A New Best Friend: Mighty Girl Dolls and Action Figures

By Katherine Handcock, A Mighty Girl Communications Specialist

Dolls and figurines have been favorite pretend play toys for hundreds of years, but there are a lot more choices now than there were in the past! Today, dolls and action figures can represent historical figures, popular book, TV, and movie characters, or people from around the world.

If you’ve been looking for a unique doll or exciting action figure for your Mighty Girl, we’ve put together a collection of some of our favorites! From Mighty Girl role models from history to comic book stars, from children’s book characters to paper dolls, there's a new best friend awaiting every child!

For even more empowering dolls and action figures, check out the Dolls / Action Figures section of our 2014 Holiday Gift Guide or our full selection of over 400 options.

To learn about more of our favorite toys of all varieties for Mighty Girls, including science, building, and pretend play toys, check out our Girl Empowerment Toy Blog Series or visit our 2014 Holiday Guide.

Dolls That Inspire: Historical Figures

Some of our favorite dolls are those that represent the amazing women of the past! These dolls will provide a friend for pretend play, as well as inspiration to learn more about the incredible contributions of women in history.
Girls Explore makes a selection of doll and biography sets featuring characters from history, suitable for ages 8 and up. Their Amelia Earhart doll pays tribute to the daring aviator and explorer; the doll comes dressed in Earhart’s pilot’s uniform of leather jacket and boots, pocket compass, and flight helmet and also comes with a child-sized compass you can wear around your neck. The doll comes with a 124-page biography for readers 8 and up. 

Their Harriet Tubman doll, which also comes with a biography, is modeled after a famous photograph of the former slave turned dedicated Underground Railroad conductor, and comes with a child-sized shoulder pouch like the one Tubman used to carry food and supplies.

The Unemployed Philosophers Guild makes a line of soft dolls called Little Thinkers for ages 5 and up; these small plush dolls represent a wide variety of historical figures, all attempting to capture the essence of the person and her time. Favorites include the Jane Austen plush doll, wearing the popular morning dress of her time and the Florence Nightingale doll, which wears her nurse’s cap and dress and, of course, carries the lamp that gave her the nickname “Lady of the Lamp.”

If an action figure is more your child’s style, you’ll want to check out the Annie Oakley action figure (age 5 and up). This set duplicates Oakley’s signature trick of shooting a target over her shoulder while looking in a mirror! This 5 ¾” hard vinyl figure is sure to be a hit with fans of this daring entertainer.

Favorite Friends: Characters from Books, TV, and Movies

When a kid loves a particular character, a doll or soft toy of their favorite is sure to delight! These toys will be huge hits with fans of these characters.

There are some beautiful plush adaptations of book characters out there, the perfect option for book-loving kids on your list. YOTTOY makes a selection of soft animals and dolls based on book characters. Fans of Mo Willems will love this plush Knuffle Bunny (age 1 and up), the spitting image of the beloved stuffed animal that was left behind in the laundromat. Kids who love Ludwig Bemelmans’ Madeline will love this 16” soft Madeline doll; take off her school uniform and you’ll even find her appendix removal scar from her first adventure!

TV character Doc McStuffins is a hugely popular character, so it’s no wonder that there are wonderful doll versions of her! For a soft version, check out this Doc McStuffins plush (age 3 - 6): the plush detailing and embroidered features make it toddler- and preschooler-safe! You can also get a plush version of her friend Lambie (age 3 and up) to add to your collection.

For fans of Ladybug Girl, Merry Makers makes a cuddly 10” Ladybug Girl doll (age 3 - 7) that’s just right for carrying along on all your Mighty Girl’s adventures. This sweet and friendly-looking doll is perfect for any fan of this delightful book character. And if your child loves busy little piggy Olivia, check out this Olivia the Artist doll (age 3 - 8). This soft Olivia doll is dressed in an artist’s smock with palette of paints in hand.

If her taste runs more to comic books, check out this terrific Wonder Woman with Invisible Jet from Fisher-Price’s Little People line (age 1 - 4)! With a design that’s true to the character and multiple phrases and sound effects that are triggered when the figure sits in the cockpit, it’s a must for any little Wonder Woman fan.

With the tremendous success of Frozen, there are a lot of kids looking for Anna and Elsa dolls this year! We have a variety of toys featuring Frozen characters on our site this year, including the plush Baby Elsa and Baby Anna; with embroidered features and high-quality plush, they’re suitable for Frozen fans as young as 1. The medium Elsa plush (age 3 - 8) is perfect for older kids who’d like a soft, cuddly version of this popular characters, while the classic Anna doll (age 4 and up) is perfect for kids who would like a traditional 12” doll. And for fans of lovable snowman Olaf, check out this 13” Olaf plush (age 2 - 12).

There many more movie-inspired dolls and plushes, too! For a lovely Wizard of Oz doll, check out the Topsy Turvy Dorothy (age 3 - 12): flip the skirt over to see either Dorothy in her blue gingham dress or Toto walking the Yellow Brick Road.

Fans of Studio Ghibli and Kiki’s Delivery Service will love this 8” plush Jiji the cat (age 3 and up); this Japanese import is officially licensed and is a perfect duplicate of Jiji from the film.

Brave fans can check out this cheerful Merida plush doll with soft boa curls for her hair and a dress and cape modeled after her adventuring wear from the movie.

Even live-action Mighty Girls get great doll adaptations! Fans of Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games will want to check out the Katniss Everdeen doll (age 6 and up), which depicts Katniss in her Hunger Games outfit of boots, jacket, and of course, bow and arrows. She’s even wearing a replica mockingjay pin. And fans of this summer’s Maleficent will love this 12” Maleficent doll (age 3 - 12), which wears her distinctive outfit from Aurora’s christening.

There are even dolls and plushes out there for video game fans! Kids who love Minecraft will love the line of plush Minecraft animals, including a baby pig, a baby sheep, and a baby ocelot. All three are 7” long and suitable for adventurers aged 2 and up!

A Special Friend: Diverse Dolls

Sometimes you want a doll that doesn’t represent a specific person or character, but one that can be whatever your kids dream of! These friendly and diverse dolls provide lots of opportunity for your child’s imagination to shine.

The littlest kids will love Manhattan Toy’s Snuggle Pod dolls (age 1 - 5). These cuddly little toddler dolls come in their own satin-lined pods in the shape of a pea pod, a peanut, a bunny costume, or a bug costume. These super-soft dolls are perfect as a first doll for bedtime.

If bathtime is your child’s favorite time of day, check out Corolle’s Bathtime Baby doll (age 18 months - 8 years): she floats in water and dries out quickly, so she’s perfect for bathtime fun! Water-loving kids will love that she comes in a mask, snorkel, fins, and water wings.

If your kids love the Breyer horses, make sure the have a vet to help see them through any trouble! Breyer’s Veterinarian Lauren doll (age 3 - 8) was recognized by the American Association of Equine Practitioners for the accuracy of the set, which includes a vet bag, stethoscope, syringes, and tub of medicine. She’ll keep your ponies and horses happy and healthy.

American Girl dolls have long been a favorite for their high quality and for their emphasis on history. Their line of miniature 6.5 inch dolls provides a great opportunity for girls to build a collection! Our favorites include Addy, who escapes a life of slavery and seeks an education; Josefina, who lives in New Mexico before it is annexed by the United States; and Kaya, a member of the Nez Perce tribe after contact with Europeans, but before permanent settlement of their lands. These dolls replicate their full-sized versions perfectly, and come with a miniature, abridged version of the characters’ story.

A newer doll, the Lottie line of dolls, is based on a real child’s body, with wardrobes and activities appropriate to girls aged 3 to 8. Individual dolls include the Kawaii Karate doll, who wears a gi and comes with both white and yellow belts, protective headgear, and training cards showing the moves she’s trying to master; the Robot Girl doll, who wears a hoodie with an atomic theme and a pair of glasses; and the Pirate Queen doll who’s dressed for pirate adventure and comes with a cutlass and collector cards featuring Grace O’Malley, the original Pirate Queen.

If your kids love sports, check out the Go! Go! Sports dolls (age 3 - 7) for soft dolls that represent athletes in a variety of sports. Dolls like Taye the Basketball Girl and Ella the Runner Girl come with a selection of accessories appropriate to their sport and have an inspiring message embroidered on their tummies.

If you’d like a doll line that offers charitable outreach along with a diverse group of dolls, check out Hearts for Hearts Girls, a line of 14” dolls for ages 6 and up based on real girls from around the world, including Mosi from the Navajo Nation in New Mexico, Rahel from Ethiopia, and Shola from Afghanistan. All the dolls come with a short story about life for girls in their home, and a portion of proceeds supports children’s causes in the doll’s home country through World Vision.

Two Dimensional Fun: Paper and Magnetic Dolls

Paper and magnetic dress-up dolls have been popular for generations, and they’re still a wonderful option for kids. These sets will have your kids exchanging outfits for hours.

In Laura Ingalls Wilder's books, she and sister Mary often played with paper dolls; now you can get paper dolls inspired by the books! My Little House Paper Dolls: The Big Woods Collection (age 4 and up) features Laura, Mary, Pa, Ma, and even Baby Carrie and the family bulldog Jack, all with a selection of authentic outfits.

Little Women also has a set of paper dolls based on the book: the Little Women Paper Dolls set (age 6 and up) features Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy, all with outfits based on scenes from the books, from the Christmas play to day-to-day wear to special clothes for Meg’s wedding.

You can also get this set of Favorite Storybook Characters paper dolls (age 4 and up) which allows you to model one paper doll off of a variety of different characters, including Alice in Wonderland, Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, and Anne of Green Gables.

For a fun doll set based on modern book characters, check out the Ivy and Bean Paper Dolls (age 4 - 10). This set comes with two sturdy play scenes, reusable stickers for dress-up, and even props like an octopus in a bucket from some of their wilder adventures!

If you’d rather a doll with a historical twist, the Frida Kahlo Paper Doll (age 6 and up) lets you play with thirty of Kahlo’s distinctive clothing ensembles. Kahlo’s husband Diego Rivera is also included, with two outfits of his own to wear.

For hours of play with a set of magnetic dress-up dolls, the Daisy Girls Dollhouse and Dress-Ups (age 3 - 10) offers 130 pieces for four dolls (and their pets!) plus a sturdy and tip-resistant play scene. With creative clothes and accessories for playing house, sports, pirates, and more. There is hours of fun in this compact package!

Small Size, Big Fun: Action Figures and Figurines

Whether you’re buying for play or for a collection to display, action figures and figurines are fun gift options! These small packages offer big opportunities for gift giving.

Lots of kids love LEGO but many get frustrated by the lack of diversity available in the minifigures. Fortunately, LEGO does offer some options to increase the diversity in your brick collection! The LEGO Community Minifigures Set (age 4 - 12) provides a variety of minifigures parts to assemble 22 male and female minifigures representing different roles in a community, from firefighter to farmer. The DUPLO World People Set (age 2 - 5) offers a mix of occupations, and also features DUPLO-sized figures with different skin colors. Kids will love having some new figures to add to their play!

Playmobil (age 4 - 10) is another popular option for kids who love pretend play, and their 3” tall figures are detailed and easy to manipulate. Best of all, since Playmobil does not gender occupations, you can find female figures in almost every set! Some of our favorites are the Rescue Ambulance, which includes a female paramedic; the vet clinic case, which provides the vet figure and 36 other accessories in an easy-to-carry case; and the Take Along Horse Farm, which includes multiple figures, two horses, and all the accessories necessary to run a farm, in a barn that snaps closed for storage or travel.

Action figures can also represent dream careers, and for kids who love marine life, Michelle the Underwater Adventurer (age 3 - 7) is a must! This SCUBA diver is carefully detailed, but sturdy enough to hold up to all your child’s ocean adventure play.

On the other hand, sometimes action figures are meant to take you far, far away... like to the Star Wars universe! Fans of Princess Leia will be thrilled to get this figure of Leia in her Boussh Disguise from Return of the Jedi (age 4 and up). Her helmet comes on and off, and she comes with the thermal detonator she wielded in the Jabba’s Palace scene. Perfect for any Star Wars lover!

Superheroes are favorite pretend play characters, but it can be difficult to find female superhero characters for kids! The littlest superhero fans will love the Little People Wonder Woman and Batgirl set from Fisher-Price (age 1 - 4). Perfectly sized for toddler hands, these detailed figures will be a hit with your superhero. If she’s past Little People and is collecting Imaginext figures instead, check out the Catwoman action figure (age 6 and up), which comes with a motorcycle and a hissing feline friend.

Older kids looking for traditional superhero action figures will love the newly released 6.44” New 52 Batgirl figure (age 5 and up); with great detailing and a dynamic design, she’ll be ready for adventure in no time! Marvel fans can check out the 4” Black Widow action figure (age 6 and up) from the original Avengers movie, which comes with her own grapple launcher. And if she loved this summers Guardians of the Galaxy, check out the Gamora action figure (age 4 and up). This 6” action figure is part of the Build a Figure line, so if you collect all six of the action figures in the line, you’ll also get the pieces you need to build your own Groot!

If you’re looking for a unique take on some of your favorite characters, don't miss the Funko’s POP Vinyl line of figures (age 5 and up). These 3 ¾” figures are suitable for play, but they also make perfect collectible items — they’re just the right size to display on a desktop or shelf. Fans of Big Hero 6 will want to snag the newly released Honey Lemon and GoGo Tamago figures, while aficionados of Marvel’s Thor and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. will love Lady Sif in the POP Vinyl format. Maleficent looks almost as menacing as a vinyl as she does on the cover of the 2014 film, while Wonder Woman is just as heroic as when she stands triumphant on the comic book page.

So this holiday, consider getting someone on your list a new companion for their pretend play adventures! It could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Additional Recommended Resources

• For more empowering dolls and action figures, check out the Dolls / Action Figures section of our 2014 Holiday Gift Guide or our full selection of over 400 options.
• For more inspiration for pretend play, check out our Imaginative Play section, which includes Dolls / Action Figures, Costumes / Dress-up, and pretend play collections like the Playmobil line.