Last fall, the toy manufacturer Mattel introduced a new version -- a pregnant one -- of Midge, Barbie's friend. She comes with a removable abdomen and is sold as part of the "Happy Family" set, along with her husband, Alan, and toddler, Ryan.

Some shoppers felt the toy introduced "adult issues" that might be inappropriate for Barbie's target audience of girls between the ages of 3 and 12. Some stores, including Wal-Mart, took the doll off the shelves before Christmas.

Y-Press interviewed 10 kids about pregnant Midge. Kylee White, 8, Kyle Smith, 10, Hayley Brown, 10, Sarah Divelbliss, 10, Ashley Emery, 11, and Bryant Mitchell, 11, are Decatur Township students who were interviewed at an after-school program at Valley Mills Elementary.

Jazmynn Tyler, 12, Dyenshia Sheppard, 13, Roger Green, 14, and Amber Cole, 15, were interviewed at the Wheeler Boys & Girls Club.

Most of these kids prefer singing, sports or video or board games. Their first reactions to pregnant Midge varied from, "Really, a pregnant Barbie?" to "I wanted that when I was in the store," to "I wasn't really excited 'cause I'm not into Barbies, but maybe G.I. Joes."

None of the boys wanted to play with the doll or other Barbies, though Bryant would consider a female G.I. Joe: "Cool -- a girlfriend for my G.I. Joe."

Kyle still wasn't interested.

"I still wouldn't like to play with a girl G.I. Joe because it's a girl, and it's in the Army and stuff," he said.

The girls were more receptive.

Jazmynn and Dyenshia agreed with Amber, who said: "This looks fun."

Kylee, Sarah, Ashley and Hayley were less enthusiastic. "I think it's OK," Hayley said. "It's kind of different because girls who play with Barbie dolls don't really think about that kind of stuff."

Partnership for Learning, a child development group, says on its Web site that "children learn while they play. Exploring their environment, imitating Mommy and Daddy's daily activities, pretending, and even taking things apart are all part of developing their brains and personalities."

On the Mattel Web site, a spokeswoman explained that playing with dolls like Midge can be a good way for kids to learn about reproduction without their parents using graphic details.

Most of the girls agreed that the doll might help explain childbirth. "I think it's a good way because maybe it might help the parents to explain to their kids how it works," Sarah said.

The boys disagreed. "It should show the real thing, (like) the baby coming out and show the umbilical cord being cut," said Roger. "But it could be helpful for little kids, maybe (age) 4 or 5."

But Bryant said the doll would be useful only for girls. "I play with boy toys, and I really just don't worry about pregnancies and women that much," he said.

Kyle said "that's just not right that the stomach can come off."

Roger had another problem with pregnant Midge -- that she was sold separately from her husband and son.

"They should just put it in a big old box together," he said.

None of the Decatur kids thought their mothers would buy the doll for them even if they wanted it -- which they didn't. But Amber, Jazmynn and Dyenshia thought their mothers might. All said they would buy it for their daughters, if they wanted it.

Although Amber, Jazmynn and Dyenshia like the doll, they don't think it belongs with the other Barbies in the toy store.

Roger agreed. "I just think (kids shouldn't) go in that aisle without a parent. The parents should be there in case you have questions."

Amber agreed, adding, "I'd say if they get permission, they can get it."

The Midge doll received an educational rating of four out of five stars on the Toys R Us Web site. Some of the kids offered their own ratings.

Sarah, Ashley, Kylee and Hayley all gave it three stars: "It is kind of mature for little kids. They don't even know what it means," said Kylee.

Bryant thought that the girls were giving the toy too much credit: "I would give it a one . . . 'cause it's improper. Little kids don't need to see women being pregnant, especially if their little brothers stroll in and -- AAHHHH!!! -- he sees the stomach laying on the one side of the room, the body on the other side!"

Kyle gave it zero stars. "It's just not proper. Kids don't need to know about how babies are made."

"I think that they just wanted to make something different," Hayley concluded.

REPORTER: Averie Timm, 12.