To some, the dolls, known as reborn dolls, provide comfort, escape or just plain fun. But politicians across Brazil have tried to pass bills banning the dolls from public spaces.

Juliana Drusz Magri, whose collection has grown to 22 dolls, at her home in Curitiba, Brazil.Credit...Priscila Ribeiro for The New York Times

Supported by

By Leonardo Coelho and Michael Levenson

Leonardo Coelho reported from Rio de Janeiro and Michael Levenson from New York.