2016 Toy of the Year Award

2009 NAPPA Children’s Products winner 

"This elegantly designed doll is richly detailed, with realistic hair and eyelashes that capture her beauty. What makes Maru so special is the way she appeals to a younger audience of readers who are just beginning simple chapter books. The doll is accompanied by a hardcover book that describes Maru’s coming to America to live with her aunt and uncle, and her wait for the later arrival of her parents. Written simply and understandably, Maru’s story helps bring the doll to life, and may open beginner readers to the new horizons that reading can provide. Both doll and the book are keys for children to enter a world of imagination and thought." 

Maru Doll Wins The Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award

The Oppenheim Toy Portfolio was founded in 1989 as the only independent consumer review of children's media. Oppenheim's reviews consider, along with educational and play value, safety, age appropriateness, amongst other important factors. The award winners are selected by a noted expert in child development, children's literature, and education, and further tested by the most objective panel of judges-kids.

2010 Teachers' Choice Award 

The Teachers' Choice Awards honor products of exceptional quality and outstanding performance in the classroom and at home!

Their panel of teacher evaluators use each product in their classrooms and homes to find the best products for teachers and parents. 

2009 DOLLS Awards of Excellence Winner 

DOLLS magazine covers all facets of the collectible doll world ... from high-end artist works to popular manufacturer pieces, fashion dolls, ball-jointed dolls and more. 
Each year, the Diamond Awards are handed out to the industries top competitors. 

2009 Moonbean Children’s Book Award - Gold seal - Book with merchandise 

Moonbeam Children's Book Awards, designed to honor the year's best children's books, authors and illustrators. Presented by Jenkins Group and Independent Publisher Online, the Moonbeam Children's Book Awards are designed to bring increased recognition to exemplary children's books and their creators, and to support childhood literacy and life-long reading. 

As our society has gotten more complex and growing up has become more complicated, children's book authors and publishers have risen to the occasion, creating books that not only celebrate the joys of childhood, but also help kids and families deal with its challenges. The Moonbeam Awards will recognize and reward the best of these books and bring them to the attention of parents, booksellers, librarians, parents and children. 

The 2nd annual Moonbeam Awards attracted 1,085 entries. Moonbeam medals were awarded to authors and publishers from 30 U.S. states, four Canadian provinces, and four countries overseas. The cause of promoting childhood literacy knows no boundaries, and the award winners illustrate that point well, coming not only from long-established publishers and university presses, but from small presses, foundations, museums, and self-published entrepreneurs. 

Mr. Dad Seal of Approval and the GreatDad Recommends 

The Mr. Dad Seal of Approval and the GreatDad Recommends program recognize products and services that support our mission: giving men the resources, tools, and information they need to be the fathers they want to be and that their families need them to be.

Maru Wins Creative Child Magazine's Toy of the Year Award

For years, Creative Child Magazine has provided parents with an exceptional resource for finding both educational and fun toys for their children. Creative Child Magazine's Awards Program is unique in that all entries are reviewed by more than 100 mothers and early youth educators. No one person has the final say in judging, and all finalists are handpicked by the very same people who would purchase the product themselves. 

Maru Named Winner of The National Parenting Center's 2009 Seal of Approval 

There are dolls and then there are dolls! 
"Maru blew our testers away with her exceptional beauty and superb design. In fact some testers were impressed even before they laid eyes on Maru. The packaging she comes in is lovely and elegant with ribbons and bows, not plastic and wires like most toys. There is also a wonderful book that is tucked in the box that tells her story, further bringing her to life for your child. Testers gushed over her exquisite features, realistic hair, stunning eyes, eyelashes and facial features. Her clothing also drew raves as being incredibly well-made and designer worthy. Maru is a high quality doll with a sweet message that celebrates differences and friendship. 

New Maru and Friends Dolls Win 2009 DOTY Awards! 

Maru and Friends, the doll line that hit the market last October, is making headlines again treasuring some of the most prominent awards that reward dolls with exceptional design and manufacture. They were favored by the 2009 DOTY Industry Choice Awards. The awards were announced on Friday, January 29th, 2009, at IDEX Premiere in Orlando, Florida. 

The most recent win for Maru and Friends were the "Happy Twins Collection", boy and girl and "Tanya"- a graceful light brown complexion 21" doll. The "Happy Twins" were selected in the Children's Play Doll category. "Tanya" was chosen in the Collectible Vinyl/Plastic Doll, Less than $125. 

The DOTY Awards Program, sponsored by Doll Reader Magazine, is designed to celebrate excellence in doll creation and to enjoy a shared passion for doll collecting and art. Every year, manufacturers, artists, and collectors alike come together to vote in recognition of superior achievement in doll creation. 

iParenting Media Award Winner 2008 - 2008 Greatest Products
Toys and Games

The iParenting Media Awards Program provides a credible and objective method of determining the best products in the marketplace and then honors them with the most prestigious consumer award.

Reviewers are a diverse set of parents, experts, licensed childcare centers and schools.