atlanticmo:

A Bratz Doll costs about $9 an American Girl Doll cost about $90.

So the choice for the parents is often not much of a choice.

Being a bibliophile, my bias is obvious; but let me offer the opinion that if one cannot purchase a quality doll and a quality book, then one should purchase the quality book and read it to the child at bedtime. To prevent boredom, I would suggest checking out other books from the local public library.

Just my two cent$.