It's true. Licensed by The itsy bitsy Entertainment Company, Eloise is back and Madame Alexander® has her. Ever since Eloise, author Kay Thompson's rawther unusual heroine, first scurried and skibbled her way into our hearts in 1955, the outrageous and spirited 6-year-old New York resident has remained enormously popular. Now Madame Alexander®, the 78-year-old doll company known for tradition, elegance and innovation, has created new Eloise dolls and a line of porcelain and Artstone™ collectibles that will make terrific gifts for any occasion - if you can bear to part with them.

For those raised on Eloise (and a whole new lucky generation about to discover her), the room service-loving, spunky, precocious and irrepressible little girl skidders through a life we all envy. Residing in a grand New York City hotel with Nanny, her "mostly companion," and her pets, Weenie (a dog that looks like a cat) and Skipperdee (a turtle that eats raisins and wears sneakers), Eloise is the quintessential "city child". What with numerous visits to the catering department, roaming the floors, adjusting the thermometers, spying on the Hotel Officers, "assisting" the maids and "helping" the Switchboard operator, Eloise is busy, busy, busy. But sandwiched somewhere between learning the intimate life stories of every member of the hotel staff, plaguing her tutor, combing her hair with a fork, and generally wreaking havoc, Eloise also leaves time to play. And, ooooooooooooo she would absolutely love the new Madame Alexander® creations.

The Eloise books' gifted illustrator, Hilary Knight, originally made our heroine sklank and zimber off the page and has now specially hand-painted her face for the new line of Madame Alexander® dolls and collectibles. As a result, each offering has captured Eloise's indomitable spirit in the quirk of her irresistible naughty grin and the sly, mischievous arch of her brow. (And the new Eloise™ dolls represent the first new Madame Alexander® face sculpt in 40 years!)

Dolls
This year, the 18-inch cloth Eloise play doll was awarded A Doll of The Year Award (DOTY) by Doll Reader magazine and also received a total of four nominations from Dolls magazine's Awards of Excellence. Now, in addition to this and the adorable 8-inch vinyl Eloise (which includes Skipperdee and a pink shoulder bag), new for 2001 is the 12-inch Poseable Cloth Eloise doll, a more diminutive version of the 18-inch award-winner. Each version dressed in her signature outfit consisting of a short sleeved puffed white blouse worn beneath a pleated black skirt with suspenders, ribbed white knee socks and black patent leather maryjanes (all the better to skibble in).

And, because Eloise is always packed in case she has to leave at a moment's notice, Madame Alexander introduces the marvelous Essential Eloise™ Overnight Kit, a must-have for any Eloise fan. The Overnight Kit is composed of a pink-and-white striped roll-up accessory bag lined in white terrycloth with clear vinyl pockets to hold Eloise's sleepaway accessories. The center pocket has a quilted pink satin "coverlet" which doubles as a sleeping bag for the cute 8-inch vinyl Eloise who comes with the set. Dressed in her pink-and-white striped pajamas (and a "Do Not Disturb" sign which hangs around her neck), the set also comes with bunny slippers, a red fleece bathrobe with a braided rope belt, a pillow, a monogrammed 'Eloise' towel, a tiny rubber duckie, a shower cap, a silver brush, and Eloises's signature black-and-white jumper, maryjanes, socks, t-shirt and panties. Best of all, the entire Kit-and-caboodle comes housed in a special oval hatbox that depicts scenes from Eloise's busy life. The hatbox also features an attached leather buckled strap so that all of Eloise's ths bunny slippers. The 5 1/2-inch Eloise™ On The Go figurine features Eloise zimbering off to attend to another absolutely essential responsibility. Pedaling on her red tricycle, she smiles at Weenie who rides in the pink sack Eloise wears on her back, while Skipperdee occupies the makeshift passenger seat - a basket suspended from the handlebars.

The new 5 1/2-inch Eloise™ Tea Party figurine presents our young party-goer attired in the same white ruffled dress worn by the Eloise Tea Party doll (above), but stands on a base of "carpeting"with both hands plucking at the tiers of her skirt, gazing down at the herself in admiration. Alert to ardent collectors: Eloise™ Tea Party is a very limited edition, with only 1,000 pieces to be produced so, as Eloise would say, hurry, hurry, hurry! The 4 1/2-inch Eloise™ Tea For Three figurine features Eloise in her signature skirt and jumper, seated at a gilded table laid with a child's pink tea set, her chin resting in her hand as she gazes pensively off into the distance. With a bright pink ribbon wrapped around his shell, pet turtle Skipperdee is dressed for the occasion, and nestles on the table top, dwarfed by a nearby tea cup and saucer, and pup Weenie sits patiently at her feet.

A good-hearted mischief-maker, our heroine makes an adorable, if unlikely, Eloise™ Angel. Five and one-half inches tall, Eloise stands poised on a pink star, caught in a lunging position, with hands clasped in a prayerful attitude beneath her chin, eyes closed and mouth open - no doubt to sing her own unique rendition of a beloved Christmas carol. Though attired in her signature black-and-white jumper and blouse, a pair of white wings are unfurled on her back, and a garland of roses and leaves above her head make an impromptu halo. Eloise sports a line of golden jingle bell buttons down her bodice, with additional bells wrapped around her forearms, knees, and on the tips of her toes, for good measure. When you are as well-known as Eloise, sometimes you need a disguise to hide your identity from your many fans. The 3 1/2-inch Eloise™ and Weenie Incognito illustrates this point beautifully as Eloise and her pup sit on opposing cushions, gazing at each other from behind identity-shielding sunglasses. The border of the pink-and-gold tasseled cushions bears the appropriate legend, "Sometimes I Like To Be Incognito."

Hilary Knight's classic Eloise illustration leaps from the page in the 6 3/4-inch figurine entitled, It's Me, Eloise™. In this piece, Eloise has clambered onto one of the gilt-and-red-velvet chairs from that famous New York City hotel, to kneel precariously on the mantelpiece of a grand fireplace in order to scrawl her name unceremoniously across the silvered surface of an elegant gilt-framed mirror. Pup Weenie, Eloise's partner-in-crime, waits by the foot of her chair, possibly as a lookout to make sure the coast is clear.

Porcelain Boxes and Water Globes
Ideal for holding trinkets and treasures, as display pieces, or simply as fun desktop ornaments, Madame Alexander's collectible™ porcelain boxes are must-haves for any Eloise collector. In addition to the two terrific boxes from the Madame Alexander's original collection (the 3-inch Eloise™ Porcelain Box features Eloise nose to nose with Skipperdee and the 2 1/2-inch Eloise™ with Her Dog Weenie Porcelain Box catches her in a fond moment with pup Weenie), this year, the new 2-inch Bedtime Eloise™ Porcelain Box shows that Eloise can be a perfect angel - at least when she's asleep. On the lid of the box, lying in her bed snug beneath her pink-and-white plaid comforter, Eloise enjoys sweet dreams with Weenie tucked in beside her, toys strewn around the pillow and bedskirt, a "Do Not Disturb" sign around her neck, and a beatific smile on her face. But what of Skipperdee? By lifting the antiqued brass rosette clasp on the lid, Skipperdee can be found slumbering peacefully inside the base of the box.

The 5 3/4-inch Eloise™ Musical Water Globe features Eloise within a glass sphere, leaning on an ornate, gilt table (with an expensive-looking vase resting perilously near her elbow), and, when shaken, she is showered with a flurry of sparkling, colored confetti "snow." The glass globe rests upon a circular base that recreates objects and scenes from Eloise's life - her bedroom, piano, tennis racket, etc., and plays "Thank Heaven For Little Girls." As any normal six-year-old who lives in a famous New York City hotel with her Nanny and pet turtle and dog will tell you, Christmas is mostly about the presents. Mostly. This message is delivered clearly with the Eloise™ Opening Presents Musical Water Globe. Within a glass globe, Eloise, splendid in a Christmas-y red robe and pink-and-white striped pajamas, on The Big Day, stands with Emily the pigeon on her head, addressing Weenie and Skipperdee, who sit at her feet, surrounded by scattered presents. The Artstone™ base is composed of a wonderfully colorful assortment of interesting-looking bundles, boxes, baskets and parcels which hold an impressive quantity of Christmas gifts. When shaken, metallic confetti swirls through the globe, and a mere twist of a key on the base will yield a melodic rendition of "Hark the Herald Angels Sing."

Eloise™ Plush Collection
New to the Eloise™ line this year are terrific plush versions of Weenie and Skipperdee, her faithful, loving, and extremely tolerant pets. Out of love for their exuberant mistress, these long-suffering companions have endured many indignities (like Eloise braiding Skipperdee's ears every morning or putting sunglasses on Weenie), but they are both devoted and adorable, as they are in Madame Alexander's new 4 1/2-inch Skipperdee and 8-inch Weenie Plush Set. Weenie wears a round yellow "W"medallion suspended from his Eloise-pink dog collar and Skipperdee's shell is tied with a ribbon bow of the same bright pink. Larger versions - the new 7-inch Skipperdee Plush and the 11-inch Poseable Weenie Plush are also available and are sold separately.

Madame Alexander's Eloise dolls and collectibles will win the hearts of kids and collectors everywhere and make the perfect gift for young Eloises-in-training or slightly more seasoned fans. Look for the introduction of further new additions to Madame Alexander's Eloise™ line in 2001!

The Alexander Doll Company, a New York-based company with a factory in Harlem, is now celebrating its 78th Anniversary, continuing the tradition, elegance and innovation of Madame Alexander® dolls with a full line of fine quality, handcrafted collectible dolls, baby dolls and play dolls. The company has created a series of "firsts" that have shaped the doll industry and has always been a pioneer of style and quality in this community. The Alexander Doll Company is the only remaining major manufacturer of handcrafted dolls in America.

For more information Contact: Sally Fischer Public Relations, 212/246-2977