American Girl Books

[NatalieKW]

Let's talk American Girl products. I loved them when I was young. I had all the books, a couple of dolls and now that I have a daughter approaching seven and loving to read, I want to collect the books again for her. I'm totally lost though. I know Pleasant Company sold the line and now there are more girls and books galore. I see they've even retired some of the girls. Here's my question. I'm at a total loss as to who all these girls are and all the books. They don't stick to just the girl of specific years anymore and they have branched out from the books all having the same title with just a different name plugged in. Where do I start with the new girls? Josefina was the last one I was interested in. I think Kit came after that, but post Kit, it's a total mystery to me. Speaking of mysteries...there are even mystery books and short stories now? Where do those fit in? I prefer buying whole collections of the books at once instead of just one here and there. I don't think their Web site is very explanatory at all. I know they have Girl of the Year dolls and books but what is the Beforever line?

Ahhh...help a girl out.

[Jennifer]

My daughter has only been collecting the dolls/books for a few years. So far, her favorite books go along with the girl of the year dolls. There's always an introductory book and then 1-2 follow up books for GOTY. She's read and loved:

McKenna- 2 books
Saige - 2 or 3 books
Isabelle - 3 books
Grace - 3 books

I don't really know much about Beforever--sorry! I just think they go with the dolls that aren't girls of the year?

My reading non-lover really enjoys these books.

[NatalieKW]

My oldest's name is Isabelle so my mom got her the first two Isabelle books and that is what has convinced her reading is fun.

[pewtertm]

The Beforever series are the historical dolls. (there will be a new character, Melody, an African-American girl during the 1960s coming out this summer)

The dolls of the year each something that they are really involved in, and that is how their books are based. ie, last year's Grace was into baking.

[kim517]

We are fairly new to it, but my only daughter has really gotten into it the last year or so (seeing the big store in NYC was probably part of that!) She got the Isabelle girl of the year for her first doll because she is into ballet like Isabelle. I tried to steer her away from wanting Grace (2015 DOTY) because I worried that then she'd think she should get the new doll every year. I want her to think about which doll is most special to her for a certain reason before we get another. I love the dolls from different time periods because I think history is interesting. So maybe think about a time in history that might be interesting to your family and see if they have a doll (and her series of books) that would fit with that? We check out a lot of the books from our library. I also really love the line where you can create a doll that looks like you. With all the many many accessories you can get, they have a lot of things covered. It makes my heart smile that my neighbor's daughter wanted her doll to get the wheelchair because a good friend of hers is in a wheelchair and they could play together My daughter is into dolls that are "like" her, and I think that's big with many girls now. We just got the catalog with the 2016 DOTY and it's always fun to look and see what's new!

[familyscrap]

I LOVE American Girl dolls and their products as an adult collector

The Beforever line is the new name of the historical dolls. A few dolls have come and gone over the past few years, though you can still buy the retired dolls books, but they probably have not been updated.

The original historical girls were:
Samantha (who retired and then returned) 1904
Molly (who is currently retired) 1944
Kirsten (also retired) Pioneer times
Felicity (retired) - Revolutionary times

Also the historical dolls include:
Josefina - 1824
Addy - Civil War
Kaya - Native American
Kit - 1930s
Julie - 1970s

Caroline - 1812 -- was a newer doll that didn't sell well so retired
Marie Grace and Ceceile - 1853 times -- newer dolls that also did not sell well so they retired

Then the newest doll that just came out is
Mary Ellen Larken from the 1950s and as someone already said there is a new girl coming this summer for the 1960s.

I personally LOVE the historical line. They did change up the format of the books when they rebranded the line. In the past they had a series of 5-6 books for each historical character. I have not actually seen any of the newer books in person but I understand they took the 'original' stories and put them into two larger compilations for each of the current dolls still for sale and then they added a new story about a girl of the present going back to the past.

I believe the mysteries and short stories are just additional stories about the girls. I've heard they are very engaging, but the main compilations would introduce the historical girls better with their stories.

Love, Love, Love the collections So if you need more suggestions just let me know

[nesser1981]

If you only want to read them, check out the library. Keira has read probably 30 AG books, they have so many different ones.

Most of the historical dolls have 6 books in a series.

This might help, it lists all of the girls that have been retired, dolls of the year, and a brief story summary.
http://www.americangirl.com/corporate/archives

Here's another list.
http://americangirl.wikia.com/wiki/H...cal_Characters

[NatalieKW]

Thanks so much girls. This has really helped!!

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