Toy Fair 2009: Furreal Friends: Lulu, My Cuddlin' Kitty, Zambi the Baby Elephant and Newborns

Lulu, My Cuddlin’ Kitty ($55) is the newest Furreal Friends pet who cuddles, meows and preens just like a real cat, without the allergies! She’ll snuggle with your child, roll onto her back to let you rub her tummy, and lick her paw and clean her face.

She’ll be available in the Fall along with Zambi the Baby Elephant ($50), a special edition Furreal Friends who benefits Project Zambi, a global cause initiative dedicated to raising awareness and supporting programs that help care for the estimated 15 million children who have been orphaned as a result of the AIDS epidemic in Africa. Fifty percent of the net profits go to Project Zambi, with Hasbro pledging at least $500,000 the first year. Like the other animals in the Furreal Friends line, Zambi comes to life by blowing kisses, playing, raising his trunk and trumpeting his elephant call. He has a sensor on his trunk that allows him to hold onto the child’s finger and shake hands!

Both are super cute, but if you can’t wait, in the spring, as real life baby animals are being born, the Furreal Friends Newborns ($15) hit stores! Mini versions of the popular line (I’m told that it’s the #1 selling special feature plush brand for 4-8 year old girls), the Newborns collection includes a duckling, bird, piglet, lamb, chipmunk, puppy, and chimp, each with its own unique sounds and features. Each pet includes a bottle which it responds to and adoption papers. Normally, I’m not fond of dolls being sold with bottles but I’ll make an exception since these babies are adopted and they’re animals!

All will be available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

— Danielle