Bonjour, hola, ciao, ni hao, kon nichi wa, shalom, hallo, zdráhstvooee, yasou… in any language it means 'hello'. Thanks to ingenious dolls called Language Littles, kids everywhere are spouting international phrases learned from their cuddly companions. Not only are these dolls smart, they are fashionable as well, sporting trendy garb from head to toe.

W exactly is a Language Littles doll? The soft-bodied, sixteen-inch plush dolls represent children from France, Italy, China, Japan, Israel, Germany, Russia and Spanish-speaking countries, with more languages on the way. These dolls are not just pretty faces. What makes them unique is their ability to introduce foreign language to children from preschool through grade school. Simply press one of the dolls hands and she will recite a series of "kid friendly" phrases. Press the doll's other and she will count, recite colors, and/or days of the week. Press a heart on the doll's knee and she will respond by saying "I love you". Each doll offers a direct translation from English to her designated language. Imagine how rewarding it will be for youngsters to enjoy the instant gratification of rudimentary phrases in a new language!

Unlike other speaking dolls, Language Littles have a human recorded voice. Many dolls on the market have robotic-sounding voices that can be intimidating to children. What's more, the inflection and language learned from Language Littles dolls are perfect translations aided by the dialogue from native speakers. Each doll is equipped with a sophisticated sound module safely and well concealed in the doll's stomach. Small wires extend through the arms to allow the hands to be activated when pressed. Adults can rest assured that Language Littles meet all government safety standards.

Children are notorious for their limited attention spans. Language Littles offer such instant rewards that kids will delight in showing off their 'fluency' in a new language, while keeping them gleefully occupied. Parents and educators often face the challenge of how to entertain children when they grow weary of a favorite toy. Language Littles eliminate this angst. When a child has 'mastered' one language, he or she can simply proceed to the next Language Littles doll. Kids will undoubtedly engage in friendly competition to see who is the reining champion of Language Littles phrases.

Language Littles are expressly designed to represent many ethnic backgrounds, as opposed to the blonde, blue-eyes prototype so often seen on toy store shelves. It is the goal of the Language Littles company that in creating the dolls, an appreciation will be fostered for cultural differences, and children will understand differences in language and appearance.

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