The Best of Barbie
Barbie Rules! 1, 2 and 3: Be Your Own Best Friend/Be Proud of Yourself/No Teasing Allowed
(Golden Books HK$35 approx)
When my first daughter was born, I told myself that she wasn't going to become a slavish follower of that blonde-haired, blue-eyed Barbie bimbo. But four years and two little girls later, what can I say? Both want nothing more than to be dressed in Barbie Pink - that is, when they're not dressed up as Disney princesses. I caved in - and caved in early.
But Barbie does have her redeeming qualities. There's been a Barbie backlash, and the doll is better for it. Do you remember the kerfuffle when a Barbie doll was programmed to say: 'I hate math'? She's now been given a love of maths - and slightly more realistic curves. And she's now available in the guise of a chief executive, an astronaut and a sports superstar, as well as the more traditional glamour girl.
A new series of books, called Barbie Rules! is especially good reading for young girls, giving them 'Barbie's rules to live by' couched in engaging, easy-to-read stories. The misadventures of Barbie's little sister, Stacie (who looks about six to eight years old), as told by Barbie, help illuminate problems that most young girls face (although you sometimes wish they didn't have to face them quite so early).
