Maru and Friends™ is a new line of designer vinyl dolls, created by Maritza Gutierrez, who decided to pursue her life-long passion for dolls after 25 years in the marketing business. The dolls are sculpted by award winning American doll artist Dianna Effner, world renowned for her collectible one-of-a-kind porcelain doll designs. Each doll is 21 inches and sold exclusively at www.maruandfriends.com

The Maru™ doll is based on the life of a young girls who journeys to the United States, living in an unfamiliar place, learning a new language and making new friends are all events recounted through the eye of an 8-year-old girl in "Maru and Friends™ ", a storybook that comes with the doll. Tanya and Jamie, Maru's newest friends, help the young girl through her journey while celebrating the ethnic and cultural diversity characterized by today's youth. The three dolls have unique child-like facial features that are representative of their ethnic culture.