From the Toysit archive
Strawberry Shortcake Berry Best Friends
Explore Strawberry Shortcake’s berry-decorated hat, red jacket, plaid trousers and small pink pet, then create a friendly postcard invitation of your own.
The play at a glance
A berry-trimmed hat and a little friend for the journey
A bright strawberry and striped bow decorate the broad pink hat in Toysit’s original picture. Under it, Strawberry Shortcake’s brown hair frames a small smiling face. A red jacket and plaid trousers continue the warm colors, while a pink cat sits beside her.
The original account describes Berry Best Friends as small scented dolls with removable fashions, a pet, a brush and a postcard. Those pieces bring together dressing, character play and the simple pleasure of sending a greeting.
Look for the berries and patterns
The hat makes the character easy to recognize: pink fabric, a berry decoration and a striped bow form a little cluster above the face. The trousers add a grid of red, pale and dark lines. Together, these details give a player several shapes and colors to repeat in a drawing.
Imagine Strawberry Shortcake getting ready to visit a friend. The hat might inspire a sunny garden setting, while the plaid could become the pattern for a pretend picnic cloth. Draw the place first, then decide what the character would like to bring or share.
A pet and a postcard make a small story
Bandai’s Berry Best Friends box names Strawberry Shortcake’s cat Custard and places the pet beside the doll. The package also shows a strawberry-shaped brush and a large illustrated postcard. These give the character company, a dressing accessory and something to send to a friend.
A player might imagine the pair discovering a new berry patch or choosing a place for a picnic. Give Custard a small part in the adventure: noticing a flower, finding the path or waiting beside the invitation. The player supplies the pet’s voice and all the events of the story.
Send a berry-patch postcard
- Draw a garden, picnic spot or other friendly meeting place on one side of a card.
- Add a berry border using colors from the doll’s outfit.
- Write a greeting and introduce the companion coming along.
- Invite a friend to one specific activity, such as drawing flowers or sharing a pretend picnic.
- Make a reply card suggesting something the friend would like to bring.
This original Toysit activity works with a doll and pet, paper characters or a story told through drawings. Keep the cards together as a record of the imagined visit.
The historical record
Original Toysit coverage
The original product account and commentary are preserved below as historical coverage.
Berry Best Friends: Pretty in Plaid Strawberry Shortcake
Each scented 5.5 inch doll has rooted hair and removable berry fun fashion. Dolls come with a pet, a strawberry brush and a berry special postcard.
The principles that Strawberry Shortcake embodies revolve around themes of friendship, kindness, and community. She often takes on the role of a problem solver, resolving disputes among her friends or overcoming challenges with creativity and a positive attitude. Strawberry Shortcake's world is one where values like cooperation, empathy, and respect for others are emphasized. Through her adventures, both solo and with friends, she teaches young audiences the importance of being a good friend, being honest, and the value of hard work. These principles not only make her a cherished character but also a positive role model for children.
Sources and editorial notes
Toysit’s original headline identifies the pictured look as Pretty in Plaid. Bandai Berry Best Friends packaging for Strawberry Shortcake with Custard, item 15401, was visually reviewed in nine photographs. It identifies Custard, a strawberry-shaped brush, an included postcard and the historical scent feature. That boxed example wears blue trousers; Toysit’s photograph shows plaid, so edition-specific outfit and contents differences remain distinct. A separately reviewed Berry Soft Friends package depicts a cloth doll from another range. The 5.5-inch size comes from the original Toysit account. Surviving scent and materials were not tested. The postcard exchange is an original activity.
- Bandai Berry Best Friends package front — Original printed packaging hosted by a Poshmark seller; character, brush, postcard and scent wording reviewed. Blue-trouser edition.
- Bandai Berry Best Friends package back — Printed introduction identifies Strawberry Shortcake and Custard; companion dolls shown separately.
- Original Toysit coverage — Original photograph, product account and historical commentary preserved.
Images and descriptions are retained as historical material. How Toysit covers toys.
Created for Toysit by Tabbloza — the artwork in our header.