Review of Hearts For Hearts Doll Mosi of New Mexico, USA.

PRODUCT DETAILS:

UPC:  043377131397
Recommended Age:  6+ (Choking hazard should be taken seriously as these dolls have small parts like jewelry)
Put out by:  Playmates Toys
Made in China
Put out in:  2013
Information about Product:
$1.00 of the purchase price goes to World Vision, a charity that helps children and their families in the United States and around the world through education, water, hygiene, microenterprise, community development, and disaster relief.
Contents:  15 inch doll wearing brown cowboy boots, gray and white striped knee-length ski pants, a red and white print dress with blue sash, blue feather in hair, silver earrings, and a silver bracelet; booklet; blue hairbrush with additional rubber band; a blue and purple heart friendship bracelet.  Also includes a code for access to a kid-safe website with games.
Height:  15 inches
Hair Color & Style:  Long, black (with brownish highlights), wavy hair.
Eyes:  Brown, painted eyelashes--eyes don't close
Nationality:  Native American
Biography:  Mosi is a ten year old girl that lives on a sheep ranch just outside of Santa Fe, New Mexico.  Her mother is a potter.  Her father runs the ranch.  Mosi hopes to eventually tame the injured pony her father brought home, whom she calls Warrior.  Mosi visits her grandmother during the summer on the reservation, who passes on their culture.  Mosi enjoys living in two worlds, one modern and one entrenched in old traditions.
Availability:  These dolls are still available in select stores.  Target sells them for $24.99, though they may not always be available online.  Toys R Us sells them for $27.99 (again, they may not always be available online).  Currently, there is a sale that has reduced them to $15.99-$16.99 (this blog is being written on April 13, 2014).  Amazon and Ebay has them too--but they may be more expensive.
Problem:  Hearts for Hearts dolls are a great way to get exposed to other cultures and other people's problems.  The dolls are generally well made.  However, I've noticed there are two problems in terms of longevity.  One, their eyes are like marbles and can turn a different color over time (for instance, my Tipi's eyes were brown and are now purple).  Another problem is that their skin will get paler and rather grayish looking, which can be a problem with dark-skinned dolls.  I still love the dolls, but ask yourself how much you want to pay knowing this.  (*See my review for Hearts For Hearts Lauryce in the February 2014 folder to see Tipi's eyes)
Websites:  www.playmatestoys.com; www.worldvision.org;
Doll Movement:  Typical baby doll:  head nods and moves side to side, arms go up and down and back and forth, legs go up and down, torso does not twist, elbows and knees do not bend, doll can stand on her own and sit down if you prop her up with her hands behind her or against something.
Doll Composition:  Total vinyl body

For a long time, I was satisfied with just having my Hearts For Hearts Tipi.  I had wanted Rahel, but I lost my chance to own her it seemed at the time.  I didn't realize more Hearts For Hearts dolls had been produced until a Facebook friend posted a picture of her niece's favorite doll--which was a Hearts For Hearts Lauryce.  Hearts for Hearts dolls are easily recognizable, as they don't really look like most dolls.  Their petite size and large doe-eyes make them distinguishable.

Mosi had been very cute online, but when I saw her in the store I tended to be very disappointed.  Mosi can appear cross-eyed at times depending on how you look at her.  Be warned that this is one doll that you will feel is watching you intently.

Hearts For Hearts dolls don't always have the most impressive clothing even if it is authentic to the culture.  These aren't fashionistas.  They usually dress in their normal daily clothes and not in ceremonial clothing that may also be part of their culture.  The jewelry, though,  tends to be nice...and Mosi's jewelry is one of my favorites.

Mosi has slits cut into the back of her boots to make them easier to remove.  The doll comes this way.

Overall, I am happy with the doll...but I admit I was disappointed by her booklet.  The booklet is a big deal for me.  If I ever got one of these dolls second-hand, I could do without most of the accessories--but I would want the booklet.  Usually, there is more information given in the booklet.  The inside of the box cover will give a summary.  In Mosi's case, what is in the booklet is the same thing that is written on the box cover.

This was a big disappointment.   I can identify a little more with Mosi, since she is from the United States.  I had hoped to hear more about Native American culture--maybe even a story.  I believe Tipi's booklet had included a myth from her culture.  We don't even know what tribe Mosi is part of (though I suspect she may be Navajo...but I'm not sure).  Being a Native American is a broad term.  When we think of American Indians, we picture feathered hats, face paint, and tepees...but the fact is that only represents a certain group that lived in a certain area of the United States (I'm guilty of being ignorant of which group that was).  Saying someone is Native American is like saying someone is Spanish.  Within that racial category are a bunch of sub-divisions that have different ways of life and possibly different beliefs.  A person from Spain and a person from Puerto Rico are both Spanish--and though there may be similarities, there are probably many differences.  It is the same with Native Americans.

There may have been a problem with Mosi that wasn't a problem with the other dolls.  Laws can get rather sticky with the Native Americans, no matter where they are.  It is possible that if Mosi had been associated with a particular tribe, they may have been entitled to some of the profits.