If you’re a woman around my age (29, just as I’ve been for years, why do you ask?), you might remember being infatuated with Holly Hobbie as a child. I know I was. I had a Holly Hobbie lunchbox, thankyouverymuch. This was back in the 70s, when we were all wearing ruffled prairie skirts and wishing we were Laura Ingalls. Holly Hobbie fit into all of that quite nicely. But will today’s girls see the whimsical sweetness in Holly or turn up their noses?

Have no fear: The new Holly Hobbie (great-granddaughter of the original) is updated just enough to attract our CD-playing, cool-clothes-wearing daughters, but not so much as to lose that winsome charm many of us already know and love. (Want to learn more? Check out the Surprise Party DVD, which features music by LeAnn Rimes.)

And now there’s even more reason to love the new Holly—she’s giving away prizes! Fire up your girls; there’s great winnings to be had:

Holly and her friends Amy and Carrie are always sharing and enjoying adventures. The ââ¬Å“Best Friends Contestââ¬Â is an opportunity for children ages 6 to 12 to submit a 250 word essay describing an experience or adventure they shared with their best friend that made them realize they were truly best friends. From October 3 through November 6, kids (with parental consent) can enter online at www.hollyhobbie.com. The first 100 completed entries will receive the new Holly Hobbie & Friends Christmas Wishes DVD.

On November 13, 2006, 16 semi-finalists will be selected and posted on hollyhobbie.com. Eight from the 6-8 age range and eight from the 9-12 age range. Entries will be judged using the following criteria: Originality, Clarity of Thought and Appropriateness to Theme. Grand and Semi-Finalists will be selected by a panel of expert judges and Holly Hobbie Representatives. All 16 semi-finalists will receive iPod Nanos and a Holly Hobbie & Friends merchandise package for themselves and their best friends. Among these 16 semi-finalists, there will be 4 grand prize winners who will be announced on December 13, 2006 at hollyhobbie.com. The 4 grand prize winners and their best friends will receive a HP Digital Camera and printer in addition to their semi-finalist prizes.

My daughter is already working on her story. Actually, she’s already picking out a case for her iPod, so I suspect a conversation about trying her best and accepting the outcome is in our future….

Be that as it may, consider this your opportunity to meet an old friend again, and introduce her to your own little girl. This could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship!