Compassionate Play

We believe doll play fosters compassion in children, teaches empathy for the world around them, and helps them grow into caring people.

While playing with dolls, children embark on adventures and craft imaginative stories. Self expression of their thoughts and exploring emotions through doll play helps to make sense of the world around them.

Doll play allows children to act out scenarios of compassion as they care for their special friend. Lovingly wrapping a doll in it's favourite blanket is one act showing empathy and human kindness.

" Compassion and understanding brings the happiness we seek."

~ Dalai Lama

Doll play can have an important role in child development.

Enhances nurturing characteristics

Helps them learn about the world around them

Builds social skills

Teaches empathy and compassion

Develops imagination

Strengthens vocabulary

WALDORF INSPIRED DOLLS

Aligned with the Waldorf education philosophy of learning by cultivating a child's imagination and creativity, the appearance of Waldorf dolls are intentionally simple to allow children to develop their imagination through play.

The Lulu & Jo dolls embody the unique characteristics of Waldorf dolls; a soft, simple design with subtle facial features. The simplicity allows children to imagine and shape the doll’s personality and storytelling on their own.

Each doll is made with fine craftsmanship and detailed handwork using a specialized technique to achieve the one-of-a-kind Waldorf features. With quality materials, they make beautiful heirlooms for your little one that can be passed down and loved again and again.

Shop Lulu & Jo Waldorf Inspired Dolls

CONNECTION WITH READING

We believe earlier is better for enjoying books with your little one. Reading to your baby exposes them to the soothing sound of your voice and provides well known and wide spread benefits for child development; speech improvement, strengthened vocabulary, reading habits, listening and memory skills, and teaches colour and shape recognition - to name a few!

Making story time part of your daily routine is a perfect way to set aside moments for parent-child bonding. With screen use at an all time high, and free time with our children at a premium, we know parents are searching for ways to connect with their child while unplugging from our busy world. Cuddling up with a favourite book and blanket is a special way to create one-on-one time.

There are many benefits of reading to your baby.

Wonderful bonding activity for parents and children

Important form of stimulation

Teaches communication

Introduces letters, numbers, colours, and shapes

Builds listening, memory, and vocabulary skills

MEET LULU AND JO

Lulujo was founded by a mom who, like all parents, wanted to provide the best care for her children. With a vision of creating a brand of comforting baby products, she took the leap and became a work-at-home mompreneur as a way to spend more time with her young family. The brand was fondly named using her children's nicknames, Lulu and Jo. Hiring other mothers in the neighbourhood, and her son and daughter by her side, Dawn quickly grew the company from one product sold at the local baby boutique to multiple product lines sold in stores across Canada. Today, over ten years later, parents around the world use Lulujo products to care for their children.

Through this collection, our brand story comes to life with the Lulu and Jo characters in beautiful books, as dolls, and on blankets. The stories were written based on childhood memories of Emily and Jack. The dolls were designed to take on a likeliness of them as young children. The loving and comforting feelings the products evoke are inspired by family - the foundation on which our brand was built.

For all parents, our children are our greatest inspiration and we know you give it your all to provide the best for your family. We hope the authenticity and thoughtfulness the Lulu & Jo books and dolls inspires connection and bonding with your little ones.

ABOUT SHEREE FITCH

Sheree Fitch is a prolific, national award winning Canadian author and storyteller known for her rollicking verses, exuberant wordplay, and humour. Many of today’s parents grew up reading her books, including Toes In My Nose and There Were Monkeys In My Kitchen. She has represented Canada around the world and received numerous literary awards and honorary doctorates from Canadian universities.

As a known advocate for children’s issues, Sheree was commissioned by UNICEF to write If You Could Wear My Sneakers, a collection of poems based on articles of the United Nations Conventions on the Rights of the Child, for which she received the Silver Birch Award and the Hackamatack Award.

COLLABORATION

Since Lulujo’s early days, parents have shared messages and photos about their little one’s love for our blankets. We were inspired by these stories to create picture books for early reading that can be loved and cherished. Sheree has perfectly captured memories of a young Lulu and Jo while taking the reader on a playtime adventure with their doll and special Lulujo blanket.

As women, mothers, entrepreneurs, and a shared east coast connection, Sheree and our team formed the perfect partnership to bring Lulu & Jo to life. This collection reflects the heart of our brand. Having Sheree give her voice to our books is a dream partnership.

Our first meeting in Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia. - September 2017

With our illustrator working over Skype - January 2018

Presenting complete samples for the first time! - February 2019

Our designer and Sheree at the Lulujo office. - May 2019

The Lulu & Jo Collection