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The Fashion Statement: Ralph Lauren's Children's Facebook Contest

Dior's ousting of John Galliano may be dominating the fashion news, but Polo Ralph Lauren's newest children's book and its online Facebook contest is something we couldn't ignore.

Today, a day after the national Read Across America event, have your kids check out Uma Thurman narrating the The RL Gang: A Magically Magnificent School Adventure on RalphLauren.com and Bloomingdales.com. You can also shop the clothes--Ralph Lauren's spring children's collection--highlighted in the book.

In addition, Ralph Lauren is conducting a contest on its Facebook page that allows parents in the U.S. and the U.K. to upload photos of their child. Friends and family can then vote on the child of their choice. The winning whippersnapper will be chosen from the group of children with the most votes, flown to New York and cast as a member of the RL Gang (pictured above).

This is Ralph Lauren's second RL Gang virtual childrens book. As I reported a few months ago, there's a big incentive for adult designers to beef up their childrenswear business. It was one of the few areas that experienced growth during the economic downturn. The company's also experimenting with other forms of retailing.

Tags: Barnes Noble, Ralph Lauren, Room to Grow, The RL Gang: A Magically Magnificent School Adventure, Uma Thurman