Olivia 2-in-1 Playset and Doll Review

Are you familiar with the series of books about a precocious piglet with an overactive imagination named Olivia by Ian Falconer? It's been a big favorite of mine, since the classroom days. Olivia has come to life through a hit animated series and now there are toys too! We got the 2-in-1 Transforming Playset and Olivia doll by Spin Master to review from Team Mom.You can open up the playset and see into Olivia's house. There's the kitchen, living room, bedrooms, and little accessories. There's even a staircase and the itty bitty plates come with stickers so they are always loaded with Olivia's favorite, spaghetti!ER had a lot of fun although, she did wish Olivia stood up a bit better on her own. There is a stand you attach to her feet but that kept falling off, whenever you picked her up.The best part about the playset is that it's double sided. You open one side and have Olivia's house, close it back up, open the other way, and it's a pirate ship! This all makes a lot of sense if you're aware that Olivia's imagination often transforms the area around her, in her mind, on the cartoon show. While ER spends more time playing with the house side, she does like the pirate ship too. The big look out pole is certainly fun. On the downside, we couldn't get the pirate hat to stay on Olivia's head during active play and there is a flimsy cardboard palm tree for the beach that I foresee getting bent, torn, or lost real quickly. I'm also concerned that her vinyl red jumper will get torn, the straps are kind of flimsy.

There are fewer accessories included for ship side. Also, it would've been nice if at least one other character was included along with Olivia. Overall, the playset is a good toy for an Olivia fan. I've seen it listed at $29.99 but it really needs more play figures for Olivia to interact with for it to seem complete. It appears that you can get Olivia's family, but only at one particular store, and if you do that you also get another unnecessary Olivia figure. Her friends do not seem to be available for purchase in the same size.As for the Olivia doll, well it looks like a certain someone wanted to get her little hands on it so much that she couldn't even wait in the other room while I took a picture. It is a sweet little doll and very soft. ER has been happily playing with her and since she is on the smaller size at 8", Olivia is perfect for taking along in a back pack or in the car. Other versions are available and I'm hopeful that eventually you'll be able to purchase different outfits instead of a whole new doll. Olivia is one of ER's favorite television shows, and these toys are perfect for her.

Disclosure: I received these samples by Spin Master through Team Mom and this review reflects my own personal and unbiased experience and opinions of them. No monetary compensation was provided.