To this day I still have some of my berry favorite Strawberry Shortcake songs stuck in my head. I had select episodes recorded on VHS tapes and would replay them over and over again until my Mom would “lose” them. While Strawberry and the gang were a big part of my childhood, kids today still love them—but for some of the same and some different reasons. With time, Strawberry has evolved from her adventures with the Peculiar Purple Pie-Man of Porcupine Peak, and is becoming an even greater role model for little girls.
A big trend we see in toys lately is the focus on girl empowerment. Characters such as Strawberry Shortcake, Huckleberry Pie, and Custard Cat appeal to little girls for obvious reasons (I mean they’re all adorable and have cute little pets and cute little houses), but in a new toy line from The Bridge Direct, Strawberry is more than the sweet, freckled, red-headed character decorated in green-and-white-stripped stockings—and that’s because now, she’s a rock star.
With the Strawberry Shortcake Sweet Beats Stage Playset girls ages 3 and up can rock out alongside Strawberry and her friend Cherry Jam as they sing to the songs “Invincible” and “The Real Music In You.” The stage alone is beautiful in all of its sparkling glory and the girls’ outfits are no different. Strawberry stuns in a sequined pink top, a frilly tutu, and a few edgy black streaks in her hair and Cherry Jam’s outfit is no more subtle. She rocks bright purple hair, tons of glitter, and has a pink guitar hanging across her chest. Both dolls are scented and trust me, they smell delicious.
The playset allows for 2-way play; on one side the girls can take the stage to perform and the other side serves as an exclusive backstage area where Strawberry and Cherry Jam get ready for the show. There’s hardly any assembly necessary and the batteries are already included. Kids can even expand their Sweet Beats Band by collecting additional Sweet Beats Dolls, such as Raspberry Torte and Plum Pudding.
