.
Interested in learning more? You can check out everything Maplelea Girls on the site and while you’re there, you can register an account and order your free Maplelea Girls catalogue (I recommend, your little girls will love flipping through it and it might give you some holiday ideas!)
One of my Canadian readers is going to win a Maplelea Girls doll of their choice!
I would love to win Brianne a she looks just like my 6 yr olddaughter and i know she would love a beautiful doll to play with that looks like her 🙂
I would love to chose “Leonie” my girls would love it best since their dad’s name is Leon!
Thank you for the chance to win.
We would love to win Taryn!
Leone
I think I would choose Jenna.
Taryn i guess she looks the most like my daughter 🙂
thank you so much for the giveaway! I have posted it on http://www.facebook.com/#!/StrictlyCanadianCouponsAndContests/app_228910107186452
Since I live in NS, I would choose Jenna 🙂
I would love leonie 🙂
Would love to win Brianne!
love Leonie, cute outfit!
i would choose saila
I would pick the Jenna doll
I like Brianne
Kate loves dolls
I ordered a catalog last year for my daughter. She loves looking at it and really wants Alexi to come and live with us.
My daughter Jaena would love one of these dolls! We would choose Léonie just because of her great name 🙂
Being from Alberta, would love to win Taryn!
I think I would pick Jenna–from the East Coast, same as my daughter 🙂
Alexi as I grew up in Toronto as well and perhaps my daughter would like a doll resembling someone close to our home.
Taryn
tough choice…I think I’d go for Taryn
Jenna from Nova Scotia where my granddaughter was born
I would choose Taryn.
I would def pick Jenna as she is an East Coaster just like us:)
Saila!
Jenna 🙂
Saila
My daughter would like Saila.
I would choose Brianne.
ksceviour at hotmail dot com
I would choose Brianne
reneetaylor at sympatico dot ca
its hard to choose, i’ve never heard of them before now, but i think my daughter would like jenna or taryn. i’m from the east and we live here too, but taryn sounds just like my daughter, “i love the butterflies mommy” 😀
Either Jenna (because my Dad lives in Nova Scotia) or Brianne (because we are from Manitoba).
Jenna for sure
My niece likes Leoni, for her outfits and what they say she likes!
I’d choose Brianne if I won
yourstrulee(at)sasktel(dot)net
SAILA
Thanks
I would choose Taryn for my little girl or leoni!!
Hi
I think I would love to win Jenna cause she is a highland dancer and I grew up as a highland dancer and my daughter will be starting in the fall and I think she would love to have a doll dress in a kilt like her
I would pick Jenna for my orangie-haired daughter! 😀
My daughter says Brianne 🙂
I choose Léonie
teddyoutready2(at)gmail(dot)com
I would pick Jenna
I would choose Taryn.
I would love to win Brianne for my granddaughter. They would make the best of friends!
I love the Saila and Jenna dolls
Jenna
I would choose Jenna and she reminds me so much of my daughter Hannah who would be receiving this. She has been asking for a Maplea Doll for years.
I would choose – Brianne – because she’s as beautiful as my niece…Almost.
Jenna from Nova Scotia, she’s the closest one to Newfoundland 🙂
Considering we are from Alberta, Taryn would be the perfect doll for my little girl!
I love Taryn!!
I would choose Brianne because I’m sure my daughter would love her!
my daughter would love Brianne..but they are all beautiful!!!
How have I not heard of these dolls before? Gorgeous! My daughter is now in love with the Jenna. Santa may have to bring that this year…
If I won, I would choose Brianne
I love brianne!
Brianne!
Leonie
i love jenna..but they are all nice!
I would choose Taryn 🙂
Lots of fun!
I’d choose Taryn because she reminds me of my granddaughter
Brianne
I would choose Saila
Jenna, but its hard to choose.
Brianne – for my daughter.
All beautiful but I love Brianne!
Taryn most resembles my daughter. Its hard to find ethnic dolls that match her East Indian/Italian gorgeous blend!
I like Alexi
I would choose Alexi! 🙂
I would choose the Jenna
thanks
flower_child_23(at)hotmail(dot)com
Hi, the beautiful red headed little Jenna Please!
If I won, I would choose Saila!
Taryn, but wish there was a Vancouver one!
I would choose Taryn
I would choose Saila.
I would choose Saila.
I would choose Taryn to go with my Taryn. 🙂
Alexi. I see she has a cabbagetown festival outfit and we used to live there. Adorable!
Saila
Jenna is the doll I would choose.
I love the name Léonie. Your daughters name is also beautiful!
Besos, Sarah
Zookeeper at Journeys of The Zoo
I would pick Saila!
What a tough choice! My DD picked Taryn!
My daughter has Taryn, but if I won, I think I would have to pick Jenna and pair her with the “Anne of Green Gables” outfit they offer. I’m such a nut about Anne.
I think my daughter would love Taryn. Taryn loving the outdoors is same as my Emma.
I love them all and think my daughter would love any one of them but if I was to chose I think I would pick Alexi because she is from Toronto 😀
Brianne
I’d pick Jenna
I’d choose Jenna.
I would choose Jenna.
I would choose Jenna.
They are all beautiful but I think I would choose Taryn!
My 9 year old really likes Taryn! Thanks for the contest!
Leonie it is 🙂
Brianne
I would choose Leonie for my daughter.
Love Taryn! Good ‘ol Alberta girls just like us! and she loves Banff – its pretty close to our hearts too!
Brianne