Recently I was given a Thumbelina doll and DVD to review.

The DVD is lovely, it’s a great story, a classic even. Thumbelina is a fairy that lives in harmony with nature. If you have a little girl, you already know that they love faeries, and glitter, and shiny things. Some folks hate Barbie, I think she’s the ultimate feminist. She’s had almost 100 jobs, and done them all with grace.

Thumbelina is the classic tale of even the tiniest person making a difference. In this DVD Thumbelina lives in the forest, in harmony with nature. Thumbelina is instrumental in keeping the Twillerbees’ home from being demolished.

Who doesn’t love a story that kids can apply to the headlines? Overdevelopment is a very real issue in our world and if our kids have a heightened awareness of it, perhaps they will opt against it in twenty years when they have the checkbooks.

It’s a great story, much along the lines of Hoot, only it’s a magical fantasy. The Thumbelina doll that I was given to review opens up into a flower when you press a button. It’s very simple and reminds of the Barbie’s I used to play with. I love that the doll is packaged in matte recycled cardboard, but I’m sure that Thumbelina’s curviness and a short dress will not delight some. The movie is far less seductive than the doll, but still if you are wildly protective of your daughter’s modesty this is not the toy for you.

Another thing that Mattel does right (listen up all you toy makers) is to include instructions for the girls on how to properly dispose of the box. Yes, the kids are the ones who will lead the way for recycling, and if you show my daughter how to be kind to the earth, she just might show me. Realizing the kids are smart enough to read packaging is fabulous. Us moms, we love it when you speak to our kids.

It’s good. It’s not great, but overall I think that Thumbelina is respectful of our children and our planet. Probably best for a 4-7 year old girl.

[This post was written by Jessica Gottlieb.]